
Short-Form Video Editor
Dhar Mann Studios
Remote, USThis is a Full Time Job
BIG PICTURE:
We're looking for a creative Short-Form Video Editor who can take hours of raw, unscripted footage and find the most compelling story within it. This is not simply an assembly role. The editor will make meaningful creative decisions-identifying the strongest moments, shaping the narrative, building emotion, and creating a satisfying payoff.
The right editor understands that great short-form storytelling is not just about cutting quickly. You need strong instincts for story structure, character, emotion, pacing, and audience retention. You should know when to tighten or restructure a moment, when to withhold information to build curiosity, and when to let an authentic emotional beat breathe.
WHY THIS ROLE MATTERS:
The editor plays a critical role in determining whether a great real-life moment becomes a great story.
You'll shape raw footage into videos that immediately capture attention, introduce a clear emotional question, build curiosity and momentum, and deliver a memorable payoff-all within just a few minutes. We're looking for someone who can think like a storyteller and edit with performance in mind, ensuring every creative choice supports both the emotional arc and the way audiences actually watch short-form content.
HOW YOU'LL SPEND YOUR TIME:
• Reviewing large amounts of raw, unscripted footage and identifying the strongest characters, moments, reactions, and storylines
• Turning raw footage into clear, compelling 2–3 minute stories with a strong beginning, emotional build, and satisfying payoff
• Making creative structural decisions rather than simply following footage chronologically
• Crafting powerful opening hooks that immediately give viewers a reason to keep watching
• Building curiosity, escalation, reveals, and emotional momentum throughout each edit
• Editing with retention and pacing in mind, identifying where to tighten, reorder, restructure, or remove moments that may cause viewers to drop off
• Knowing when to move quickly and when an authentic emotional moment needs room to breathe
• Editing a variety of formats, including man-on-the-street content, giveaways, surprises, acts of kindness, emotional interviews, and human-interest stories
• Using music, sound design, captions, graphics, reaction shots, and other editorial tools to heighten emotion and strengthen the story without making authentic moments feel overproduced
• Creating alternate hooks, openings, runtimes, or versions for creative and performance testing
• Collaborating closely with producers and the Shorts creative team to take videos from raw footage through first cut, revisions, and final delivery
• Interpreting feedback thoughtfully and quickly while protecting the clarity and emotional impact of the story
• Staying current on evolving short-form editing trends, platform best practices, and the visual language of viral social content
WHAT YOU HAVE:
• A minimum of 2 years of professional video editing experience, ideally working with social-first, digital, unscripted, documentary, or short-form content
• A strong portfolio demonstrating your ability to find and shape compelling stories from raw footage
• Strong creative judgment and the confidence to make editorial decisions about structure, pacing, character, emotion, and payoff
• The ability to review large amounts of unscripted footage and quickly identify the most important story within it
• A deep understanding of the language and pacing of TikTok, Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, and Facebook Reels
• Strong instincts around hooks, retention, reveals, escalation, emotional turns, and satisfying endings
• An understanding of emotional storytelling and the ability to recognize which authentic moments are essential to the story
• Strong proficiency in Adobe Premiere Pro
• Experience using music, sound design, captions, graphics, and reaction shots to strengthen narrative and emotion
• The ability to work quickly, manage multiple edits simultaneously, and respond efficiently to creative feedback
• A collaborative mindset and comfort working in a fast-moving environment where edits may evolve based on creative feedback and audience performance
• A genuine understanding that short-form does not mean shallow storytelling-the strongest viral videos combine retention-driven editing with authentic human emotion
WHO OVERSEES YOU:
The International Short-Form Video Editor will report to the Head of Shorts and the Jr. Manager for Post.
WHO YOU OVERSEE:
Currently, the International Short-Form Video Editor has no personnel reporting directly to them.
WHERE IT ALL GOES DOWN:
Our International Short-Form Video Editor will work remotely from their home or personal office and will be required to use Dhar Mann Studios' time-tracking software to log and submit work hours.
WHEN THE MAGIC HAPPENS:
The typical work schedule is 40 hours per week. Specific working hours and scheduling expectations will be discussed during the interview process.
Additional Information
Changing Lives Productions is the in-house video production company of Dhar Mann Studios, the leading creator of scripted positive content online, with over 163 million followers and 82 billion views across YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Our videos receive more than 1 billion views each month, and we produce several hours of original content weekly that conveys messages of compassion, kindness, and altruism, resonating with viewers of all ages. Our stories address real-life challenges and deliver impactful life lessons that connect with global audiences. Founded by Dhar Mann, recognized as the "Moral Philosopher of YouTube" by The New York Times and ranked #2 on Forbes' 2025 Top Creators list, our mission is to not just tell stories but to change lives. Our content includes man-on-the-street giveaways, surprise moments, and emotional real-life stories, primarily designed for TikTok, Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, and Facebook Reels, with our Shorts team focused on reaching millions across the world's largest social platforms.