Short-Form Video Editor

This is a Full Time Job

The role is primarily focused on editing short-form content for TikTok, Reels, YouTube Shorts, Facebook, and X, working closely with the Short-Form Video Producer Lead throughout the edit and publishing process. The editor also provides support on long-form projects, including original series, platform-specific features, and branded content, as production needs evolve. In addition, the position contributes to content development by helping generate ideas for trend-driven and serialized content and producing select shoots under the guidance of the Short-Form Video Producer Lead. Based within the Short-Form Pod, the role receives ongoing long-form project assignments through the Weekly Production Schedule established by the Director of Video Content.

This role is onsite and based in our Santa Monica, CA office.

Core Responsibilities

Editing (primary lane)
• Cut short-form vertical videos for TikTok, Reels, and Shorts daily - hit tournament turnaround targets (typically under 60-90 minutes from raw footage to social-ready cut).

• Add captions, sound, and platform-native styling to every short-form cut.

• Apply a higher polish bar where the piece warrants it - branded short-form, tentpole moments, serialized short-form formats.

• Support long-form editing when assigned - original series episodes, IG and FB longer features (3-10 minute range), branded series at the editor level - in partnership with the Long-Form Pod under the Director of Video Content's editorial direction.

• Apply color, audio mixing, and motion-graphics polish on long-form pieces where the format calls for it.

• Maintain a library of reusable short-form assets (player intros, brand bumpers, sound packs, transition templates) in partnership with the Short-Form Pod.

Concept & Production (secondary lane)
• Bring some producer experience to the Short-Form Pod - take on light concept and production opportunities as a secondary lane to the primary editing scope.

• Pitch new short-form formats to the Short-Form Video Producer Lead - trend-aligned executions, serialized format ideas, recurring template concepts the team could run.

• Help concept and ideate trend-driven and serialized pieces alongside the Short-Form Video Producer Lead and the Social Media Specialist - bring an editor's eye to what will cut well to the format and platform.

• Produce select short-form shoots when capacity allows - own the production side of a piece end-to-end on the smaller, fastest-turn projects, in coordination with the Short-Form Video Producer Lead.

• Contribute on-the-ground capture during select tournament weeks when traveling - phone-first short-form moments, BTS, court-side captures - under the Short-Form Video Producer Lead's direction.

• Operate at the bar the Short-Form Video Producer Lead sets; production work is secondary and should not crowd out editing turnaround.

Campaign Leadership
• Cover tournament short-form editing volume as a primary editor in the Short-Form Pod.

• Step into long-form editing during shoot weeks, original series production windows, and branded series finishing - as directed by the Director of Video Content's Weekly Production Schedule.

• Contribute to the short-form video share of the tournament content package that the Senior Social Media Manager and Director of Video Content jointly develop (with Head of Social final approval).

Analytics & Reporting
• Surface short-form performance insights (which cuts performed, which formats are tired, what to test next) to the Short-Form Video Producer Lead and the Director of Video Content.

• Track personal turnaround times and publish-cadence contribution against the Short-Form Pod's weekly targets.

Platform Expertise & Trends
• Stay current on short-form platform mechanics - TikTok edit timing, Reels native feature releases, Shorts retention norms - and apply learnings to the cut.

• Contribute short-form edit ideas to the Weekly Trending Content Meeting (chaired by the Senior Social Media Manager) when the team is shaping a trend response.

• Maintain comfort with long-form pacing and narrative-edit conventions to keep long-form support a real capability, not a stretch.

Cross-Functional Partnership
• Partner daily with the Short-Form Video Producer Lead on the Short-Form Pod cut-and-publish cycle.

• Partner with the Long-Form Pod on long-form support weeks - pre-pro briefings, dailies feedback, finish review - rather than receiving a cold hand-off.

• Partner with the on-shift coordinator on publish-window timing for short-form cuts going up under coordinator guardrails.

• Partner with the Social Graphics Content Specialist on graphics packages (titles, lower-thirds, end cards) that pair with short-form and long-form cuts.

• Partner with the Social Media Specialist on UGC and trend-aligned executions when the Short-Form Pod is shaping a trend response.

• Handle community management on cuts published under your name when the format calls for it - first-hour comments and meaningful replies; escalate brand-tone or rights questions to the Senior Social Media Manager.

Key Performance Indicators
• Short-form cut turnaround time during tournaments (target: under 60-90 minutes from raw footage to social-ready cut).

• Short-form output volume per tournament week and per non-tournament week.

• Engagement rate on short-form cuts produced.

• Long-form support contribution: weeks per quarter providing long-form capacity, and quality of those finished pieces (qualitative review).

• Concept and production contribution: short-form format pitches brought to the Short-Form Video Producer Lead per quarter and pitches that get greenlit and shipped.

• Quality bar across short-form output (qualitative review by Director of Video Content and Short-Form Video Producer Lead).

• Reusable short-form asset library maintained and refreshed quarterly.

• Trend response time partnership metric with the Short-Form Video Producer Lead and the Social Media Specialist (target: trend to published under 24 hours, often under 6 hours during active tournaments).

Qualifications
• 3-5 years editing short-form vertical video, with documented long-form or branded video experience as well.

• Some producer or production experience preferred - ideation, shoot coordination, on-the-ground capture for short-form.

• Hands-on fluency with Premiere Pro and CapCut Pro at minimum; After Effects or DaVinci Resolve a plus for long-form support.

• Strong sense of timing for short-form, captions, and trend-aligned edits.

• Narrative and pacing capability for longer-form cuts when the work calls for it.

• Color and audio-mixing competence for finished long-form pieces.

• Comfort being on-the-ground at tournaments for select weeks if traveling.

• Comfort moving between high-volume short-form turnaround weeks and slower, higher-polish long-form weeks.

• Sports, live event, or news editing experience preferred.