Lead Video Editor

Lead Video Editor

Transform raw footage into content that helps real estate agents win in their local markets

About Knwn Local

We're a creative agency on a mission: scale from 55 to 200+ YouTube channels while helping real estate agents become the most trusted voices in their markets. We build long-form video strategies that create real authority and drive actual business results.

The proof is in our growth:

• Scaling fast from 55 to 200+ channels

• Building systematic production operations that work at scale

• Helping agents win deals through strategic content, not viral gimmicks

We believe in extreme ownership, proactive curiosity, and beyond excellence. If that resonates, you'll thrive here.

We're hiring a Lead Editor to deliver high-quality edits consistently and help us maintain our quality standards across the team as we scale.

To Apply Now:

The Role

As a Lead Editor at Knwn Local, you'll build and develop a team of video editors who transform raw real estate content into high-impact YouTube videos that help agents dominate their local markets. This is a player-coach leadership role where you'll spend 70-90% of your time managing, mentoring, and building systems, and 10-30% hands-on editing complex projects.

You'll own editing quality standards, team development, and operational excellence within your pod, partnering closely with Pod Managers, YouTube Managers, and Strategists to deliver retention-driven content at scale. Your success is measured not by how many videos you edit, but by how well your team performs, grows, and retains talent.

This role is perfect for someone who loves developing editors as much as editing itselfsomeone who gets energized by building systems, coaching talent, and multiplying their impact through others. If you want to stay purely hands-on without management responsibilities, or purely hands-off without getting in the weeds of editing, this isn't the right fit.

To Apply Now:

What You'll Own

Team Leadership & Development (50% of role)

• Manage and develop 25-50 video editors, conducting weekly 1-on-1s focused on skill progression and performance (with the support of multiple Senior Editors & YouTube Managers)

• Lead weekly team edit reviews with constructive feedback and best practice sharing

• Lead monthly team trainings for the editing team culture & growth

• Build comprehensive onboarding programs and training materials for new editor hires

• Create career development pathways with clear promotion criteria for your team

• Conduct performance reviews and manage accountability through the Clarify Instrument Coach Decide framework

• Participate in hiring (screening portfolios, conducting interviews, making hiring recommendations)

• Build 2-5+ year relationships with editors through proactive retention and engagement strategies

• Implement skip-level check-ins to assess team health and identify early warning signs

Quality Standards & Systems (20-30% of role)

• Own and evolve editing quality standards, style guides, and templates across your team

• Establish QA processes that maintain >85% First-Approval Rate across all editors

• Serve as final quality review and approval for complex or high-stakes edits before client delivery

• Lead A/B testing strategy and retention analysis, translating data into actionable editing improvements

• Create efficiency systems (templates, motion graphics libraries, workflow optimizations)

• Build performance dashboards tracking team metrics (approval rates, turnaround times, retention performance)

• Drive continuous improvement through weekly "edit of the week" reviews and retrospectives

Strategic Collaboration (10-15% of role)

• Partner with Pod Manager and YouTube Managers on content strategy and creative direction

• Participate in Monthly Client Strategy Calls to present editing approach and performance insights

• Collaborate cross-functionally with scriptwriters and designers to align on creative vision

• Communicate proactively with leadership on team capacity, blockers, and resource needs

• Contribute to quarterly planning and annual strategy with editing function perspective

• Handle client escalations and quality issues with transparency and solutions-focused approach

Player-Coach Editing (10-20% of role)

• Edit 2-4 high-complexity videos per month for VIP clients or training demonstrations

• Model excellence by staying hands-on with the craft and maintaining YouTube editing fluency

• Stay current on YouTube editing trends, competitor content, and platform algorithm changes

• Experiment with new techniques and tools, sharing learnings and innovations with the team

• Maintain organized project files and asset management as an example for the team

Requirements

We're looking for someone who combines exceptional editing craft with proven leadership ability. You should be passionate about developing talent and building systems that multiply impact across a team, not just delivering great edits yourself.

Leadership & Management Experience

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5-7+ years of professional video editing experience with 2+ years managing or leading editors

• Proven track record developing and scaling editing teams of 4+ people

• Experience hiring editors (screening portfolios, conducting interviews, making hiring decisions)

• Demonstrated ability to give feedback that accelerates growth and elevates work quality

• History of conducting performance reviews and managing accountability (including difficult conversations)

• Experience building onboarding programs, training materials, and documented workflows

• Comfortable with the full people management cycle: hiring, coaching, performance management, and when necessary, firing

Technical Mastery (You Can Teach Others)

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Expert-level proficiency in Adobe Premiere Pro - you can troubleshoot complex technical issues and teach advanced techniques

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Strong proficiency in After Effects for motion graphics and visual effects

• Working knowledge of DaVinci Resolve, Blender, or other tools (or quick learner)

• Deep understanding of YouTube retention, pacing, storytelling, and algorithm optimization

• Ability to QA others' work and identify issues across editing style, technical execution, and brand consistency

• Portfolio showcasing both your own work AND examples of team development (before/after of editors you've coached)

Systems & Process Thinking

• Experience building scalable editing workflows, style guides, and template systems

• Understanding of capacity planning and resource allocation for editing teams

• Ability to create performance dashboards and track team metrics (approval rates, turnaround times, retention)

• Skilled at documentation - SOPs, training materials, and knowledge management

• Process optimization mindset - constantly looking for ways to improve efficiency without sacrificing quality

• Experience with project management tools (Asana, Notion, Frame.io) and team collaboration systems

Strategic & Business Acumen

• Ability to translate business objectives into editing strategy and creative direction

• Comfortable presenting to clients and defending creative decisions with data and performance insights

• Understanding of editing team economics (capacity planning, turnaround times, quality vs. speed tradeoffs)

• Experience partnering cross-functionally with strategists, writers, designers, and YouTube managers

• Can navigate ambiguity and make decisions with incomplete information

• Thinks beyond individual edits to how editing impacts channel growth and client business results

Communication & Influence

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Exceptional written and verbal communication for feedback, presentations, and team documentation

• Ability to give direct, constructive feedback that motivates rather than demoralizes

• Skilled at managing up (keeping leadership informed), across (collaborating with peers), and down (developing direct reports)

• Proactive c