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
- 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)
- Expert-level proficiency in Adobe Premiere Pro - you can troubleshoot complex technical issues and teach advanced techniques
- 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
- 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 communication style - you flag capacity issues, quality concerns, and team challenges before they become crises
- Comfortable with difficult conversations (performance issues, client escalations, conflict resolution)
- Can translate technical editing concepts into language that non-editors understand
Work Style & Mindset
- Player-coach mentality - willing to stay hands-on with editing (10-20% of time) while primarily focusing on team leadership
- Excellent organizational skills managing both your own work and your team's project pipeline
- Ability to balance competing priorities: team development, quality standards, client deadlines, and strategic initiatives
- Comfortable context-switching between hands-on editing, team coaching, client calls, and strategic planning
- Thrives in fast-paced, high-growth environments where processes are constantly evolving
- Gets energized by developing talent and seeing team members succeed
Cultural Leadership
- Extreme Ownership - Takes full accountability for team results; models this for direct reports
- Beyond Excellence - Sets impossibly high standards and inspires team to consistently exceed them
- Proactive Curiosity - Anticipates problems, asks better questions, and stays ahead of issues
- Mission Focus - Obsesses about client success and team development, not personal recognition
Results You'll Drive
Team Performance
- Your editing team consistently maintains >85% First-Approval Rate across all editors
- Editor retention rate exceeds 85% annually with clear development and career progression
- New editors productive at 80% capacity within 60 days through your training systems
- 100% of direct reports show measurable skill improvement quarter-over-quarter
- Team operates at 80-90% capacity utilization - productive output without burnout
Quality & Systems
- Zero client escalations due to editing quality issues or missed deadlines from your team
- 95%+ on-time delivery rate across your entire team's project portfolio
- Editing workflows, templates, and style guides documented and adopted agency-wide
- Average video retention improves 5-10% year-over-year through data-driven editing strategies
Strategic Impact
- Editing function viewed as strategic partner by Pod Managers and leadership
- Successfully contribute to client strategy with editing insights that drive performance
- Your team supports clients publishing 4+ videos per month consistently
- Client satisfaction scores remain >4.5/5 for editing quality and communication
- At least 1-2 editors promoted or advancement-ready annually due to your mentorship
Player-Coach Excellence
- Edit 2-4 high-complexity videos per week as benchmarks and training examples
- Your edits consistently achieve 8-10% average retention (above platform benchmarks)
- Model extreme ownership, excellence, and proactive curiosity through your work
COMPENSATION & BENEFITS:
Salary: $36,000 - $60,000 USD annually (based on experience and team size managed)
What We Offer:
- Fully Remote
- Flexible Time Off policy (we trust you to manage your time and energy)
- Annual Holiday Breaks
- Leadership development program
- Access to industry-leading tools, plugins, and AI-assisted editing software
- Opportunities to earn Monthly wellness allowance, Home office stipend, Professional development budget &/or Health Insurance Reimbursement (after 60-90 day trial period)
- Clear career progression with transparent promotion criteria
REAL TALK:
This is an early-stage startup scaling rapidly. You'll face challenges - processes break, priorities shift, and things get messy. We need people who are resilient, resourceful, and committed long-term.
But if you want to:
- Build a world-class editing team and multiply your impact 10x
- Develop editors and watch them grow beyond their potential
- Help America's top real estate leaders dominate their local markets
- Build something meaningful from 55 to 200+ channels
This is the place.
This role is player-coach (10-25% hands-on editing, 75%+ leadership). If you want to focus purely on editing without managing people, this isn't the right fit.
Location
Remote-first,
Our Core Values
Extreme Ownership Take responsibility for your work and outcomes. No excuses, just solutions.
Beyond Excellence Care about the details. Deliver work that exceeds expectations.
Proactive Curiosity Don't wait to be told. Ask questions, identify problems, suggest solutions.
Mission Focus Remember: your edits help real estate agents build their businesses. That matters.
Ready to Apply Now?
We primarily look at those who apply above.
Pay $36K - $60K+ USD a year (depending on experience)