YouTube Video Editor Job Description Template (2026)

A generic video editor job description attracts people who can use editing software. A YouTube job description should also screen for hooks, pacing, audience retention, and the ability to make a full video hold together from start to finish.

The template below is ready to copy. Fill in the channel details, deliverables, schedule, and pay before posting. It also includes a paid trial and a qualifying application instruction, so you can assess judgment instead of sorting through reels alone.

For the broader hiring process, see our guide.

Copy-ready YouTube video editor job description

Job title

YouTube Video Editor for [Channel Name]

About the channel

We are [briefly describe the channel, niche, and audience]. Our channel currently has [subscriber count or audience description] and publishes [number and type of uploads] on [publishing schedule].

Our videos are designed to feel [describe the tone, such as calm and thoughtful, energetic and humorous, or clear and educational]. Reference videos that represent our style:

• [Link to reference video one]
• [Link to reference video two]
• [Link to reference video three]

What you will do

• Edit [number] YouTube videos per [week or month], usually [length or format].
• Organize raw footage and select the strongest material for a clear, engaging story.
• Build an opening that delivers the video's promise quickly, without misleading the viewer.
• Use pacing, B-roll, graphics, captions, sound design, and visual changes to support the story and hold the viewer's attention.
• Repurpose [number] approved moments into vertical Shorts, if included in the scope. Shorts can run up to 3 minutes, so specify the target length and format.
• Add [captions, chapters, end screens, graphics, thumbnails, or other deliverables].
• Deliver a first cut within [number] hours or days of receiving complete footage and a brief.
• Complete [number] revision rounds using timestamped feedback.
• Export files in [resolution, aspect ratio, file format, and other technical specifications].

Requirements

• Portfolio showing at least two complete YouTube videos, not only a showreel or short clips.
• Experience editing [long-form YouTube, Shorts, podcasts, tutorials, documentaries, or another relevant format].
• Ability to explain the editorial decisions behind the first 30 seconds of one submitted video.
• Strong sense of story, pacing, sound, visual continuity, and audience clarity.
• Reliable communication and the ability to meet the agreed schedule.
• [Required availability, time-zone overlap, language, equipment, or internet requirements].

Nice-to-haves and tools

• Adobe Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, or Final Cut Pro.
• After Effects or another tool for motion graphics.
• CapCut for Shorts, if vertical editing is part of the role.
• Descript for transcript-based cleanup, if relevant to the workflow.
• Frame.io, Google Drive, Notion, or [your review and project-management tools].

List the tools you actually use.

Pay and schedule

• Pay: [$ per video, hourly rate, or monthly rate].
• Scope: [number] long-form videos and [number] Shorts per [week or month].
• Schedule: [days, working hours, or delivery cycle].
• Time-zone expectations: [required overlap or async arrangement].
• Revision scope: [number] included rounds and terms for additional work.
• Paid trial: We will pay [trial amount] for a trial edit using [description of] real footage, a written brief, and [number] reference videos. The trial deadline is [deadline].
• Payment method and terms: [payment currency, platform, and payment schedule].

For current market context before you choose a number, see our guide to YouTube video editor costs.

How to apply

Please send:

1. Links to two complete YouTube videos you edited, plus timestamps for the moments you are most proud of.
2. A short answer to this question: What would you look for when improving the first 30 seconds of a YouTube video?
3. Your earliest start date, current client load, and availability in [time zone or working hours].

Use the subject line “[Application subject line]”. Applications that do not include [the required portfolio links or another qualifying instruction] will not move to the next stage.

If you cannot fill in the channel description, reference videos, deliverables, and pay terms, finish those decisions before posting the role.

Customize the template

For a long-form channel

Include the usual raw-footage volume, finished length, number of cameras, amount of B-roll, graphics expectations, and revision process.

Ask applicants to submit full videos rather than only highlights. Your trial should use footage similar to the work they will actually receive.

For a Shorts editor

Define the source material and the finished format. Include the aspect ratio, caption style, hook expectations, music rules, and delivery location.

If Shorts are a major part of the role, make them visible in the title, portfolio requirement, paid trial, and pay structure. Our guide to hiring a YouTube Shorts editor covers that role in more detail.

For an offshore hire

State whether the role is async, whether you need live overlap, and which time zone controls the deadline. A Philippines-based editor can be 12 to 16 hours apart from the United States, depending on the US time zone and season. That can work well for an async workflow, but it is a poor fit if every decision requires same-day conversation.

List pay in the currency you will use and name the payment platform. If you hire an overseas contractor, confirm the paperwork and classification requirements with your accountant.

If you want to compare a direct marketplace hire with a dedicated placement, see our guide to hiring a Filipino YouTube video editor.

After you post

Start with the portfolio, then use the paid trial to assess how the editor handles your footage and feedback. During the interview, ask the candidate to walk through their first 30 seconds and explain what they would change if viewers left early.

Use these YouTube editor interview questions to structure the conversation, and check for the red flags when hiring a YouTube video editor.

Post the role using the channels in our guide to where to find YouTube video editors. Once someone starts, attach the style guide, folder structure, reference videos, and feedback process to the onboarding plan. Our YouTube editor onboarding guide covers that handoff.

Frequently asked questions

What should a YouTube video editor job description include?

Include the channel's audience and style, expected deliverables, typical video length, editing responsibilities, tools, availability, pay, revision policy, trial process, and application instructions.

How much should I offer?

No single rate is useful until you know the footage volume, complexity, turnaround, revision scope, and whether the role includes Shorts, thumbnails, analytics, or publishing. Write the exact scope and payment terms into the post.

Should I hire a freelancer or a dedicated full-time editor?

A freelancer can fit project-based work or a channel that is still testing its format. A dedicated editor makes more sense when your publishing schedule, workflow, and need for continuity are established. Compare the tradeoffs in our guide to freelance, agency, and placement models.

Can AI tools replace the editor?

AI tools can help with transcript cleanup, filler-word removal, and initial Shorts selections. You should still screen for human judgment around hooks, story structure, pacing, brand voice, and feedback. See our guide to the best AI tools for YouTube video editing.

A good job description makes the work specific before you invite applications. If you want a dedicated, long-term editor without managing the full search yourself, The Creator's Assistant places talent from the Philippines and South Africa at a flat $1,800 to $3,000 per month, all-inclusive. We offer a paid trial, placement within 14 days or less from the first call to the placed person's first day, and a 30-day replacement guarantee.

Get started when you are ready to discuss the role.

Kierra Maggs, Founder, The Creator's Assistant