Short-Form Video Editor For DTC Brands

We aren’t looking for someone to "put clips together." We are looking for a behavioural storyteller who treats the first three seconds of a video like a high-stakes science experiment.

attention is the new currency.

The Core Pillars of the Role

1. Narrative Architecture & Hook Strategy

• The First 3 Seconds:

  Craft 3–5 distinct "Hook Variations" for every asset to find the winning thumb-stop.

• Loop Mastery:

  Implement the

  Cliffhanger Effect

  by opening cognitive loops early and delaying the payoff to maximize watch time.

• Pattern Interruption:

  Use

  Schematic Violations

  and

  Benign Violations

  to snap viewers out of "autopilot scrolling."

• Rhythmic Pacing:

  Master

  Micro-Staccato

  editing—using rapid cuts, visual punctuation, and strategic silence to dictate the viewer's pulse.

2. Multi-Asset Design (Video + Static)

• Video:

  Produce high-retention Reels, TikToks, and Shorts that feel native but look premium.

• Static Assets:

  Engineer high-CTR thumbnails and ad creatives using Photoshop/Illustrator. You understand facial logic, eye-line cues, and the "3-second rule" for readability.

• Ad Performance:

  Create "Direct Response" edits that don't just look cool, but drive specific user actions.

3. Data-Informed Iteration

• Retention Analysis:

  Look at the "Drop-off Graphs" and diagnose why viewers left.

• A/B Mindset:

  Rapidly test different caption styles, music beds, and hook-orders based on performance feedback.

Your Technical Toolkit

• Adobe Premiere Pro:

  Your primary home. You are fast, organized, and shortcut-heavy.

• After Effects:

  For "Visual Punctuation"—text animations, motion tracking, and kinetic typography that emphasizes key points.

• Canva:

  For "Click-Engine" design (Thumbnails, Carousels, and Ad Covers).

• Sound Design:

  You don't just "add music." You use hits, risers, and "The Power of the Pause" to drive the emotional arc.

What "Great" Looks Like

You receive 5 minutes of raw, rambling footage. Within 24 hours, you deliver:

1. The Master Cut:

   A tight, 58-second "Retentive Masterpiece."

2. The Hook Lab:

   3 alternate intros (The Curiosity Gap, The Controversy, and The Result-First).

3. The Click-Bait (The Good Kind):

   2 high-contrast thumbnails that make it impossible not to click.

Required Experience

• Proven Track Record:

  A portfolio of short-form work that demonstrates a deep understanding of pacing and "The Turn."

• Psychology Obsessed:

  You can explain why a certain cut works using terms like "Variable Rewards" or "Open Loops."

• Native Fluency:

  You live on social media. You know the trends before they are trends, but you know the psychology that makes them work even better.

Bonus Points:

How to Apply

Don't just send a resume. Send us:

1. Your portfolio (focusing on short-form).

2. The "Why":

   Pick one video in your portfolio and tell us the psychological principle you used to keep people watching.