LEAD EDITOR

Lead Editor The Role The Lead Editor is the post-production backbone of the storytelling team – ingesting every frame, managing every file, and crafting the final story that makes the client feel like someone finally got it exactly right. Schedule Full Time or Freelance Hybrid DFW or Remote Compensation Competitive Full Job Description About Harp & Sling Harp & Sling is a storytelling-first creative agency that helps brands cut through mediocrity through cinematic video, photography, and strategic storytelling campaigns. We serve industries where trust, people, and real-world impact matter—construction, engineering, architecture, design, nonprofits, and thought leadership. We don’t just “shoot content.” We lead stories—from strategy to execution—capturing people, projects, and purpose with clarity, excellence, and heart. As we scale our Storytelling Team model, we’re looking for a Lead Editor —a seasoned visual leader who can own projects, lead teams, and deliver consistently excellent work in demanding environments. Shooting great footage is one thing. Knowing what to do with it is another. The Lead Editor at Harp & Sling is not just someone who cuts clips together. They are the person who takes everything the team captures – hours of footage, multiple cameras, layers of audio, b-roll, interviews, moments – and sees through all of it with clarity and purpose. They find the thread. They build the arc. They deliver the story the client always hoped someone could tell. You will own the full editing lifecycle – from the moment footage comes off the drive to the moment the final deliverable is approved and delivered. That means data management is not a side task. It is a core competency. You know exactly where every file lives, how it is organized, and what its status is at any given moment. Nothing gets lost. Nothing gets missed. Nothing gets sent that is not ready. You report to the Creative Director and take clear creative direction from them – translating their vision into the final cut with discipline and precision. You work in close collaboration with the Director of Photography, who delivers the footage, and the Editing Specialist, who supports the post-production workflow. You are the connective tissue of post-production, and the whole pod counts on you to hold it together. Responsibilities Data Management & Ingestion Own all aspects of post-production data management: ingestion, organization, backup, and file integrity from first card pull to final archive Build and maintain a consistent, clearly labeled project file structure that the entire pod can navigate Verify footage quality, audio sync, and file completeness upon every handoff from the Director of Photography Maintain organized project libraries across all active client accounts with zero tolerance for missing or mislabeled assets Serve as the post-production system expert – the team comes to you when they need to find something, and you always know where it is Editing & Story Crafting Ingest all production material and approach it with fresh eyes – seeing through the volume and finding the story inside it Execute the full editing lifecycle: assembly cut, rough cut, fine cut, color, audio polish, and final delivery Follow the Creative Director’s vision precisely while bringing your own editorial instincts to serve the story Craft narrative-driven edits that feel intentional, emotionally resonant, and built for the client’s audience Manage multiple project timelines simultaneously without losing detail or quality on any of them Client Story Delivery Ensure every deliverable reflects the client’s original intent and the Creative Director’s creative direction Prepare and export final deliverables to exact client specifications: format, resolution, aspect ratio, and platform requirements Manage revision rounds with clarity and patience – tracking feedback, implementing changes accurately, and communicating status to the pod Deliver work that makes the client feel like the story they always imagined finally exists Pod Collaboration & Communication Work closely with the Editing Specialist to delegate supporting tasks and maintain post-production momentum Communicate proactively with the Creative Director on timeline status, revision progress, and any technical flags Collaborate with the Director of Photography to ensure the editorial intent aligns with what was captured on set Show up as a steady, reliable presence in the pod – the person everyone knows will follow through without being asked twice Required Skills And Experience Technical & Post-production 3+ years of professional editing experience in a production or agency environment Expert-level proficiency in Adobe Premiere Pro and/or DaVinci Resolve Strong working knowledge of After Effects, color grading workflows, and audio mixing basics Deep familiarity with post-production data management: file structures, codecs, proxies, backups, and archiving Experience delivering across multiple formats and platforms: broadcast, social, web, and internal Editorial & Story Proven ability to take raw footage and craft a compelling, emotionally driven narrative Strong sense of pacing, rhythm, and visual storytelling Ability to receive and implement creative direction clearly and accurately Comfortable managing multiple concurrent projects without losing precision on any of them Collaboration & Process Natural team player – you work best when the whole pod is moving in the same direction Clear communicator who surfaces problems early and brings proposed solutions Highly organized and methodical – your system is something others can rely on, not just something that works for you Patient, steady, and consistent – the kind of person that raises the trust level of everyone around them Who You Are (and this matters) You are the person the pod exhales around. Not because you are loud or fast or flashy – but because when you are on a project, everyone knows the back end is handled. The files are organized. The timeline is clean. The story is being found. You bring a steadiness to post-production that is rare, and the team feels it. You are deeply collaborative. You do not disappear into your edit bay and resurface with a cut that surprises everyone. You communicate. You ask the right questions before you start. You check in when something feels off. You treat the Creative Director’s vision like it matters – because it does – and you make it your mission to honor it in every frame. You are a data hawk. You know where every file lives. You know what is backed up and what is not. You know the status of every project in the queue. Nothing slips through your system because your system does not have cracks. And when the client watches the final cut and says "that is exactly what I was trying to say"– you do not need the credit. Knowing the story got told the right way is enough. Core Values: Alignment with Harp & Sling Own the Outcome – Takes responsibility from start to finish Wash Feet – Serves clients and internal partners with humility Live No Lies – Communicates with honesty, clarity, and integrity Make It Gold – Brings excellence and thoughtfulness into every detail Let the Light Leak – Works with purpose, hope, and a strong inner conviction Schedule and Location Dallas–Fort Worth or Full Remote Full Time Salary or Freelance (fractional) Options Availble #J-18808-Ljbffr