Cinematographer

M&C Saatchi; Washington, Northern (District of Columbia, KY); Hybrid; USD 55,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

M&C Saatchi World Services US is seeking a highly creative and technically skilled Cinematographer to capture visual content for federal communications, outreach, and engagement initiatives. You will work with creative, production, account, and strategy teams to bring stories to life across documentaries, interviews, events, and digital campaigns.

The role requires hands-on operation of camera, lighting, and audio, the ability to direct on-screen talent, and by traveling to capture location

Qualifications

• Minimum 3–5 years of cinematography experience in a professional setting.
• Proficient with lighting design and camera operation.
• Ability to direct interviewees and tell stories visually.
• Experience producing for federal or public sector campaigns is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Plan, direct and capture high-quality video content for campaigns and events.
• Shoot interviews, documentaries, podcasts, and B-roll across studio and field.
• Develop visual approaches and storytelling through cinematography and lighting.
• Direct interviewees and on-screen talent, creating a comfortable environment.
• Collaborate with production teams on concepts, shot lists and production approaches.
• Operate camera, lighting, and audio equipment independently.

Skills

Cinematography

Lighting

Camera operation

Video production

On-set directing

Storytelling

Tools

Professional video cameras

Lighting kits

Audio equipment

Post-production coordination

Job description

ABOUT M&C SAATCHI WORLD SERVICES

M&C Saatchi World Services is a full-service marketing company renowned for using commercial advertising to solve the world’s toughest challenges. World Services is a specialty branch of M&C Saatchi Group, and we provide strategic communications, behavior change, and marketing support to Public Sector clients with special emphasis on the US Federal Government and State, Local, Tribal, & Territorial leaders.

M&C Saatchi World Services US is seeking a highly creative and technically skilled Cinematographer. This role captures and produces compelling visual content that supports communications, outreach, and stakeholder engagement initiatives, translating complex topics into compelling and engaging stories and multimedia experiences that strengthen audience understanding, connection, and mission impact.

THE ROLE

M&C Saatchi World Services is seeking a talented, hands-on Cinematographer to create compelling visual content that supports high-profile communications, outreach, and engagement initiatives across federal environments. Working closely with creative, production, account, and strategy teams, you will play a key role in bringing stories to life across documentaries, interviews, podcasts, events, digital campaigns, social content and enterprise communications. This is both a creative and practical role. You will contribute to concepts, treatments and visual approaches, help plan and execute shoots, direct contributors, operate camera, lighting and audio equipment, and collaborate closely with editors and motion designers throughout post-production. The ideal candidate combines strong technical production expertise with exceptional storytelling instincts. You should be able to create visually distinctive work, put talent at ease and make confident creative decisions in both controlled and fast-moving environments. You are comfortable operating independently in the field on straightforward assignments, while also working as part of a wider production team on more complex projects. You are comfortable collaborating across multidisciplinary creative teams and managing multiple projects simultaneously while maintaining consistently high standards of creative and technical quality. This role will support projects across a federal client portfolio and may involve travel to capture events, interviews, and mission-related activities.

This is a hybrid role; however, the ideal candidate will live in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia (DMV) region.

Key Responsibilities

• Plan, direct and capture high-quality video content for communications campaigns, outreach initiatives, events, leadership engagements, and digital platforms.

• Shoot interviews, documentaries, testimonials, podcasts, events, instructional content, campaign assets and B-roll across studio and field environments.

• Develop visual approaches that bring creative concepts and real-world stories to life through cinematography, lighting, composition, camera movement and sound.

• Direct interviewees, contributors and on-screen talent, creating an environment in which people feel comfortable and able to communicate naturally.

• Collaborate with creative, production, strategy, and stakeholder engagement teams to develop concepts, treatments, storyboards, shot lists and production approaches.

• Work closely with producers to assess locations, identify technical requirements, prepare equipment and ensure shoots run smoothly.

• Operate professional video, lighting, and audio equipment independently in both studio and field environments.

• Set up and film multi-camera podcasts, interviews and studio-based content, including lighting, audio and camera configuration.

• Respond creatively to changing conditions on location and identify compelling, unscripted moments that strengthen the final story.

• Review and organize shots, preparing selects, notes and clear handover materials to support an efficient post-production process.

• Work closely with editors, motion designers, and creative teams to ensure final products meet strategic, creative, and technical requirements.