Scripted Editor

Early Media; Austin (CO); On-site; USD 60,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Early Media is seeking a Scripted Editor to join their team in Austin, Colorado. This role involves collaborating closely with directors and producers, shaping high-quality scripted content aimed at a young audience. You will be responsible for managing the editorial process from assembly to final cut, ensuring engaging narratives are delivered on time.

The ideal candidate will have a strong editorial portfolio, proficiency in Premiere Pro, and a deep understanding of what captivates audiences aged 13–30. You will thrive in a fast-paced environment, coordinating with various post-production teams to maintain a clean and efficient workflow.

Qualifications

• Strong editorial portfolio in scripted content demonstrating storytelling instincts.
• Experience with industry-standard editing software, especially Premiere Pro.
• Ability to edit content for vertical formats and understand pacing for younger audiences.

Responsibilities

• Own the editorial process on assigned scripted projects, delivering high-quality cuts.
• Collaborate creatively with directors and producers on story structure and pacing.
• Manage the edit pipeline with an Assistant Editor while maintaining workflow efficiency.

Skills

Storytelling instincts

Editing software proficiency (Premiere Pro)

Vertical format editing (9:16)

Strong organizational skills

Audience engagement understanding

Tools

Premiere Pro

Job description

About Early Media

Early Media is a media company creating and distributing vertical series. We craft narratives with real viral potential and mass appeal while preserving the heart of indie production, telling meaningful stories audiences actually care about. Every creative decision is sharpened by a proprietary testing and marketing engine that collapses the distance between producer and consumer into the tightest iteration loop in the industry.

We’re building a creator‑side marketplace to become the top‑funnel distribution engine driving this growth, built to power content testing and promotion at massive scale. The platform is currently in development.

Summary

Editing at Early Media isn’t just a technical function — it’s a creative one. As Scripted Editor, you’ll be a genuine collaborator in the storytelling process, working alongside directors and producers to shape the rhythm, structure, and emotional arc of our scripted content. You’ll cut across a slate of 10 series, working in vertical formats for an audience of 13–30 year olds who have high standards. This is not typical vertical content, you’ll be charged with making substantial and premium quality entertainment for this new medium.

This role sits within Early Media’s shared post‑production team, reporting to the Post Supervisor, and you’ll have an Assistant Editor to support your pipeline. You’ll be working at high volume — which means strong organizational instincts and a clean, efficient workflow matter as much as your creative eye. The ideal candidate brings both craft and voice to the edit suite: someone directors and producers trust to find the cut they didn’t know they were looking for.

What You’ll Do

• Own the editorial process on your assigned scripted projects, from assembly through picture lock, delivering cuts that are on time and of the highest quality.
• Function as a creative collaborator — not just executing a director’s vision, but actively contributing to story structure, pacing, and emotional resonance in partnership with the creative team.
• Edit across vertical (9:16) and mixed format content, with a strong instinct for what holds attention and what loses it on the platforms our audience uses.
• Work closely with Directors and Scripted Producers throughout the post process — from first assembly conversations through notes rounds and final delivery.
• Bring a sharp understanding of pacing for a young audience: knowing when to hold, when to cut, and how to sustain engagement across formats with varying attention dynamics.

Post Pipeline & Collaboration

• Manage your edit pipeline with the support of your Assistant Editor — organizing media, managing project files, and keeping the post workflow clean and efficient.
• Coordinate closely with the Post Supervisor on scheduling, deliverables, and any technical or workflow decisions that affect the broader post team.
• Collaborate with color, sound, VFX, and other post vendors to ensure your cuts are handed off with clear, complete notes and that finishing work lands on time.
• Contribute to the development of post‑production standards at Early Media — this is a new department and there’s real opportunity to help shape how it runs.

Qualifications

Need to Have

• A strong editorial portfolio in scripted content — series, short‑form, or both — demonstrating clear storytelling instincts and technical command of the craft.
• Proficiency in industry‑standard editing software (Premiere Pro preferred)
• Fluency editing in vertical (9:16) format or a demonstrated ability to think natively about frame, composition, and pacing in portrait orientation.
• Experience working collaboratively with directors and producers throughout the post process — you’re a creative voice, not just an executor.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple projects across a high‑volume slate without losing quality or momentum.
• Genuine understanding of what captures and holds the attention of 13–30 year old audiences — you watch what they watch, you know what works.

Nice to Have

• Experience editing content natively designed for TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, or similar platforms.
• Familiarity with social platform delivery specs, aspect ratio requirements, and how technical decisions affect algorithmic performance.
• Experience managing or mentoring an Assistant Editor.
• Background in both short‑form and long‑form scripted content — comfortable shifting between formats and episode lengths.
• Knowledge of color grading, sound design, or VFX workflows sufficient to communicate clearly with post vendors and finishing teams.
• Experience at an early‑stage production company or digital studio where post infrastructure was still being built.