YouTube Video Editor & Thumbnail Designer

Employmate Limited; South Africa; Remote; ZAR 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Employmate Limited is seeking a creative, platform-savvy Video Editor to lead YouTube content production for long-form growth, retention and packaging, with cross-posting to Instagram and TikTok. Fully remote for South Africa-based candidates working 10:00am-6:00pm Sydney time.

You will edit engaging videos with strong pacing, design thumbnails, optimise titles and tags for YouTube SEO, and repurpose content into Shorts.

Qualifications

• Proven experience editing specifically for YouTube (portfolio required).
• Strong understanding of YouTube packaging (hooks, retention, thumbnails, pacing).
• Proficiency in Premiere Pro, Final Cut or DaVinci Resolve.
• Strong graphic design skills for thumbnail creation (Photoshop or similar).
• Understanding of short-form vertical content formats.
• Ability to work independently and manage deadlines.
• Experience editing educational, finance or business-related content.
• Experience growing or managing a YouTube channel.

Responsibilities

• Edit engaging long-form YouTube videos with strong pacing, storytelling and structure.
• Develop compelling hooks and dynamic openings to maximise audience retention.
• Design high-converting YouTube thumbnails with strong visual hierarchy and clarity.
• Optimise titles, descriptions and tags with a solid understanding of YouTube SEO and discovery.
• Structure videos strategically to improve watch time and engagement metrics.
• Monitor YouTube analytics (CTR, retention, watch time) and refine edits accordingly.
• Repurpose long-form content into YouTube Shorts and adapt selected clips for Instagram and TikTok.
• Stay up to date with YouTube trends, formats and evolving best practices.
• Ensure brand consistency across all video and graphic assets.

Skills

YouTube editing

Premiere Pro

DaVinci Resolve

Photoshop

YouTube SEO

Independent work

Tools

Final Cut Pro

Job description

Fully remote role (South Africa-based) Working hours: 10:00am - 6:00pm Sydney time (1:00am - 9:00am South African time) Dependent on Daylight Savings 40 hours per week Contract role

Role Overview

We are seeking a creative and platform-savvy Video Editor to lead the production of YouTube content. This role is primarily focused on YouTube long-form growth, audience retention and content packaging, with some support in adapting content for platforms such as Instagram and TikTok. This position suits someone who understands how to capture attention quickly, structure content for retention, and design thumbnails that drive clicks.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Edit engaging long-form YouTube videos with strong pacing, storytelling and structure.
• Develop compelling hooks and dynamic openings to maximise audience retention.
• Design high-converting YouTube thumbnails with strong visual hierarchy and clarity.
• Optimise titles, descriptions and tags with a solid understanding of YouTube SEO and discovery.
• Structure videos strategically to improve watch time and engagement metrics.
• Monitor YouTube analytics (CTR, retention, watch time) and refine edits accordingly.
• Repurpose long-form content into YouTube Shorts and adapt selected clips for Instagram and TikTok.
• Stay up to date with YouTube trends, formats and evolving best practices.
• Ensure brand consistency across all video and graphic assets.

Desired Experience & Qualification

• Proven experience editing specifically for YouTube (portfolio required).
• Strong understanding of YouTube packaging (hooks, retention, thumbnails, pacing).
• Proficiency in Premiere Pro, Final Cut or DaVinci Resolve.
• Strong graphic design skills for thumbnail creation (Photoshop or similar).
• Understanding of short-form vertical content formats.
• Ability to work independently and manage deadlines.
• Experience editing educational, finance or business-related content.
• Experience growing or managing a YouTube channel.