Video Editor and Motion Designer, Temporary

ProPublica • New York City, NY

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

ProPublica is seeking a video editor and motion designer to join its newly launched YouTube team, focusing on adapting investigative journalism for the platform. This role involves owning the creative and technical postproduction for assigned videos, building sustainable workflows, and establishing ProPublica's visual identity on YouTube. The position requires platform-native expertise to drive experimentation and deliver compelling storytelling formats while adhering to rigorous editorial standards. The video editor will collaborate with producers, reporters, editors, and freelancers, managing multiple projects and meeting deadlines. This is a temporary two-year role reporting to the director of multiplatform audience strategy within the larger ProPublica audience team.

Requirements

• Proven ability to use video editing and design skills for journalistic ends.
• Four or more years of professional video editing and motion design experience in a newsroom, media organization, or production studio.
• High proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, with expert proficiency in both Adobe After Effects and Premiere Pro.
• A portfolio that highlights videos edited specifically for YouTube, including hosted, vlog-style, and/or explainer formats.
• Experience building tension in hooks, controlling pacing, and navigating tonal shifts in video storytelling.
• Energized by the opportunity of being part of a founding team and creating something from scratch — establishing formats, defining visual languages, and building efficient workflows.
• Thrives while collaborating, seeking input from others, and iterating work based on feedback.
• Eligible to work in the U.S.
• Ability to travel as necessary for team meetings, training, and video-related duties.

Nice To Haves

• Experience being part of a founding YouTube team or launching a new project initiative.
• Experience in on-site production, including shooting on professional camera equipment and knowledge of lighting and audio setups.
• Experience with digital asset management and video archival workflows.
• Proficiency in Figma and Google Workspace.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with producers to create videos and related promo cuts grounded in ethical journalistic principles, standards, and practices.
• Use editorial judgment to translate investigations and video scripts with sensitivity, care, and appropriate tone.
• Own the creative and technical postproduction for videos, including editing, motion graphic design and animation, color grading, and sound design, ensuring projects are shaped and paced for a YouTube-first audience.
• Own end-to-end motion design workflows, including creating storyboards, animatics, and polished final products.
• Establish and maintain a central motion design library of MOGRTs, templates, toolkits, and other reusable visual assets for teamwide use.
• Maintain ProPublica’s brand standards and overall design system, collaborating with design and graphics teams for visual cohesiveness.
• Communicate proactively with the team regarding project status and timelines and collaborate with producers on scoping and delivering videos on schedule.
• Manage multiple projects in various stages of production, sometimes meeting tight deadlines.

Benefits

• Full-time benefits

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed