Short-Form Video Editor / Video Repurposing Virtual Assistant

This is a remote position.

Business Address: Canada 

About the company

An international documentary film and video production company dedicated to amplifying Indigenous voices, preserving cultural knowledge, and sharing authentic Indigenous stories with audiences around the world.

The company produces documentary films, video productions, educational resources, and other media projects across a wide range of locations and cultural contexts. Its work spans traditional documentary storytelling as well as emerging digital platforms, with an increasing focus on building a stronger presence on YouTube and short-form social media platforms.

The company operates in a highly international environment, collaborating with production teams, contractors, editors, and creative partners across multiple countries and time zones.

The organization is led by Matt LeMay, MMIE, CEO and Co-Founder of Indigenous Geographic, whose work centers on Indigenous storytelling, cultural preservation, documentary filmmaking, education, and meaningful collaboration with Indigenous communities and diverse stakeholders.

About the Role

Indigenous Geographic is looking for a Short-Form Video Editor / Video Repurposing Virtual Assistant to support its growing volume of digital video content.

The primary focus of this position is to repurpose existing documentary footage and long-form video content into engaging, polished short-form videos for platforms such as:

• YouTube Shorts
  
• Instagram Reels
  
• TikTok
  

The successful candidate will work with footage supplied by the Indigenous Geographic team rather than being expected to independently research subjects and create documentary content from scratch.

This is an excellent opportunity for a video editor who combines strong technical editing skills with storytelling instincts and an appreciation for culturally nuanced documentary content.

The ideal candidate will be able to look at a longer documentary, identify compelling moments, and transform those moments into concise short-form pieces while preserving the original story, meaning, and cultural context.

Key Responsibilities

1. Short-Form Video Editing

• Edit professional documentary footage into engaging short-form content.
  
• Create short-form videos generally ranging from approximately 30 seconds to 90 seconds.
  
• Repurpose longer documentary productions into social-media-ready content.
  
• Create vertical 9:16 videos for Reels, TikTok, and YouTube Shorts.
  
• Identify compelling scenes, moments, quotes, interactions, and visual sequences within longer footage.
  
• Create concise edits while maintaining the original story and context.
  
• Produce multiple short-form assets from longer documentary projects where appropriate.
  
• Create engaging openings and pacing suitable for short-form audiences.
  
• Maintain a professional and polished visual style throughout each edit.
  

2. Long-Form to Short-Form Content Repurposing

The VA may receive:

• Raw documentary footage
  
• Selected video clips
  
• Long-form documentary productions
  
• Completed documentary pieces
  
• Behind-the-scenes footage
  
• Footage captured during field productions
  
• Other video assets supplied by the production team
  

The VA will use these materials to create short-form content for digital distribution.

Examples of potential deliverables include:

• 30-second social clips
  
• 60-second reels
  
• 90-second short-form videos
  
• Documentary highlights
  
• Behind-the-scenes content
  
• Promotional clips
  
• Story-driven social media videos
  
• Excerpts from completed documentaries
  
• Vertical adaptations of existing horizontal/long-form content
  

3. Documentary Storytelling

The successful candidate must understand that effective editing for Indigenous Geographic goes beyond simply cutting footage into shorter pieces.

The editor will need to:

• Recognize compelling storytelling moments.
  
• Understand pacing and narrative flow.
  
• Select clips that can stand on their own.
  
• Preserve the meaning and context of the original material.
  
• Avoid taking culturally significant statements or footage out of context.
  
• Follow the creative direction provided by the production team.
  
• Understand that documentary content may require more nuanced editorial judgment than conventional social-media content.
  

A strong sense of visual storytelling is therefore highly desirable.

4. Vertical Video Formatting

The VA will be responsible for adapting content into short-form vertical formats.

Responsibilities may include:

• Reframing footage for 9:16.
  
• Cropping and repositioning subjects appropriately.
  
• Maintaining important visual information within the vertical frame.
  
• Creating appropriate sequences for mobile viewing.
  
• Exporting videos in the appropriate specifications.
  
• Ensuring the final output is suitable for social-media platforms.
  

5. Subtitles and Captions

Indigenous Geographic produces content involving Indigenous communities and languages.

Some footage may contain Indigenous languages, with English subtitles provided.

The VA should therefore be comfortable working with:

• English subtitles
  
• Captions
  
• Transcripts
  
• Time-coded text
  
• Subtitle placement
  
• Caption formatting
  
• AI-assisted transcription and translation tools
  

The candidate does not need to speak Indigenous languages, but must be able to accurately work with supplied translations/subtitles and follow instructions carefully.

6. Professional Video Post-Production

The company works with professional video equipment, including Blackmagic cameras, Canon cameras, and other professional camera systems.

Much of the footage is captured in RAW, which can appear flat before appropriate processing.

The candidate should therefore have a basic understanding of professional video workflows and be comfortable working with high-quality source footage.

Relevant skills include:

• Timeline management
  
• Cutting and sequencing
  
• Professional video editing
  
• Basic color correction
  
• Audio cleanup
  
• Exposure/color adjustments
  
• Transitions
  
• Captions/subtitles
  
• Rendering/exporting
  
• File organization
  
• Social-media formatting
  

Full professional color grading is not necessarily the primary responsibility, but familiarity with RAW footage and color workflows is strongly advantageous.

Required Editing Software

DaVinci Resolve – Strong Preference

DaVinci Resolve is the client's preferred editing platform and is highly preferred for this role.

The client's existing team uses DaVinci Resolve extensively and also works with Adobe Premiere Pro.

The client specifically indicated that proficiency in DaVinci Resolve is valuable because it allows the VA to collaborate more easily with the existing editorial team and work within a similar post-production environment.

Candidates who currently use another professional editing platform may still be considered if they:

• Have strong professional editing fundamentals.
  
• Demonstrate a strong portfolio.
  
• Are comfortable learning DaVinci Resolve.
  
• Can transition quickly into the client's workflow.
  

Other Preferred Tools / Technologies

Experience with any of the following is advantageous:

• DaVinci Resolve
  
• Adobe Premiere Pro
  
• Professional video editing platforms
  
• AI-assisted video editing tools
  
• AI transcription tools
  
• AI translation tools
  
• Caption/subtitle tools
  
• Audio cleanup tools
  
• Cloud-based file-sharing platforms such as Dropbox
  

The client indicated that DaVinci Resolve's AI-assisted audio and color capabilities may also be useful within the workflow.

Content Volume

Indigenous Geographic currently has approximately 11 documentary projects at different stages of production at any given time.

As the company expands its digital and YouTube presence, each project may generate additional short-form content requirements.

The client estimates that the potential short-form workload could eventually be approximately 40–100 clips, depending on the number of projects, production schedules, and content requirements.

Important: This is an initial estimate rather than a fixed monthly quota. The short-form workflow is still developing, and actual volume may fluctuate.

The successful candidate should therefore be comfortable working in an environment where priorities and output requirements may evolve as the company expands its digital strategy.

Typical Workflow

A potential workflow may look like:

Step 1 – Footage Provided

The production team uploads raw footage, selected clips, or completed long-form content to a shared location such as Dropbox.

Step 2 – Creative Direction

The client provides instructions, references, preferred clips, or other relevant context.

Step 3 – Editing

The VA reviews the supplied material and creates the requested short-form edit.

Step 4 – Formatting

The video is adapted into the appropriate 9:16 vertical format.

Step 5 – Review

The completed edit is returned to the Indigenous Geographic team for review.

Step 6 – Revisions

The VA incorporates reasonable feedback and revisions.

Step 7 – Final Delivery

The completed video is exported and delivered according to the client's specifications.

Important Scope Clarification

This position is primarily focused on video editing and content repurposing.

The VA will generally not be expected to:

• Research Indigenous communities independently.
  
• Develop documentary topics from scratch.
  
• Conduct extensive subject-matter research.
  
• Produce original documentary concepts without direction.
  
• Handle legal, finance, HR, or general administrative responsibilities.
  
• Replace the client's existing long-form documentary editors.
  

The client has an established internal team covering areas such as legal, finance, HR, and other corporate functions.

The VA's primary value will be in turning existing video assets into high-quality short-form digital content.

Cultural Awareness & Editorial Sensitivity

Because Indigenous Geographic works specifically with Indigenous communities, cultural awareness is an important consideration for this role.

The successful candidate must understand that footage may contain:

• Indigenous traditions
  
• Cultural practices
  
• Oral histories
  
• Traditional knowledge
  
• Indigenous languages
  
• Community members
  
• Culturally significant environments and events
  
• Sensitive historical or social subject matter
  

The candidate should approach this material with:

• Respect
  
• Professionalism
  
• Cultural sensitivity
  
• Attention to context
  
• Strong editorial judgment
  
• Willingness to learn
  

The candidate does not need to have an Indigenous background, but must be respectful and willing to learn about the context behind the content.

International Work Environment

Indigenous Geographic operates in a highly international environment.

The company's work and collaborations have involved locations including:

• Canada
  
• Africa
  
• Rome / Vatican
  
• Australia
  
• Arctic and circumpolar regions
  
• Other international locations
  

The company has also worked with international creative teams and contractors, including teams in Brazil, Portugal, Canada, and other locations.

The candidate should therefore be comfortable collaborating with people from different cultures, backgrounds, and time zones.

Schedule & Availability

Minimum Commitment

10 hours per week

Additional hours may potentially be available depending on workload and future requirements.

Time Zone

The client does not require the VA to work exclusively within a specific time zone.

The company's team is already distributed across multiple Canadian time zones and works with international collaborators.

The successful candidate should have reasonable flexibility to coordinate with the client and production team when necessary.

Required Qualifications

Must-Have Skills

• Professional video editing experience.
  
• Strong short-form video editing ability.
  
• Experience creating vertical 9:16 videos.
  
• Experience repurposing long-form video into short-form content.
  
• Strong understanding of pacing and storytelling.
  
• Ability to identify compelling moments within longer footage.
  
• Strong attention to detail.
  
• Ability to follow creative direction.
  
• Ability to work independently.
  
• Good English communication skills.
  
• Ability to accept and implement feedback.
  
• Reliable remote-work setup.
  
• Availability for at least 10 hours per week.
  

Highly Preferred Qualifications

Candidates with the following should receive priority:

• Strong proficiency in DaVinci Resolve.
  
• Adobe Premiere Pro experience.
  
• Documentary editing experience.
  
• Social-media video editing experience.
  
• YouTube Shorts experience.
  
• Instagram Reels experience.
  
• TikTok editing experience.
  
• Long-form-to-short-form repurposing experience.
  
• Professional RAW footage experience.
  
• Blackmagic camera footage experience.
  
• Basic color correction.
  
• Audio cleanup.
  
• Subtitle/caption editing.
  
• AI-assisted video editing.
  
• AI transcription/translation.
  
• Experience working with international teams.
  
• Experience with culturally sensitive documentary content.
  

Soft Skills & Personality

The client did not identify a highly specific personality profile but described the existing team as diverse, friendly, collaborative, and easy to work with.

The ideal candidate should therefore be:

• Friendly and professional
  
• Collaborative
  
• Adaptable
  
• Reliable
  
• Organized
  
• Detail-oriented
  
• Creative
  
• Self-motivated
  
• Receptive to feedback
  
• Comfortable working independently
  
• Comfortable with changing priorities
  
• Respectful of different cultures and perspectives
  
• Comfortable working with an international team
  

The candidate should be someone who can "handle it" in a fast-moving production environment where multiple projects may be active simultaneously.

Portfolio Requirement

A portfolio/work samples should be requested from all shortlisted candidates.

The portfolio should ideally demonstrate:

• Short-form video editing
  
• Vertical 9:16 content
  
• Documentary or storytelling work
  
• Long-form-to-short-form repurposing
  
• Social-media content
  
• YouTube Shorts/Reels/TikTok content
  
• DaVinci Resolve projects, if available
  
• Caption/subtitle work
  
• Creative editing and pacing
  

Candidates with strong examples of turning long-form footage into compelling short-form content should be prioritized.

Ideal Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate is a professional video editor with strong short-form storytelling ability who can take existing documentary footage and transform it into engaging social-media content.

They should understand that the goal is not simply to shorten a video.

They need to determine:

• What moment is worth highlighting.
  
• What portion of the story will work independently.
  
• How to create an effective opening.
  
• How to maintain context.
  
• How to structure the edit for mobile audiences.
  
• How to preserve the tone and authenticity of the original documentary.
  

A candidate who combines:

DaVinci Resolve + professional editing + documentary storytelling + social-media awareness + cultural sensitivity

would be considered an especially strong match.

Recruitment Screening Priorities

Recruiters should prioritize candidates in approximately this order:

1. DaVinci Resolve proficiency
   
2. Strong video-editing portfolio
   
3. Short-form/social-media editing experience
   
4. Long-form-to-short-form repurposing experience
   
5. Strong storytelling instincts
   
6. 9:16 vertical editing experience
   
7. Documentary/video production experience
   
8. Professional RAW footage experience
   
9. Subtitle/caption experience
   
10. Basic color/audio knowledge
    
11. AI-assisted editing/transcription experience
    
12. Strong English communication
    
13. Cultural sensitivity
    
14. Ability to work independently
    
15. Flexibility with international time zones
    
16. Availability for at least 10 hours/week