Senior Video Editor Job Description and KRAs

A Senior Video Editor cuts the most demanding video projects and sets the editing standard for the team. They take raw footage and turn it into films, ads, corporate videos and social content, handle colour, sound, graphics and versions, and deliver in every required format. The role sits in a production or content team, often under a video producer or post-production head. A good one edits fast without losing craft, keeps every deliverable on brief and on time, and guides junior editors on technique and workflow.

Detail	For this role
Department	Media and Advertising
Level	Mid level
Reports to	Video Producer
Direct reports	Video Editor
Experience	4 to 7 years in video editing across ads, films or digital content

Senior Video Editor job description template

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Job title: Senior Video Editor

Department: Media and Advertising

Reports to: Video Producer

Location: [City], [office, branch or site]

About the role

Key responsibilities

Edit films, advertisements, corporate videos and social content from raw footage to final cut.
Shape story and pace in the edit, and take the piece through rough cut, review and final.
Handle colour correction, sound mixing, subtitles and basic motion graphics, or brief specialists for them.
Deliver each project in every required format, aspect ratio and length for the platforms it runs on.
Manage project files, media, backups and version control so nothing is lost or confused.
Take feedback from directors, producers and clients, and turn changes around quickly.
Set editing standards, folder structures and workflows for the team to follow.
Guide junior editors on technique, software and delivery, and review their cuts.
Coordinate with the shoot team so footage is captured in a way that edits well.
Keep up with editing software, formats and platform specs.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree or diploma in film, media or a related field
A strong showreel of edited work
Colour grading or motion graphics training is an advantage
4 to 7 years in video editing across ads, films or digital content

KRAs and KPIs for a Senior Video Editor

Key result areas for the appraisal form, each with a KPI you can measure every month or quarter.

Key result area	How to measure it
Edit quality	Cuts approved within two review rounds on most projects
On time delivery	Edited projects delivered by the agreed date at least 95 percent of the time
Technical accuracy	Deliverables meet platform specs on format, resolution and audio, with zero rejects
Media safety	All project media backed up, with zero loss of footage or project files
Throughput	Handle the agreed volume of edits a month without a drop in quality
Team development	Junior editors need fewer corrections and deliver faster over the quarter

Skills and tools

Video editingAdobe Premiere ProDaVinci ResolveColour correctionSound editingMotion graphics basicsFile and media managementStorytellingMentoring

Tools used day to day: Adobe Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, After Effects, Audio editing software, Media storage and backup.

Reporting line and career path

Moves up from: Video Editor, Assistant Editor
Next roles: Lead Editor, Post-Production Head

Interview questions for a Senior Video Editor

Walk me through your edit workflow from raw footage to final delivery.
Show me a piece in your reel. What choices shaped the story and pace?
How do you deliver one film across YouTube, Instagram and a widescreen event without redoing everything?
How do you organise media and backups so a project is never lost?
A client wants major changes an hour before delivery. How do you handle it?
How do you guide a junior editor whose cuts drag?

Managing a Senior Video Editor in ZeniaHR

AttendanceEditing runs to delivery deadlines, so set flexible or shift timings and let editors punch on the mobile app or a biometric device at the studio. Late nights and weekend deliveries are common near launch, so grant comp-off for worked weekly offs, taken back later.LeavePlan leave around delivery dates, and hand over project files, timelines and passwords before going away so another editor can pick up. The leave calendar helps make sure a live edit is never left without an editor near its deadline.Performance and KRAsEnter the KRAs above as weighted goals in a quarterly review cycle, with edit quality and on time delivery weighted highest. Review delivery, technical rejects and mentoring each quarter and hold the formal review quarterly, closing with an annual cycle.

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Frequently asked questions

What does a senior video editor do?

A senior video editor cuts the most demanding video projects and sets the team's editing standard. They turn raw footage into films, ads and social content, handle colour, sound, graphics and versions, and deliver in every required format. They manage media and backups, guide junior editors, and own quality and timeliness in post-production.

What is the difference between a video editor and a senior video editor?

A video editor cuts standard projects, often under guidance. A senior video editor handles complex work, sets workflows and standards, solves technical problems and mentors juniors. The senior role owns delivery quality across the team, while a video editor is still building speed, craft and range on the software.

What software should a senior video editor know?

A senior video editor should be strong in Adobe Premiere Pro or DaVinci Resolve, comfortable with After Effects for graphics, and able to handle colour correction and sound. Knowing delivery specs for YouTube, Instagram and broadcast matters. Interviews focus on the showreel and workflow more than the exact software brand.