Job Description

This assignment posting is for an Agency Worker opportunity with People Inc. The Agency Worker is paid by a staffing agency employer. Agency Workers will receive a W2 from the staffing agency reporting their earnings for tax purposes.Social Video Director & Series Creative LeadThe Video team at People Inc. is looking for a Social Video Director and Creative Lead to create bold, episodic, story-driven culture-shaping video for TikTok and Instagram.This is not a traditional production role. This is for a true social creator someone who has been making their own work for years, who lives on the internet (in a good way), and who instinctively understands what makes people stop scrolling.At the core, this is an indie filmmaker in a social-first world. You have a point of view, you generate ideas out of thin air, and you don’t wait for someone else to make them real. You pick up a camera, jump into an edit, and make it happen.You think in formats, aesthetics and genres, not just one-off videos. You know how to build an entire video series around a tight story arc, across multiple genres - doc, comedy, romance, drama. You craft the right aesthetics, timing, and social mechanics that drive audiences to watch, comment and share.This is a fantastic opportunity for a creative leader to own some of our most visible videos across the world’s best brands like PEOPLE, Travel + Leisure, Food & Wine, and Byrdie - developing original concepts, launching episodic series, and directing standout content that commands attention.

Assignment Details

• Part Time; Project-based (NYC office; in-person for shoots)
• Start Date: asap; flexible
• End Date: 8/30/2026 (with potential to extend)
• Hourly Rate: $50–60; negotiable; project rates also possible

What You’ll Do

• Concept bold, social-first ideas built for TikTok and Instagram
• Create and launch episodic series across multiple genres
• Own projects end-to-end from idea → shoot → edit → finalize
• Direct talent of all kinds (creators, celebs, real people) and get performances that feel natural, not forced
• Lead writers’ rooms in collaborative and focused way
• Be hands-on; largely directing and producing, but always eager to shape the work yourself when needed
• Build for performance strong hooks, pacing, retention, rewatchability, and shareability are second nature
• Turn ideas into repeatable formats that can scale into franchises
• Stay deeply online tracking trends, creators, and formats (you read Link in Bio, you know the microdrama arcs, you spot shifts early).
• Collaborate tightly across multiple teams. You will need to communicate and inspire to make ideas happen.
• Move fast, stay scrappy, and still make it feel premium

What You Bring

• 5+ years making social-first video (for yourself, brands, or publishers
• A portfolio that feels original and reflects 100% ownership. Clear taste, strong POV, and videos that perform.
• Experience creating episodic or repeatable formats, not just one-off hits
• Experience leading and/or contributing in writers’ rooms
• Deep understanding of TikTok & IG mechanics hooks, loops, retention curves, and why people share
• Solid shooting skills (DSLR/mirrorless, lighting, audio in lean setups)
• Confidence directing talent, communicating across teams, adapting in real time and getting everyone excited and inspired
• Resourceful, fast, and comfortable figuring it out as you go

Who You Are

• A creator first, not just a producer.
• You’re chronically tapped into culture and can’t help but analyze what’s working
• You have taste you know what feels fresh vs. overdone immediately
• You’re an idea generator you walk in with concepts and are excited to share and brainstorm
• You can zoom out (big idea) and zoom in (frame-level decisions)
• You like collaborating, but you’re not waiting for consensus to have a POV.
• You care about making things people actually want to watch, not just content that “checks a box.”
• You’re versed in all aspects of social video creation You can pick up a camera and hop into an edit.

People Inc. is America’s largest digital and print publisher. Our 40+ iconic and fast-growing brands harness the best intent-driven content, the fastest sites, and the fewest ads to help nearly 200 million people every month, including 95 percent of US women, make decisions, take action, and find inspiration. People Inc. brands include PEOPLE, Better Homes & Gardens, Verywell, FOOD & WINE, The Spruce, Allrecipes, Byrdie, REAL SIMPLE, Investopedia, Southern Living and more.Please be aware of fraudulent recruiters offering opportunities at People Inc. If you are in conversations about a job opportunity and wish to confirm its validity, please reach out directly to hrconcerns@people.inc