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Documentary Films Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Nen Creative

Video Director

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$70K - $120K/yr

Experience directing commercials, brand films, interviews, documentaries, or narrative work * Strong scripting, messaging, and narrative development ability * Comfortable presenting ideas and ...

Nen Creative

Video Director

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$70K - $120K/yr

Experience directing commercials, brand films, interviews, documentaries, or narrative work * Strong scripting, messaging, and narrative development ability * Comfortable presenting ideas and ...

Roku

Head of Content Innovation

Santa Monica, CA

$280K - $350K/yr

From scripted and unscripted series to documentaries, films, and live specials, we bring entertaining, culturally resonant stories to tens of millions of viewers at no cost. Partnering closely with ...

New

Avoca AI

Creative Producer

New York, NY · On-site

$165K - $190K/yr

You will architect Avoca's brand archive, the films, photography, animations, and audio that ... documentary, or commercial video, with a demonstrated portfolio across at least three of the four ...

Roku

Head of Content Innovation

Santa Monica, CA · On-site

$280K - $350K/yr

From scripted and unscripted series to documentaries, films, and live specials, we bring entertaining, culturally resonant stories to tens of millions of viewers at no cost. Partnering closely with ...

New

SIMON WIESENTHAL CENTER

Retail Sales Lead

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$21/hr

... Films, and the Digital Terrorism + Hate Project. Headquartered in Los Angeles, it maintains ... Moriah has produced 17 documentaries to date, two of which have received the Academy Award for best ...

Commonpoint Queens

$16.50/hr

... through documentary filmmaking and social media content. This volunteer role offers hands-on ... You'll work with a creative team to produce engaging films and social media posts that amplify ...

Commonpoint Queens

$20/hr

... through documentary filmmaking and social media content. This volunteer role offers hands-on ... You'll work with a creative team to produce engaging films and social media posts that amplify ...

Nen Creative

Editor

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$65K - $100K/yr

You'll cut a wide range of work across our roster of tech startup clients, from launch films and ... or documentary work * Strong reel that demonstrates story sensibility, pacing, and range across ...

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How much do documentary films jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 17, 2026, the average hourly pay for documentary films in the United States is $31.60, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $21.39 and $39.66 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are some common challenges documentary filmmakers face when working on a new project?

Documentary filmmakers often encounter challenges such as securing funding, gaining access to subjects or locations, and managing unpredictable events during filming. Balancing creative vision with factual accuracy can also be demanding, as real-life stories sometimes evolve in unexpected ways. Additionally, filmmakers frequently work in small teams, collaborating closely with editors, sound designers, and researchers to bring the project to completion under tight deadlines.

What is the difference between Documentary Films vs Film Editors?

AspectDocumentary FilmsFilm Editors
Required CredentialsFilm or media production degree, storytelling skillsFilm or media production degree, editing software proficiency
Work EnvironmentOn-location shooting, post-production editingPost-production editing suites, studio settings
Industry UsageDocumentary filmmaking, storytelling, social issuesAll film genres, editing for narrative flow

Documentary filmmakers focus on creating non-fiction stories through filming and storytelling, often involving on-location shoots. Film editors work in post-production, shaping the footage into a cohesive final product across various genres. While both roles require media production skills and familiarity with editing tools, documentary filmmakers emphasize storytelling and research, whereas film editors concentrate on technical editing and pacing.

What are documentary films?

Documentary films are non-fiction movies that aim to document reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction, education, or maintaining a historical record. They often feature real people, events, and issues, and use a variety of storytelling techniques such as interviews, archival footage, and narration. Unlike fictional films, documentaries strive to present facts and authentic perspectives, though the filmmaker’s point of view can influence the narrative. They are widely used in journalism, education, and entertainment to inform and engage audiences about real-world topics.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Documentary Filmmaker, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Documentary Filmmaker, you need strong storytelling abilities, research skills, and a solid understanding of film production, often supported by a degree in film, media, or journalism. Proficiency with cameras, editing software like Adobe Premiere Pro or Final Cut Pro, and knowledge of sound recording equipment are typically required. Creativity, perseverance, and effective communication are essential soft skills for building narratives and collaborating with subjects and crew. These skills and qualities are vital for producing compelling documentaries that inform, engage, and resonate with audiences.
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What cities are hiring for Documentary Films jobs? Cities with the most Documentary Films job openings:
What states have the most Documentary Films jobs? States with the most job openings for Documentary Films jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Documentary Films jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Documentary Films jobs are:
Documentary Films jobs near you
Infographic showing various Documentary Films job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 6% Locum Tenens, 13% As Needed, 56% Full Time, 21% Part Time, 2% Contract, and 2% Nights. Highlights an 71% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 26% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $65,728 per year, or $31.6 per hour.
Associate Creative Director, Customer Stories

Associate Creative Director, Customer Stories

Ramp

New York, NY • On-site

$200K - $275K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 26 days ago

Job description

About Ramp
Ramp is building the smart infrastructure for finance teams, embedded in the transaction flow of every dollar a business spends. We automate how over $200B in annualized spend flows in and out of 70,000+ companies: authorizing payments, flagging risk, categorizing spend, and closing books.
The problems are high-stakes, data-dense, and unforgiving.
We hire people with high agency and high urgency. We look for slope over intercept. We care less about where you trained and more about what you've built. At Ramp, everyone is a builder who owns problems end to end and makes consequential decisions that shape the outcome.
The median Ramp customer saves 5% and grows revenue 16% in their first year - far in excess of businesses operating without Ramp. We believe every ambitious company deserves the same.
If you want to build systems that directly shape how companies move and manage billions, Ramp is the place to do it.
About the Role
The Creative Director for Customer Stories will set the creative standard for the program, leading the charge on how we celebrate the compelling people and businesses building on Ramp. You'll own the story bar, bringing narrative clarity, and filmmaker-level craft to every project.
Your job is to define the program's creative principles, write the treatments, and direct a bench of filmmakers and animators. You'll apply deep production knowledge to govern our tiers and actively push to break the mold of traditional B2B "customer stories." Working closely with our Customer Marketing Lead, who writes the stories and sets the narrative priorities, you bring those stories to life on screen: owning the creative ideation, treatment, and direction. You'll also work closely with animators and filmmakers, directing them through every shoot and edit.
As a creative leader, you'll set the standard for how Ramp is represented to our customers, partnering across the business to ensure every project meets an exceptionally high bar for craft and storytelling.
What You'll Do
  • Set the creative standard for Ramp's customer films and enforce it on every project
  • Apply a story bar before any project enters production: real narrative tension, a compelling character on screen, Ramp load-bearing in the story
  • Develop and evolve the Ramp's film series, continuing to build a recognizable body of work
  • Direct the creative for Tier 1 brand films end-to-end: brief, treatment, shoot direction, editorial, final cut
  • Lead the Customer Creative team and grow a bench of editors, filmmakers, and writers
  • Govern the production tier system and establish the internal production kit
  • Partner with the Customer Marketing Lead on every customer film, and with Product Marketing on launch films and co-built product stories
  • Own treatment and narrative shape across the program - strong writing is a daily, hands-on part of the job
What You Need
  • 7+ years in film and creative direction with a portfolio that leans heavily into film: brand documentaries, character-driven branded content, or editorial work
  • Strong writing chops - treatments, narrative arcs, and creative briefs are part of the daily craft; the customer story itself is led by Customer Marketing
  • Strong story casting instincts - you can spot the compelling person inside a corporate org and pull a story out of someone who defaults to corporate-speak
  • Understands the structural difference between a brand film and a sales-floor film, and briefs, casts, and directs them differently, with a creative point of view on how the same story can do both
  • Experience building creative frameworks: production playbooks and brief templates
  • Experience leading a team and producing a recognizable body of work
  • Hands-on with AI tools in production and post (Runway, Descript, Adobe AI, ElevenLabs, VO3, Gemini, Midjourney)
  • A background in filmmaking-leaning agencies or in-house creative leadership at companies with a high film bar
  • Able to travel frequently for on-location shoots
  • Based in NYC (or SF), or willing to relocate to either
Nice-to-Haves
  • B2B or enterprise storytelling experience
  • A network of editors, writers, and filmmakers you'd bring into our bench
  • Documentary or editorial credits outside the brand world (festival, journalism, publishing)
  • Experience partnering with a story-driven customer marketing function, plugging into a relationship-led story pipeline rather than sourcing stories solo

Benefits available to all full-time Ramp employees (Global)
  • Flexible PTO
  • Centralized home-office equipment ordering
  • Health and wellness stipend
  • Budget for intra-office travel
  • Weekly coffee stipend

United States
  • 100% medical, dental & vision insurance coverage for you, with partial coverage for dependents
  • One Medical annual membership
  • 401(k), including employer match on contributions made while employed by Ramp
  • Fertility HRA (up to $10,000 per year)
  • Parental leave: up to 16 weeks (birthing + bonding) or 8 weeks (bonding only) at 100% pay
  • Pet insurance
  • In-office perks: lunch, snacks, drinks, and more
  • Relocation support to NYC or SF (as needed)
Canada
  • Group medical, dental, and vision coverage through Sun Life
  • Life, AD&D, and disability coverage
  • Fertility drug coverage (up to $4,000 lifetime)
  • Group Retirement Plan with employer match (RRSP + DPSP)
  • Parental leave: up to 16 weeks (birthing + bonding) or 8 weeks (bonding only) at 100% pay, with additional time available at reduced pay
  • Employee Assistance Program and virtual care through Lumino Health

United Kingdom
  • Private medical insurance through Freedom Elite
  • Virtual GP and at-home care via eMed x Livi
  • Workplace pension through Penfold, with salary sacrifice option
  • Parental leave: up to 16 weeks (birthing + bonding) or 8 weeks (bonding only) at 100% pay with additional time available at reduced pay

Referral Instructions
If you are being referred for the role, please contact that person to apply on your behalf.
Other notices
Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.
Beware of recruiting scams: Ramp will only contact you through official @Ramp.com email addresses and will never ask for payment or sensitive personal information during the hiring process.
Ramp Applicant Privacy Notice

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