Costume Shop Manager | College of Arts & Letters

About the role

The Costume Shop Manager oversees all aspects of costume shop operations, including costume construction, fittings, budgeting, staffing, and maintenance of the University's costume collection. This position collaborates closely with faculty, guest artists, costume designers, and production staff to ensure artistic goals are achieved while maintaining production schedules and fiscal responsibility.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with costume designers to execute artistic visions through advanced costume construction, draping, pattern-making, tailoring, and alterations.
• Lead costume shop workflow for all productions, developing schedules that ensure costumes are completed before technical rehearsals.
• Construct, modify, and repair costumes, fabrics, and costume accessories as required.
• Cook costume fittings with designers and performers and implement fitting adjustments.
• Aid designers with pulling costumes from stock and purchasing or sourcing materials, fabrics, and costume pieces.
• Supervise student workers and temporary costume artisans to ensure high-quality craftsmanship and timely completion of production deadlines.
• Participate in production meetings and provide technical expertise related to costume construction, crafts, wigs, hair, and makeup.
• Attend dress rehearsals and performances as assigned and coordinate costume maintenance and strike activities following each production.
• Recruit, hire, train, schedule, and supervise student employees, wardrobe supervisors, and temporary costume artisans.
• Provide hands-on instruction and professional mentorship to students pursuing theatrical production and costume technology.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, creativity, professionalism, inclusion, and workplace safety.
• Establish weekly shop schedules based on production priorities and supervise all assigned labor, including staff, contractors, student employees, and volunteers.
• Manage costume shop budgets, including tracking expenditures for materials, labor, rentals, and purchases.
• Cook payroll for student employees and temporary staff.
• Prepare contracts, rental agreements, invoices, and purchasing documentation.
• Maintain detailed records of production progress, budgets, labor schedules, and payroll.
• Maintain a clean, organized, and safe costume shop environment in accordance with University policies and OSHA safety standards.
• Perform routine maintenance of sewing machines, pressing equipment, dye equipment, and other specialized costume shop tools.
• Evaluate equipment needs and recommend long-term capital improvements.
• Serve as the primary liaison for costume rentals, applying departmental policies and providing customer service to university and community partners.

Requirements

• Advanced knowledge of costume construction, including draping, pattern-making, tailoring, alterations, and fabric treatments.
• Demonstrated supervisory or leadership experience managing staff, student employees, or production teams.
• Excellent organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills.
• Ability to recruit, train, supervise, and mentor student employees and temporary staff.
• Familiarity with OSHA and industry-standard safety practices for theatrical shop environments.
• Valid driver's license with the ability to safely operate a vehicle.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Costume Design, Theatre, Fashion Design, or a related field.
• Minimum of 3–7 years of professional experience in a theatrical costume shop.

Qualifications (continued)

• Extensive knowledge of costume technologies, including fabric dyeing, millinery, costume crafts, mask-making, and wigs.
• Strong understanding of contemporary and historical costume and fashion styles.
• Demonstrated interest in mentoring and training emerging theatre technicians and student workers.
• Experience using software for scheduling, budgeting, inventory management, and costume shop administration.
• Experience working in an academic or educational theatre environment.

Additional Information

Application Deadline: July 26, 2026
Hiring Pay Range: Up to $70,000, commensurate with experience.
Required Application Materials: A resume and cover letter are required to be considered for this position.