Costume Shop Manager, School of Theatre

Responsibilities

• Coordinate the production process in the costume shop.
• Collaborate with Costume Faculty, the Workroom Supervisor, and Costume Designers to plan builds, rentals, stock pulls, and purchases for each production.
• Maintain show and shop budgets; provide weekly budget updates.
• Purchase and track items purchased for productions, including managing returns of unused items.
• Implement existing and new costume shop policies in consultation with Costume Faculty and Staff.
• Schedule all costume fittings for productions.
• Assemble cast lists and acquire class schedules.
• Cook up personnel necessary for each fitting.
• Utilize email calendar systems to manage and facilitate scheduling logistics.
• Manage costume stock.
• Create and maintain a digital database to track all stock pieces, including rented costumes.
• Serve as Costume Rental Manager, meeting with clients in-person and establishing distance rental protocols.
• Manage invoicing, supervise restocking of returned costumes, and follow up with clients regarding returns.
• Organize and supervise restocking following production strike.
• Train and supervise the Wardrobe Head.
• Facilitate training of wardrobe crew.
• Meet with crew prior to load-in to review responsibilities and demonstrate necessary skills.
• Organize and facilitate load-in from shop to theatre spaces for technical rehearsals.
• Attend dress rehearsals and maintain a hands-on presence backstage as needed.
• Aid in training related to quick changes, backstage protocol, and traffic control.
• Coordinate backstage layout with technical direction regarding dressing booth placement.
• Aid in strike by coordinating dry cleaning, supervising laundry processes, and ensuring proper storage of costumes.
• Order, purchase, and maintain inventory of costume shop supplies.
• Establish and maintain paperwork systems to track inventory and budgetary needs.
• Consult with Costume Faculty and Staff to procure materials for productions.
• Maintain costume shop equipment and supplies, including arranging cleaning, repairs, and replacement as necessary.
• Cook up organization and maintenance of shop craft areas, laundry/dye room, fitting rooms, and dressing rooms across theatre spaces.
• The Costume Shop Manager will also serve as liaison with Costume Faculty and the Workroom Supervisor on costume-related matters and may teach a relevant course as needed.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience in costume shop management or professional costume production.
• Experience with budgeting, purchasing, inventory management, and costume paperwork.
• Experience developing and maintaining databases.
• Demonstrated experience with supervising and training student employees or production crew.
• Additional educational training or hands-on experience in wigs, costume crafts, and patternmaking.
• Experience managing costume rentals and client relations.