Costume Supervisor

About the role

Sarah Lawrence College seeks a Costume Supervisor to support the Theatre Program's academic curriculum, production season, and costume facilities. This combined position includes a part-time staff appointment and an Affiliate Faculty role teaching Costume Design I, II, and Costume Conference.

The Theatre Program is a collaborative, interdisciplinary community that values rigorous research, creative experimentation, and inclusive artistic practice, preparing students for professional work in the field.

Responsibilities

• Mentor undergraduate and graduate student designers
• Supervise costume shop employees and production crews
• Manage budgets and inventories
• Coordinate rentals and purchases
• Maintain costume spaces and equipment
• Collaborate with directors, designers, faculty, and production staff
• Attend production meetings and technical rehearsals
• Support interdisciplinary projects across the College

Appointment Structure

This position consists of a part-time, 10-month staff appointment supporting the Theatre Program's productions, costume shop, wardrobe facilities, and student employees, and an Affiliate Faculty 10-month appointment teaching Costume Design I, Costume Design II, and Costume Conference.

Essential Duties

• Teach Costume Design I, Costume Design II, and Costume Conference
• Develop course materials, assignments, assessments, and learning outcomes
• Supervise costume shop student employees, wardrobe crews, and production assignments
• Manage the operations of the costume shop, costume storage, dressing rooms, laundry facilities, and wardrobe spaces
• Develop and manage production costume budgets
• Purchase, rent, borrow, document, and track costumes, fabrics, supplies, and costume materials
• Maintain the costume inventory and related databases or tracking systems
• Coordinate costume fittings, alterations, construction schedules, wardrobe preparation, and production deadlines
• Attend required production meetings, fittings, technical rehearsals, dress rehearsals, and performances
• Supervise costume load-ins, wardrobe preparation, work calls, maintenance, and strikes
• Establish and communicate production timelines, costume deadlines, and expectations
• Oversee student employee schedules, timekeeping, training, and payroll documentation
• Develop, communicate, and enforce costume shop and wardrobe safety procedures
• Maintain costume equipment and facilities and recommend repairs, replacements, and capital improvements
• Coordinate the maintenance, cleaning, repair, and proper storage of costumes following productions
• Facilitate approved costume checkouts for Theatre classes, Film projects, independent student work, and student organizations
• Collaborate with Theatre faculty and production staff to support classroom instruction and curricular projects
• Attend Theatre Program faculty, staff, and production meetings as required
• Foster an inclusive, collaborative, process-oriented learning environment grounded in mentorship, care, experimentation, and creative exploration

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; MFA or equivalent professional experience preferred
• Professional experience in costume design, costume technology, wardrobe supervision, or costume shop management
• College-level teaching experience preferred
• Strong knowledge of costume construction, tailoring, draping, patternmaking, alterations, dyeing, wardrobe maintenance, and costume crafts
• Experience supervising student employees, wardrobe crews, or production teams
• Demonstrated ability to mentor students with varied levels of design and technical experience
• Ability to manage multiple productions, budgets, schedules, and deadlines
• Strong organizational, communication, and collaborative skills
• Ability to work effectively with faculty, staff, students, directors, designers, and guest artists
• Experience with Google Workspace and/or Microsoft Office
• Self-directed, with strong leadership, judgment, and creative problem-solving abilities
• Commitment to creating an inclusive and educational working environment

Pay

Salary: $44k-$48k