Costume Department Manager

JOB TITLE                        Costume Department Manager

REPORTS TO                   Director of Production

REPORTING STAFF     Costume Design Assistant, Head Draper/Workroom Supervisor, Draper(s), First Hand(s), Stitcher(s), Wardrobe Supervisor, Crafts Artisan(s)

FLSA CLASS                    Exempt

 

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Costume Department Manager is member of the Production leadership team and the leader of the Costume Department.  The Costume Department Manager provides day-to-day supervision for a team of staff and overhire technicians in the planning, budgeting, purchasing, construction, and maintenance of costume elements for all Chicago Shakespeare Theater productions, including both produced and presented work. This role is responsible for supporting the artistic vision of the production, executing the realization of the costume designs collaboratively and creatively, and ensuring that costumes are realized in a fiscally responsible and timely manner.  The Costume Department Manager is also responsible for maintaining and managing CST’s robust costume stock as well as the Costume Workshop itself.

 

____________________________________________________________________________

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.

• Manage the scheduling, coordination and supervision of the fabrication and procurement of costumes for all productions
• Develop show specific budget estimates based on preliminary designs, create costume plots and projections around materials, labor, rentals, and outsourcing.
• Provide suggestions on scope adjustments as needed
• Proactively collaborate with and guide costume designers to realize their designs within the bounds of budget, time, and infrastructure
• Hire, train and provide day-to-day supervision of costume shop staff, including conducting periodic goal-based performance reviews
• Oversee workflow and prioritization between multiple projects while maintaining appropriate production values
• Attend technical rehearsals and previews as required by Director of Production
• Collaborate with the Director of Production to create and manage departmental and show-specific labor, material and maintenance budgets
• Adhere to and enforce CST health and safety protocols by training employees on safety protocols, providing necessary safety equipment, reporting incidents, monitoring evolving safety practices, and advising on adjustments to policy
• Ensure that the costume shop work environments, spaces, and activities in the costume department’s purview are inclusive, and respectful for performers, designers, and staff.
• Maintain discretion and diplomacy in all activities to ensure that performers feel supported and safe
• Process and approve weekly payroll for department staff
• Maintain CST Costume stock and Costume inventory
• Collaborate with other production department managers in support of cross-departmental elements of each production
• Drive IDEA to Action platform by engaging in committees, events, training and other initiatives as needed
• Model CST’s core values of service, ingenuity, and collaboration as well as its customer service ethos
• Champion the organization’s commitment to a respectful, inclusive and equitable workplace

ADDITIONAL DUTIES

• Support employees with additional job training and help them discover projects to advance their professional goals
• Support all other activities of the theater including fundraising and audience development initiatives, access programming, and education initiatives
• Develop, and maintain relationships with outside production companies and theaters to cultivate opportunities for contract projects when the CST production schedule allows
• Advise CST leadership on capital projects and acquisitions
  _____________________________________________________________________

 

COMPENTENCIES

• Demonstrated superior ability to lead, delegate and effectively manage personnel
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple, overlapping, on-going complex projects
• Strong financial skillsets including estimating project costs based on provided design information, tracking and projecting expenses, financial reconciliation
• Demonstrated ability to creatively collaborate with a diverse range of designers and design processes and a willingness to adjust the production process to the needs of a given project
• Expert-level knowledge of theatrical costume fabrication techniques
• Expert-level knowledge of tools and machines typically found in a costume shop (e.g. sewing machines, irons, sergers)
• Demonstrated understanding of body diversity and a commitment to leading a body positive costume shop
• Knowledge of safety policies, procedures and best practices within a costume shop environment
• Strong interpersonal communication skills
• Emotional intelligence, professional discretion
• Service, ingenuity, and collaboration
• Mission-driven
  __________________________________________________________________________

WORK ENVIRONMENT

●        Work hours are somewhat flexible but generally 10 am – 6 pm, Monday through Friday; during load-ins and technical rehearsals, weeks run Tuesday through Sunday

●        Overtime hours will be necessary

●        Evening, weekend and holiday hours will be necessary

●        Worksite is primarily at the CST facilities on Navy Pier in Chicago, IL but will at times work in other locations such as the CST Warehouse, City Parks and other off-site performance venues

●        Occasional work in low-light environments

PHYSICAL DEMAND

·         Perform a variety of physical tasks including but not limited to climbing stairs, stooping, bending, kneeling, reaching, lifting, and pulling

·         Assist in the pushing, pulling, lifting, or moving of objects up to 50 lbs

·         Use of manual dexterity in the operation of computers and other equipment

·         Prolonged periods of time standing, and working at a computer

MINIMUM EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

·         5 year’s experience as a manager or assistant manager in a commercial costume shop or regional theater with a full-time costume shop

ADDITIONAL EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

·         BA, BFA, MA, MFA in costume technology or related field, welcomed

·         ETCP certification in any discipline welcomed

 

DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION STATEMENT

CST is dedicated to increasing equity, diversity and inclusion in our audiences, our programs and in all our hiring for staff and artists. We are committed to providing a work environment that is free from discrimination. CST prohibits discrimination in employment against any employee or job applicant because of that person’s race, color, creed, religion, ancestry, sex, national origin, disability, genetic information, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, familial status, veteran status, status with regard to public assistance, membership in a local human rights commission or any other legally protected status.