Jobs (Calgary): Costume Designer – Heritage Park

Theatre Alberta; Calgary; On-site; CAD 52,000 - 76,000; Full time

Job summary

Heritage Park’s Costume Department is responsible for the production, procurement, and repair of hard‑wearing period costumes and uniforms for approximately 600 staff each year.

Reporting to the Director, Interpretation, the Costume Designer coordinates all aspects of garment construction, pattern drafting, cutting, assembly, and fitting, delegating work to other Costuming staff and volunteers as necessary.

Qualifications

• Degree or diploma in Costume Design with 5+ years of costume design experience.
• Minimum 2 years supervisory experience managing staff/volunteers.
• Sewing expertise and pattern work are essential.

Responsibilities

• Design, produce, maintain, distribute, and retrieve costumes.
• Recruit, train, and supervise costuming staff and volunteers.
• Coordinate with park departments to outfit staff and volunteers.
• Research and create historically accurate costumes from 1860s–1940s.
• Oversee garment construction, fittings, and repairs.
• Organize costume fittings and orient staff to policy.
• Develop costumes for camps and events like Ghoul's Night Out.
• Source fabrics and costuming supplies; review suppliers.
• Coordinate textiles conservation with Curatorial team.
• Produce annual inventory reports and organize periodic inventories.

Skills

Sewing knowledge

Supervisory skills

Interpersonal comms

FileMaker Pro

Microsoft Office

Education

Diploma or degree in Costume Design

5 years costume design experience

2 years supervisory experience

Tools

FileMaker Pro

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

Jobs (Calgary): Costume Designer – Heritage Park

Job Title: Costume Designer
Company: Heritage Park
Reports To: Director, Interpretation

Job Summary: Heritage Park’s Costume Department is responsible for the production, procurement, and repair of hard‑wearing period costumes and uniforms for approximately 600 staff each year. Reporting to the Director, Interpretation, the Costume Designer coordinates all aspects of garment construction, pattern drafting, cutting, assembly, and fitting, delegating work to other Costuming staff and volunteers as necessary. He/she is also a leader in promoting the correct wearing of period costume in accordance with Heritage Park policy and guidelines.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Responsible for the design, production, maintenance, distribution, and retrieval of costumes.
• Recruits, trains, and supervises Costuming employees and volunteers by coordinating projects and assigning workloads.
• Coordinates with all park departments to ensure timely outfitting of all staff and volunteers including historical costumes, work wear, security uniforms, and food service uniforms.
• Initiates research and designs historically accurate costumes to reflect Heritage Park’s time frame of 1860s – 1940s.
• Coordinates and is familiar with all aspects of garment construction, pattern drafting, cutting, fitting, and assembly.
• Oversees the maintenance of costumes including laundering, repairs, alterations, and dry cleaning.
• Conducts costume fittings, issues costumes, and orients staff to Costume Policy and Guidelines.
• Develops costumes for children’s summer camps and other specialty programs such as the Ghoul’s Night Out Halloween event.
• Sources and purchases fabrics, ready‑made garments, other textile items (flags) as well as Costuming equipment and supplies.
• Continually reviews suppliers to ensure effective use of Park resources.
• Organizes conservation of textiles in conjunction with Curatorial team.
• Produces an inventory report annually and co‑ordinates a physical inventory every third year.

Education & Experience:

• Diploma or degree in Costume Design from a recognized program, combined with a minimum 5 years’ experience designing and building costumes within a similar work environment (e.g. museum, theatre or film)
• Minimum 2 years Supervisory experience

Skills:

• Excellent sewing knowledge is required. Specialized training / experience with tailoring, altering and original pattern creation is considered an asset
• Well‑developed supervisory skills including the ability to communicate instructions, delegate work, evaluate staff performance and inspire and motivate a team
• Strong interpersonal communication skills for dealing with the public, employees, and volunteers
• Confidence using File Maker Pro and Microsoft Office Suite to maintain inventory and produce reports

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