Deputy Head of Costume at Scottish Opera

Creative Boom Ltd.; Glasgow; Hybrid; GBP 35,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

Scottish Opera in Glasgow is recruiting a Deputy Head of Costume to support the Head of Costume in leading the department and bringing production designs to life on stage. Based at the Production Studios on Edington Street, Glasgow, the role covers both main-scale and small-scale productions, working closely with designers, makers and production teams.

You will supervise costumes, coordinate the workroom, plan workloads, manage budgets and sourcing, and ensure deadlines.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience as a Costume Supervisor in opera, ballet or theatre.
• Strong understanding of historical costume and a creative eye for design.
• Excellent organisation and attention to detail.
• Ability to juggle competing priorities, budgets and production deadlines.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Confidence with administration and record-keeping, including Excel.
• Collaborative approach with patience, tact and diplomacy.
• Theatrical costume-making experience (cutting) and departmental administration experience would be an advantage.

Responsibilities

• Supervising costumes for main-scale and small-scale productions.
• Working closely with designers, makers and production teams to bring costume designs to life.
• Coordinating the day-to-day running of the costume workroom and Costume Hire Facility.
• Planning workloads, coordinating fittings and meeting production deadlines.
• Managing costume budgets, sourcing materials and overseeing purchasing.
• Supporting departmental administration, staffing arrangements and health and safety requirements.

Skills

Costume supervision

Historical costume understanding

Organisation

Priorities management

Communication

Administration

Excel

Collaborative approach

Theatrical costuming/cutting

Tools

Excel

Job description

Scottish Opera is recruiting a Deputy Head of Costume to support the Head of Costume in leading the department and bringing production designs to life on stage.

Based at the company's Production Studios on Edington Street in Glasgow, the role covers both main-scale and small-scale productions, working closely with designers, makers and production teams. No two productions are the same.

What you'll be doing

• Supervising costumes for main-scale and small-scale productions
• Working closely with designers, makers and production teams to bring costume designs to life
• Coordinating the day-to-day running of the costume workroom and Costume Hire Facility
• Planning workloads, coordinating fittings and making sure production deadlines are met
• Managing costume budgets, sourcing materials and overseeing purchasing
• Supporting departmental administration, staffing arrangements and health and safety requirements

What we're looking for

• Extensive experience as a Costume Supervisor in opera, ballet or theatre
• A strong understanding of historical costume and a creative eye for design
• Excellent organisation and attention to detail
• The ability to juggle competing priorities, budgets and production deadlines
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Confidence with administration and record-keeping, including Excel
• A collaborative approach, with patience, tact and diplomacy
• Theatrical costume-making experience (particularly cutting) and departmental administration experience would be an advantage

What's on offer

• £35,000 – £40,000 a year, plus benefits

Applications close at 5pm on Thursday 12 November 2026.