Seasonal Manager, Wardrobe

The Seasonal Manager, Wardrobe will be responsible for managing costume design and logistics for a 9-month seasonal contract spanning Halloween and Holiday at a major UK theme park. Handling client accounts, assisting third-party Costume Designers, and managing the overall design and/or build process for each assigned project. This role will act as point person for clients and vendors and will manage the details needed to ensure the success of productions from conception through execution. During the Halloween and Holiday seasons, the Seasonal Wardrobe Manager is responsible for the repair and maintenance of all existing costumes, ensuring they meet high standards of quality and durability. Additionally, this role requires proactive planning and preparation for upcoming seasons, which may include coordinating costume fittings for performers. The Seasonal Wardrobe Manager will also oversee and provide guidance to seasonal wardrobe assistants, ensuring efficient operations and adherence to costume requirements.

KEY TASKS

Role & Responsibilities:

1. Sourcing, shopping, build and construction of all costume items required for assigned accounts and projects.
2. Liaise and negotiate with current and potential vendors to ensure items sourced are most cost effective and durable.
3. Prepare concepts and designs for assigned accounts, including character renderings, research, costume plots, and designs throughout the process.
4. Coordinate all costume needs between outsourced designers, build shops, vendors, in-house and on-site alteration teams, production management, and talent.
5. Oversee fittings and alteration needs for assigned accounts. Sewing when necessary.
6. Effectively manage costume expenses and expense reports for assigned projects, ensuring deliverables remain within budgetary guidelines.
7. Management of an expansive stock inventory of costumes, shoes, wigs, jewelry and accessories.
8. Record & document (electronic and hard copy) all information relating to account costume data as reference for future production and documentation purposes.
9. Provide leadership and training to on-site wardrobe team, including management of running performances and activations including but not limited to laundry and maintenance.
10. Establish and maintain effective working relationships with vendors, coworkers and clients.
11. Ability to manage multiple projects and teams at a given time.
12. Employees and contractors must comply with local rules, regulations, codes of conduct, and safety standards at all times and cooperate with any safety procedures, inspections, or audits that are necessary.
13. Collaboration and teamwork a high priority.

Qualifications & Skills:

1. Minimum terminal degree in Theatrical Design or Technology or comparable work experience working in a theatre or entertainment production company wardrobe or costume department.
2. Experience in the entertainment and live event production industry.
3. Proficiency in MS Office applications.
4. Strong budget management skills.
5. Strong paperwork skills for design and wardrobe. Adept at building costuming bibles, sourcing, wardrobe tracks, performer guides.
6. Ability to meet deadlines, sometimes with narrow time and budget constraints.
7. Cultural fluency in style and maintenance needs across diverse hair and wig types.
8. Advanced knowledge of hand and machine sewing techniques. Garment finishing with an understanding of theatrical costume construction techniques and terms.
9. Ability to embellish shopped garments or stock costumes.
10. Experience in theme park and cruise ship wardrobe genres preferred.
11. Craft skills, mask making, dyeing, paint, millinery and shoe maintenance knowledge.

Please Note: While this is intended to be an accurate description of the job, this is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, skills, efforts, requirements or working conditions associated with the position, and may require that other or different tasks be performed as necessary and assigned.