Costume Manager

Columbia College Chicago; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health coverage

Dental coverage

Vision coverage

Commuter benefits

Retirement plan

Educational assistance

Paid leave

Job summary

Columbia College Chicago is seeking a Costume Manager to lead costume operations for 40+ productions annually. This in-person role oversees a costume shop, stock, and teams of student designers and crew, ensuring safe, creative, and timely costume builds, fittings, and strikes.

The position requires a Bachelor's in costume construction or design and at least five years of professional theatre experience, with preference for academia. Flexible work arrangements are limited by department needs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in costume construction or design and a minimum of five years of professional work experience in theatre or academic theatre.
• Previous experience in an academic environment preferred. Equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered.
• Thorough knowledge of costume technologies including draping, sewing, dyeing, quick change rigging techniques, and costume crafts.
• Knowledge of safe operating procedures for costume shop equipment, dye processes, adhesives, and theatrical hair and makeup materials.
• Ability to read and interpret costume plots, vision boards, and renderings to provide accurate budget, labor, and timeline estimates.
• Ability to lift and move costume stock and equipment up to 35 pounds.

Responsibilities

• Review and interpret costume plots, vision boards, and renderings to assess feasibility of costume, hair, and designs.
• Develop budget estimates and build schedules based on preliminary designs.
• Collaborate with Designers and Directors on materials and construction methods while ensuring safety and feasibility.
• Develop and maintain costume production calendars and deadlines.
• Attend and participate in design and production meetings; lead costume shop meetings.
• Supervise actor measurements and fittings sessions.
• Mentor students in pulling, construction, and alteration of costumes.
• Coordinate purchases, rentals, and returns of materials for costume, hair, and make-up.
• Ensure crew heads are trained on prep, dressing, rigging, and maintenance.
• Hire and supervise student costume shop employees.
• Develop safe work practices and train on equipment, dyes, adhesives, and makeup materials.
• Organize, catalog, and maintain stocks and supplies; plan additions to stock.
• Maintain shop equipment and schedule maintenance.
• Coordinate laundry, dry cleaning, and other maintenance needs for costumes and wigs.
• Collaborate with Faculty Costume Design Mentor student design/production assignments.
• Manage budgets for costume shop; reconcile budget lines after strikes and semesters.
• Reconcile P-card and expense reports monthly.
• Ability to work periodic nights and Saturdays.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Budgeting

Team supervision

Costume construction

Fittings

Safety training

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in costume construction or design

Job description

The Columbia College Chicago School of Theatre and Dance is currently searching for a COSTUME MANAGER to start this fall.

Reporting to the Production Manager, the Costume Manager is responsible for the realization of costume designs and costume operations for 40+ productions each year and the safe and efficient operation of the costume shop, costume equipment, and costume, hair, and make-up stock. Reporting to the Production Manager, the Costume Manager leads teams of student designers, practicum students, and student employees through costume builds, production runs, and strikes.

The Costume Manager is a skilled theater professional who is highly knowledgeable in all aspects of costume construction and operation, effectively navigating the complexities of a multifaceted, ambitious work and learning environment.

This is an in-person role with limited flexible work arrangements subject to departmental needs and supervisory approval.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Review and interpret costume plots, vision boards, and renderings to assess financial and practical feasibility of costume, hair, and designs. Develop budget estimates and build schedules based on preliminary designs and provide suggestions for adjustments.

Collaborate with Designers and Directors to determine appropriate materials and construction methods that support the artistic goals of each production while ensuring performer safety and production feasibility.

• Develop and maintain costume production calendars and deadlines in coordination with the Production Manager and production teams.
• Attend and participate in design and production meetings.
• Lead costume shop meetings.
• Supervise actor measurements and fittings sessions.
• Mentor and oversee students in the pulling, construction, and alteration of costumes.
• Coordinate purchases, rentals, and returns of costume, hair, and make-up materials.
• Ensure costume, hair, and make-up crew heads are trained on prep, dressing, quick rigging, and maintenance of costume, hair, and make-up elements for each production.
• Mentor and oversee students in the creation, distribution, and maintenance of costume paperwork, communication of build and show schedules, and duties and expectations of costume, hair, and make-up run crews.
• Coordinate laundry, dry cleaning, and other costumes and wigs maintenance needs.
• Collaborate with the Faculty Costume Design Mentor student design and technical production assignments.
• Hire and Supervise student Costume Shop student employees.
• Develop, implement, and enforce safe work practices for costume, hair, and makeup operations. Train students and employees in the safe use of costume shop equipment, chemicals, dyes, adhesives, steamers, irons, and other specialty equipment.
• Organize, catalog, and maintain costume, hair, and make-up stocks, materials, and supplies. Determine which new elements will be incorporated into CCC costume and hair stock at the conclusion of each production.
• Maintain shop equipment, including performing basic repairs/maintenance to sewing machines and irons, arranging for more substantive repairs when needed, and scheduling yearly maintenance of industrial machines.
• Purchase supplies shop supplies for costume, hair, and make-up.
• Manage lending/borrowing of costume stock class work and non-theater program projects.
• Manage costume shop materials, costume shop student employee, and mainstage costume production budgets. Reconcile all budget lines with the production manager at the conclusion of strike for all mainstage productions and end of each semester for all other productions and shop expenses.
• Reconcile P-card and expense reports monthly.

Ability to work periodic nights and Saturdays.

Perform other duties and/or responsibilities as assigned or required.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s Degree in costume construction or design and a minimum of five years of professional work experience in theatre or academic theatre.

Previous experience in an academic environment preferred. Equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered.

Thorough knowledge of costume technologies including draping, sewing, dyeing, quick change rigging techniques, and costume crafts.

Knowledge of safe operating procedures for costume shop equipment, dye processes, adhesives, and theatrical hair and makeup materials.

Working knowledge of wigs, hair styling, wig maintenance, and theatrical makeup techniques preferred.

Ability to read and interpret costume plots, vision boards, and renderings to provide accurate budget, labor, and timeline estimates.

Working knowledge of PC based productivity software, as well as functional familiarity with industry standard theatrical software and able to learn other software as needed.

Prior supervisory experience of a team in a dynamic environment. Experience advising, and training students preferred.

Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects and to navigate shifting and competing priorities with patience and diplomacy.

Excellent communication skills, both written and oral. Able to establish and maintain effective working relationships with various groups.

Creative problem-solving skills and ability to research new techniques and materials.

Ability to lift and move costume stock and equipment up to 35 pounds and work in a costume shop environment involving prolonged standing, bending, climbing ladders, and repetitive hand movements.

OTHER DETAILS

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities required of the employee and is subject to change based on the needs of the department and/or college.

The salary range provided in this posting reflects what we reasonably expect to pay for this position. Actual compensation offered or earned is dependent on experience, education and other factors including department budget.

• We take pride in offering competitive benefits with affordable health, dental and vision coverage; flexible spending accounts; commuter benefit program, life, and accidental, death & dismemberment coverage; paid and unpaid leave options; work/life benefits; educational assistance programs; and retirement and financial planning benefits.

Columbia College Chicagois an acclaimed undergraduate and graduate institution that provides a comprehensive education in the arts, communications, and public relations. We constantly aim to reach our full potential as an educational innovator, incubator of new creative practice and generator of real-world success for young creatives. We are in the heart of Chicago, across the street from historic Grant Park, and housed in some of the most iconic buildings in the South Loop.

Columbia College Chicago is a private urban institution of approximately 4,000 undergraduate and graduate students. It is a four-year College offering a distinctive curriculum that blends liberal arts, creative and media arts and business.