Fall Play Fight Costume Designer

San Francisco University High School; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 3,200 - 3,800; Part time

Job summary

San Francisco University High School is seeking a Costume Designer & Wardrobe Manager for its fall production. You will plan, create, and oversee attire, hair, and makeup concepts while guiding dressing room operations during rehearsals and live performances.

You will design with the Director, source and alter garments, conduct fittings, and supervise backstage quick-changes. The role mentors students and ensures safety, dignity, and organization.

Qualifications

• Experience in theatrical costume design, wardrobe styling, or garment construction.
• Basic sewing, tailoring, and garment repair skills.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage production budgets.
• Demonstrated patience, positive communication, and enthusiasm for mentoring high school students in a collaborative creative environment.

Responsibilities

• Design & Concept Development: Collaborate with the Director to create a cohesive visual concept tailored to the play’s setting, tone, and budget.
• Sourcing & Creation: Build, pull from storage, alter, or purchase necessary garments, accessories, and props while maintaining strict record-keeping.
• Actor Fitting & Styling: Conduct fittings with student actors, ensuring costumes fit comfortably, allow for required stage movement, and honor student safety and dignity.
• Backstage & Dressing Supervision: Oversee dressing rooms during dress rehearsals and performances; teach student actors proper garment care, styling, and efficient backstage quick-changes.
• Inventory & Maintenance: Organize wardrobe racks before show nights, handle minor repairs between performances, and lead the post-production clean-out and inventory strike.

Skills

Costume design

Wardrobe styling

Garment construction

Sewing

Budget management

Mentoring students

Job description

Description

About San Francisco University High School:

UHS is a coeducational independent day school in San Francisco, California, with 514 students in grades 9-12. Founded in 1975, the school’s mission is to challenge each individual to live a life of integrity, inquiry, and purpose larger than the self. UHS is located in the Pacific Heights neighborhood of San Francisco.

The Costume Designer & Wardrobe Manager plans, creates, and oversees all attire, hair, and makeup concepts for the high school’s annual fall production. Beyond design, this role actively manages dressing room operations, guiding student actors through costuming choices, fit checks, and quick changes during dress rehearsals and live performances.

Key Responsibilities:

• Design & Concept Development: Collaborate with the Director to create a cohesive visual concept tailored to the play’s setting, tone, and budget.
• Sourcing & Creation: Build, pull from storage, alter, or purchase necessary garments, accessories, and props while maintaining strict record-keeping.
• Actor Fitting & Styling: Conduct fittings with student actors, ensuring costumes fit comfortably, allow for required stage movement, and honor student safety and dignity.
• Backstage & Dressing Supervision: Oversee dressing rooms during dress rehearsals and performances; teach student actors proper garment care, styling, and efficient backstage quick-changes.
• Inventory & Maintenance: Organize wardrobe racks before show nights, handle minor repairs between performances, and lead the post-production clean-out and inventory strike.

Requirements

Qualifications:

• Experience in theatrical costume design, wardrobe styling, or garment construction.
• Basic sewing, tailoring, and garment repair skills.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage production budgets.
• Demonstrated patience, positive communication, and enthusiasm for mentoring high school students in a collaborative creative environment.

Compensation:

This is a seasonal, part-time position. Compensation: $3,500.00

Non-Discrimination Statement:

University High School values diversity and seeks talented students, faculty, and staff from different backgrounds. All employment decisions are made without regard to unlawful considerations of race, color, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and related medical conditions), gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, religion, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, creed, age, mental or physical disability, medical condition, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other basis prohibited by federal, state, or local law.