Head of Costume Production & Operations

SUU; Cedar City (UT); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Southern Utah University’s Utah Shakespeare Festival seeks a Costume Director to lead the costume department, overseeing planning, execution and asset management, while coordinating outside use and ensuring artistic standards.

You will recruit seasonal staff, manage budgets and purchasing, supervise shop and wardrobe personnel, and collaborate with production teams to realize the production’s vision within resources.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in costume production or related field.
• Experience planning, scheduling, supervising, and executing construction of theatrical costumes.
• Strong written, verbal and presentational skills.
• Ability to work under time pressures on multiple projects with strict deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Lead planning, execution and completion of all costume department activities and asset management.
• Recruit and manage seasonal staff and supervise shop and wardrobe personnel.
• Prepare the annual costume budget and oversee production costs and purchasing.
• Oversee inventory, maintenance, and replacement of costume assets and facilities.
• Coordinate with other departments and external entities to realize production vision.
• Ensure adherence to SUU and USF policies and attend relevant meetings.

Skills

Leadership

Budgeting

Project management

Communication

Costume production

Supervision

Research & development

Education

Bachelor's degree

MFA Costume Design or Technology

Job description

The Costume Director oversees all operations of the costume department for the Utah Shakespeare Festival. They are responsible for leading the planning, execution and completion of all USF activities requiring costume department support and coordinating the use of USF costume assets by outside entities. The Costume Director recruits and hires seasonal staff, serves as the point of contact for costume designers, manages all USF costume related assets, manages the running of shows, and leads the fiscal management of the department.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with costume designers and direct shop staff on the realization and operations of costume designs while maintaining fiscal responsibility and maintaining USF’s artistic standards. Leads the research and development of construction techniques and the acquisition of materials.

• Directs the recruitment and day to day management of costume shop and wardrobe personnel for USF.

• In consultation with the production manager and USF business office leads the fiscal management of the costume department through the preparation of the annual costume budget, estimation of costume related production costs, and the direction of purchasing and labor expenditures for costume department activities.

• Lead the inventory, maintenance, repair and replacement processes for Costume related facilities, stock, and equipment.

• Collaborate with other production departments to realize the overall vision of the production and maintain USF’s production values, within available resources. Coordinates schedules and workflow with other departments at USF.

• Understand and adhere to SUU and USF policies.

• Attend SUU and USF staff and production meetings as needed

• Coordinate the use, rental and sale of USF costume related assets by entities outside of USF including but not limited to other SUU departments, community groups, and individuals.

• Support costume seminars and community activities.

• Potential design of education tour and other USF productions

• Other duties as assigned

Proposed Education and Experience Requirements:

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelors Degree

• Highly organized and possess excellent interpersonal communication skills

• Professional experience with planning, engineering, scheduling, supervising, and executing construction of theatrical costumes

• Strong written, verbal and presentational skills

• Ability to work under significant time pressures on multiple simultaneous projects while meeting strict deadlines and resource allocations.

• Knowledge of and commitment to body-positive costume practices

• At least 5 years of work experience in costume production.

Preferred Qualifications

• MFA Costume Design or Technology

• 3+ years of supervisory experience

• Specialty in one or more of the following: Draping, Crafts, Wardrobe, or Design for Costumes.

• Possesses and maintains relationships with industry organizations, affiliations, and individuals.

This position is contingent on funding.

Due to recent changes in H1B visa fees, Southern Utah University is no longer able to sponsor international faculty and staff that require an H1B visa and are currently living outside of the United States.