Wardrobe/ Laundry Associate

The Costumer; City of Schenectady (NY); On-site; USD 2,066,400 - 3,030,720; Part time

Job summary

The Costumer, a long-standing costume rental and retail business, seeks a Wardrobe Operations Associate to care for costumes, manage inventory, and support production timelines. This role involves laundry, sorting fabrics, and assisting with daily wardrobe workflow, under the supervision of the Production Manager.

Perfect for reliability and attention to detail, with the potential for full-time for strong candidates. Part-time status may apply based on business needs.

Qualifications

• Experience with wardrobe or inventory management is preferred.
• Ability to stand for long periods and lift up to 50 pounds.

Responsibilities

• Assist in wardrobe and inventory operations to ensure timely production readiness.
• Check inventory in and complete check-in reports for damaged or missing items.
• Prepare costumes for rapid re-shipping and arrange them by usage order.

Skills

Attention to detail

Organization

Teamwork

Communication

Physical stamina

Job description

Job Description

The Costumer is a 108 year-old costume rental and retail business. We are committed to advancing scholastic theatre with its transformative benefits—enhancing communication skills, boosting self-confidence, encouraging resilience, enhancing social skills, and fostering empathy and critical thinking. We take pride in being the costumer for thousands of productions annually.

Job Title: Wardrobe Operations Associate

Reports To: Production Manager

FLSA Status: Nonexempt- Part-Time (with potential for Full-Time for well-qualified applicants)

SUMMARY

Under the direction of the Production Manager, the Wardrobe Operations Associate is responsible for the care, organization, cleaning, and availability of all costumes and accessories within The Costumer rental inventory. This role supports custom costuming and rentals, washing, drying, and managing inventory that is rented and returned to The Costumer.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Other duties may be assigned.

Wardrobe & Inventory Operations

• Check inventory in and complete check-in reporting to support recovery of lost items and billing for damaged items.
• Find costume pieces that are designed “fast turns” and clean and prepare for rapid re-shipping.
• Arrange costumes in order of use for efficient distribution and performance support.
• Assess the condition of stock that is returned by customers, identifying damaged and lost inventory and reporting discrepancies to the Production Manager.
• Maintain vault lists and inventory records, and ensure proper identification tags inside costumes.

Laundry & Textile Care

• Operate washers, dryers, and related equipment.
• Sort garments by fabric, color, and cleaning method; identify special handling needs.
• Spot clean, pre-soak, sterilize, hand-wash, or dry‑clean garments as required.
• Identify stains, fabrics, and dyes; test materials to prevent damage.
• Maintain laundry equipment, report maintenance needs.
• Handle specialty items including delicate garments, furs, feathers, and theatrical textiles.

Team & Workflow Support

• Assist in coordinating daily wardrobe and laundry workflow to meet production timelines
• Communicate with Production teams to ensure costumes and accessories are prepared and available as scheduled.
• Uphold safety standards, cleanliness, and operational efficiency in all wardrobe and laundry areas.
• Other duties as assigned.

Physical and Work Environment Requirements

• Ability to stand, walk, bend, and reach for extended periods.
• Ability to lift, carry, and move items weighing up to 50 pounds (including lifting wet laundry above head to hang from ceiling hooks)
• Ability to perform repetitive motions related to garment handling and laundering
• Regular exposure to heat, steam, cleaning chemicals, and laundry equipment

Core Competencies

• Strong attention to detail and organization
• Knowledge of fabrics, garment construction, and textiles
• Time management and ability to meet deadlines
• Clear communication and teamwork
• Reliability and adherence to safety and quality standards