Wardrobe Supervisor — Full-Time Backstage Costume Lead

Playwright Co; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 34,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

San Francisco Playhouse is seeking a Wardrobe Supervisor to lead backstage costume operations from rehearsals to performances at our San Francisco venue. The role oversees wardrobe staff, costume changes, dressing rooms, maintenance, laundry, and performance readiness, ensuring performers are safely and stylishly dressed while upholding high costume standards.

The successful candidate will run two to three of the six mainstage productions, attend tech processes, and collaborate with the Costume

Qualifications

• Previous wardrobe supervision or theatrical costume experience required.
• Experience managing & scheduling a run crew and crew swings.
• Strong knowledge of costume care, quick changes, and backstage operations.
• Ability to lead teams and manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced production environment.
• Strong skills in Microsoft Word and Excel, with a demonstrated ability to produce show paperwork for training and run of show.
• Excellent organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to troubleshoot costume and wardrobe issues calmly and efficiently under pressure.
• Ability to work evenings, weekends, rehearsals, and performance schedules as required.

Responsibilities

• Supervise and train wardrobe crew and swings during rehearsals and performances.
• Manage costume changes, quick changes, and backstage wardrobe operations.
• Create and maintain wardrobe paperwork
• Organize dressing rooms, costume storage, presets, and tracking systems.
• Oversee wardrobe costume maintenance, laundry, steaming, and minor repairs.
• Coordinate with the Costume Director, Costume Shop, Stage Management, and other production departments as needed.
• Lead check-in and load-out of all costume pieces from the costume shop to the theater with the help of the wardrobe crew.
• Pull, inventory, and pack costumes for transport to the costume shop for notes during tech and previews.
• Attend put-in and understudy rehearsals as needed.
• Lead wardrobe crew in technical rehearsals, performances, understudy preparation, and strike.
• Maintain a safe, professional, and organized backstage environment.
• Practice safe handling and operation of wardrobe equipment, irons, steamers, laundry equipment, and related tools.

Skills

Wardrobe supervision experience

Crew management

Costume care & quick changes

Team leadership

Word & Excel paperwork

Organizational/communication/problem‑#

Stress management

Evenings/weekends availability

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Job description

San Francisco Playhouse is seeking a Wardrobe Supervisor to lead backstage costume operations from rehearsals to performances at our San Francisco venue. The role oversees wardrobe staff, costume changes, dressing rooms, maintenance, laundry, and performance readiness, ensuring performers are safely and stylishly dressed while upholding high costume standards.

The successful candidate will run two to three of the six mainstage productions, attend tech processes, and collaborate with the Costume