Costume Department Manager

CHICAGO SHAKESPEARE THEATER•Chicago, IL

3d•$75,000 - $78,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Costume Department Manager is a member of the Production leadership team and the leader of the Costume Department. The Costume Department Manager provides day-to-day supervision for a team of staff and over hire technicians in the planning, budgeting, purchasing, construction, and maintenance of costume elements for all Chicago Shakespeare Theater productions, including both produced and presented work. This role is responsible for supporting the artistic vision of the production, executing the realization of the costume designs collaboratively and creatively, and ensuring that costumes are realized in a fiscally responsible and timely manner. The Costume Department Manager is also responsible for maintaining and managing CST’s robust costume stock as well as the Costume Workshop itself.

Requirements

Demonstrated superior ability to lead, delegate and effectively manage personnel
Demonstrated ability to manage multiple, overlapping, on-going complex projects
Strong financial skillsets including estimating project costs based on provided design information, tracking and projecting expenses, financial reconciliation
Demonstrated ability to creatively collaborate with a diverse range of designers and design processes and a willingness to adjust the production process to the needs of a given project
Expert-level knowledge of theatrical costume fabrication techniques
Expert-level knowledge of tools and machines typically found in a costume shop (e.g. sewing machines, irons, sergers)
Demonstrated understanding of body diversity and a commitment to leading a body positive costume shop
Knowledge of safety policies, procedures and best practices within a costume shop environment
Strong interpersonal communication skills
Emotional intelligence, professional discretion
Service, ingenuity, and collaboration
Mission-driven
5 year’s experience as a manager or assistant manager in a commercial costume shop or regional theater with a full-time costume shop

Nice To Haves

BA, BFA, MA, MFA in costume technology or related field, welcomed
ETCP certification in any discipline welcomed

Responsibilities

Manage the scheduling, coordination and supervision of the fabrication and procurement of costumes for all productions
Develop show specific budget estimates based on preliminary designs, create costume plots and projections around materials, labor, rentals, and outsourcing. Provide suggestions on scope adjustments as needed
Proactively collaborate with and guide costume designers to realize their designs within the bounds of budget, time, and infrastructure
Hire, train and provide day-to-day supervision of costume shop staff, including conducting periodic goal-based performance reviews
Oversee workflow and prioritization between multiple projects while maintaining appropriate production values
Attend technical rehearsals and previews as required by Director of Production
Collaborate with the Director of Production to create and manage departmental and show-specific labor, material and maintenance budgets
Adhere to and enforce CST health and safety protocols by training employees on safety protocols, providing necessary safety equipment, reporting incidents, monitoring evolving safety practices, and advising on adjustments to policy
Ensure that the costume shop work environments, spaces, and activities in the costume department’s purview are inclusive, and respectful for performers, designers, and staff.
Maintain discretion and diplomacy in all activities to ensure that performers feel supported and safe
Process and approve weekly payroll for department staff
Maintain CST Costume stock and Costume inventory
Collaborate with other production department managers in support of cross-departmental elements of each production
Drive IDEA to Action platform by engaging in committees, events, training and other initiatives as needed
Model CST’s core values of service, ingenuity, and collaboration as well as its customer service ethos
Champion the organization’s commitment to a respectful, inclusive and equitable workplace
Support employees with additional job training and help them discover projects to advance their professional goals
Support all other activities of the theater including fundraising and audience development initiatives, access programming, and education initiatives
Develop, and maintain relationships with outside production companies and theaters to cultivate opportunities for contract projects when the CST production schedule allows
Advise CST leadership on capital projects and acquisitions