Costume Shop Manager, School of Theatre

Penn State University • University Park, IL

4d • Onsite

About The Position

The Penn State School of Theatre Costume Shop is seeking a manager to oversee its day-to-day operations and work in direct consultation with Costume Faculty. The Costume Shop Manager serves as a central coordinator for production processes within the costume area and ensures that all costume-related operations are executed efficiently, safely, and within budget. This role is responsible for office management, budgeting, purchasing, scheduling of fittings, overseeing and maintaining costume stock, and training and supervising wardrobe crew personnel.

Requirements

• Demonstrated experience in costume shop management or professional costume production.
• Experience with budgeting, purchasing, inventory management, and costume paperwork.
• Experience developing and maintaining databases.
• Demonstrated experience with supervising and training student employees or production crew.
• Associate Degree 2+ years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience accepted
• Bachelor's Degree 3+ years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience accepted
• Valid driver’s license
• Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S.

Nice To Haves

• Additional educational training or hands-on experience in wigs, costume crafts, and patternmaking.
• Experience managing costume rentals and client relations.
• An educational background in Costume Production will be considered a strong plus.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate the production process in the costume shop.
• Collaborate with Costume Faculty, the Workroom Supervisor, and Costume Designers to plan builds, rentals, stock pulls, and purchases for each production.
• Maintain show and shop budgets; provide weekly budget updates.
• Purchase and track items purchased for productions, including managing returns of unused items.
• Implement existing and new costume shop policies in consultation with Costume Faculty and Staff.
• Schedule all costume fittings for productions.
• Assemble cast lists and acquire class schedules.
• Coordinate personnel necessary for each fitting.
• Utilize email calendar systems to manage and facilitate scheduling logistics.
• Maintain and supervise costume stock.
• Create and maintain a digital database to track all stock pieces, including rented costumes.
• Serve as Costume Rental Manager, meeting with clients in-person and establishing distance rental protocols.
• Manage invoicing, supervise restocking of returned costumes, and follow up with clients regarding returns.
• Organize and supervise restocking following production strike.
• Train and supervise the Wardrobe Head.
• Facilitate training of wardrobe crew.
• Meet with crew prior to load-in to review responsibilities and demonstrate necessary skills.
• Organize and facilitate load-in from shop to theatre spaces for technical rehearsals.
• Attend dress rehearsals and maintain a hands-on presence backstage as needed.
• Assist with training related to quick changes, backstage protocol, and traffic control.
• Coordinate backstage layout with technical direction regarding dressing booth placement.
• Assist with strike by coordinating dry cleaning, supervising laundry processes, and ensuring proper storage of costumes.
• Order, purchase, and maintain inventory of costume shop supplies.
• Establish and maintain paperwork systems to track inventory and budgetary needs.
• Consult with Costume Faculty and Staff to procure materials for productions.
• Maintain costume shop equipment and supplies, including arranging cleaning, repairs, and replacement as necessary.
• Coordinate organization and maintenance of shop craft areas, laundry/dye room, fitting rooms, and dressing rooms across theatre spaces.
• Serve as liaison with Costume Faculty and the Workroom Supervisor on costume-related matters.
• May teach a relevant course as needed.
• Perform the physical tasks required to manage, transport, organize, and maintain costumes and related materials, including lifting materials weighing up to 40 pounds.

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical coverage
• Dental coverage
• Vision coverage
• Robust retirement plans
• Substantial paid time off which includes holidays, vacation and sick time
• 75% tuition discount, available to employees as well as eligible spouses and children

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Associate degree