Wardrobe Supervisor

The Washington Ballet•Washington, DC

13d•$70,000 - $78,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Wardrobe Supervisor is responsible for the overall management and operation of the wardrobe department in support of all company productions, rehearsals, and related activities. This role oversees costume preparation, maintenance, fittings, and performance execution while ensuring the highest standard of presentation for all artists. The Wardrobe Supervisor collaborates closely with Artistic, Production, and School leadership to support both company productions and The Washington School of Ballet performances. This position manages wardrobe budgets, supervises wardrobe staff, and ensures compliance with production schedules, union requirements, and organizational policies.

Requirements

Significant professional experience in wardrobe supervision, costume construction, or theatrical production (dance experience preferred)
Strong knowledge of costume construction, fitting, alterations, and maintenance
Experience managing budgets and tracking expenses
Ability to manage multiple productions and deadlines in a fast-paced environment
Strong organizational and record-keeping skills
Experience working with union environments and production schedules preferred
Excellent communication and collaboration skills
Ability to supervise staff and work both independently and as part of a team
Flexibility to work evenings, weekends, and performance schedules as required

Responsibilities

Prepare and manage departmental budgets, including costumes, supplies, shoes, accessories, maintenance, rentals, and new productions
Track expenses and ensure adherence to approved budgets
Submit invoices
Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of dancer measurements, including special requirements
Track costume inventory, including shoes, accessories, and specialty items
Supervise and conduct costume fittings and alterations as required by repertory
Coordinate and schedule fittings in collaboration with the Director of Production
Order and maintain inventory of shoes, ribbons, and elastics
Oversee and enforce company shoe policies (quantity and usage per dancer)
Dye and color shoes for specific productions
Provide organization systems for dancers to manage their assigned shoes
Order, label, distribute, and maintain accessory inventory (e.g., tights, belts, protective gear)
Oversee accessory usage policies and ensure proper tracking
Order specialty makeup required for productions
Coordinate organization of makeup supplies for company use
Oversee packing, preparation, and organization of costumes and related items for rehearsals, performances, and events
Maintain, repair, and restore costumes, ensuring proper return to inventory
Coordinate costume rentals, including fittings, alterations, delivery, and compliance with care requirements
Create and maintain costume plots and production records
Support wardrobe needs for The Washington School of Ballet performances
Supervise and execute wardrobe operations during load-in, performances, and load-out
Coordinate wardrobe crew scheduling in collaboration with the Director of Production
Ensure compliance with union rules, timelines, and production schedules
Assign dressing rooms for performers and support staff
Oversee wardrobe operations for School performances as needed
Collaborate with the Artistic Director, choreographers, designers, and costume vendors on new productions
Manage costume production and rental budgets
Coordinate fittings, dress rehearsals, and costume timelines
Develop and maintain costume plots and documentation for future restaging
Construct or oversee in-house creation of costumes when feasible within workload and schedule
Actively participate in creating a work culture that embodies the core values of TWB; Creativity, Commitment, Communication, Collaboration, Compassion, and Community.