Costume Shop Director - The Atlanta Opera

SUMMARY

The Costume Director provides leadership and management of the costume and wardrobe departments, overseeing the shop and wardrobe facilities to ensure smooth daily operations during the producing season. This position hires and directly supervises all costume and wardrobe staff. They are responsible for purchasing costume items in coordination and consultation with the Designer and oversee the construction, alteration, and maintenance of costumes for TAO productions. They support the artistic vision of the production and execute the realization of the costume designs collaboratively and creatively, ensuring that the costumes are realized in a fiscally responsible and timely manner. In collaboration with the Director of Production the Costume Director helps to set and supervise seasonal and department budgets, design deadlines, and calendars for Costume and Wardrobe departments.

PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Manage the scheduling, coordination, and supervision of the fabrication and procurement of costumes for all productions within budget parameters. Provide suggestions on scope adjustments as needed.

• Budget development and administration utilizing strong financial/business skill sets including estimating project costs based on provided design information; participating in forecasting and cash flow for the dept; tracking and projecting expenses such as materials, labor, rentals, and anticipated outsourcing; financial reconciliation; balance department credit cards and purchase orders; manage and submit payroll for shop and wardrobe (both union/non-union).

• Proactively collaborate with and guide costume designers to realize their designs within the bounds of budget, time, and infrastructure.

• Maintain communication with stage management, directors, designers, and TAO staff.

• Contract and supervise all costume shop labor within budget: cutter/drapers, firsthand, stitchers, milliners and craftspeople, wardrobe supervisor and dressers.

• Manage existing stock and costume rental packages, consult on outgoing and incoming rental projects with the Production Team, manage costume rental supervisor or serve as rental supervisor as needed.

SECONDARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Support all other activities of TAO requiring costume department involvement including fundraising, audience development initiatives, access programming, and education initiatives.

• Develop and source relationships with costume fabrication shops or individuals for potential outsourcing of costume fabrication.

• Develop and maintain relationships with other costume shops to cultivate opportunities for contract projects when the TAO production schedule allows.

• Knowledge of safety policies and procedures within a costume shop environment.

• Ensure that the costume shop work environments, fittings, quick change spaces, and all other workspaces and activities under the costume departments 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.

COMPETENCIES

• Demonstrated management and leadership skills.

• 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.

• Demonstrated understanding of body diversity and a commitment to leading a body positive costume shop Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word) or similar software with the ability to learn new or updated software.

• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.

• Demonstrated communication skills, interpersonal skills, and customer service abilities

• Ability to understand diverse perspectives and acknowledge the significance of differences and complexities in background, cultures, values, and viewpoints as the foundation for an inclusive environment.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree with advanced study or equivalent professional experience.

• At least ten years work experience in costume production.

• Strong knowledge of costume construction techniques and practices.

• Working knowledge of the performing arts (Opera, Theatre, Dance).

• Valid driver’s license, and a clean driving record.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Ability to cultivate, retain and mentor existing and new costume shop & wardrobe colleagues.

• Strong interest in performing arts: opera, classical music, theatre, dance.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Able to tolerate prolonged periods sitting or standing at a desk and working on a computer.

• Able to lift / shift up to 25 pounds.

• Able to communicate using a phone and headset.

• Able to tolerate consistently moderate noise level in the work environment.
Salary: $60,000 - $70,000 BOE