Costume Shop Supervisor
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LocationMain Campus
Work modeon-site
Typefull-time
SeniorityLead
Experience3–5 yrs
DepartmentTheatre Arts
Company size501–1,000 people
PostedSep 18, 2026 · 1mo ago
Verified live2d ago
At a glanceSummarised by Seekless from the posting.
Bachelor's degree in Theatre Arts, Costume Technology, Costume Design, Fashion Design, or a related field
3–5 years of professional or academic experience in costume construction, shop operations, patterning/draping, cutting, stitching, fitting, and wardrobe run crew supervision
Demonstrated technical expertise in flat patterning, draping, tailoring, garment construction, costume crafts, dyeing/distressing, and alteration techniques
Knowledge of theatrical production processes, stage terminology, fitting etiquette, fabric science, and costume shop safety standards
Practical knowledge of wigs, hair, stage makeup, millinery, or specialty craft construction
Strong organizational, multitasking, and time-management skills with the ability to manage costume requirements across multiple concurrent productions
Strong interpersonal and communication skills; ability to work collaboratively with diverse teams of faculty, guest directors, designers, and students
Proficiency with office software (word processing, spreadsheets, file sharing, e-mail) and basic budget tracking/reconciliation
If interested in designing for the department, demonstrated experience designing costumes for mainstage theatre, musicals, or lyric theatre/opera productions is preferred
Skills
word processing
spreadsheets
file sharing
e-mail
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Job Title:
Costume Shop Supervisor
Job Family:
Professionals
Full-Time/Part-Time:
Full time
Pay Type:
Salary
Department:
Theatre Arts
Job Summary:
This is a professional staff position reporting to the Department Chair of Theatre Arts. This person is responsible for overseeing all day-to-day operations of the Theatre Arts Department Costume Shop, costume storage facilities, wardrobe operations, and costume production support for the Theatre Arts Department classes and production seasons, including primarily the Furman Theatre Main Stage productions and secondarily the Furman Music Department Sarah Reese Lyric Theatre productions (a minimum of 5 productions per academic year).
Work includes the selection, assignment, training, and evaluation of student shop assistants and wardrobe crews; ordering supplies; maintaining tools, machinery, and costume stock inventories; reconciling production and lab budgets; patternmaking/draping; cutting and stitching; organizing and directing fittings; and supervising made-to-order, altered, shopped, and pulled costumes. This person will have the ability to instruct and supervise students in costume shop laboratory settings and assist with courses related to costume technology, crafts, and design. This position contributes directly to the academic advising environment, Undergraduate Research Fellowships, Theatre Practicum, and high-impact student mentorship in collaboration with department faculty and The Furman Advantage.
Job Description:
Responsibilities:
1.
Schedules, trains, and oversees student costume shop assistants, wardrobe crew heads, and run crews to meet departmental standards, safety protocols, and production deadlines.
2.
Establishes and maintains effective working relationships and provides guidance and excellent service to faculty, students, staff, guest designers, visiting artists, and production personnel.
3.
Works closely with the Department Chair, Technical Director, and each production director in establishing and maintaining the costume, fitting, and wardrobe calendars in coordination with the department production schedule.
The intent of this job classification description is to provide a representative summary of the types of duties and responsibilities that will be required of positions in this classification and shall not be construed as a declaration of the specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position. Employees may be requested to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically present in this description.
Relationships:
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Continuous contact with members of the Theatre Arts Department, immediate supervisor (Department Chair), Technical Director, faculty designers/directors, music/opera faculty, guest artists, and student employees/practicum students for planning, coordinating, problem-solving, fitting execution, and mentoring toward shared artistic and educational goals. Parties generally maintain cooperative and collaborative working attitudes.
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Frequent contact with students, campus partners, vendors, and the general public to exchange factual information, schedule fittings, enforce facility and safety procedures, coordinate costume loans/rentals, and discuss non-controversial departmental operations.
Responsibility for Final Decisions:
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Responsible for own work and direct oversight of shop operations, shop safety, fitting workflow, wardrobe execution, and student shop assistants.
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May assist, instruct, and evaluate students and crew members performing technical costume work.
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Reviews work to ensure compliance with production designs, timelines, safety standards, and departmental budgets.
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Tasks involve interrelated artistic and technical processes requiring professional judgment, creative problem-solving, and adherence to established institutional and safety guidelines.
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Errors may cause delays in production schedules, costume quality issues, budget variances, or safety hazards, requiring prompt corrective action within the unit.
Reports to: Chair, Theatre Arts Department
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Work is performed independently within broad departmental guidelines, except where institutional policy, academic regulation, or budgetary exceptions require chair approval.
Education/Skill Requirements:
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Bachelor’s degree in Theatre Arts, Costume Technology, Costume Design, Fashion Design, or a related field.
•
3–5 years of professional or academic experience in costume construction, shop operations, patterning/draping, cutting, stitching, fitting, and wardrobe run crew supervision.
•
Demonstrated technical expertise in flat patterning, draping, tailoring, garment construction, costume crafts, dyeing/distressing, and alteration techniques.
•
Knowledge of theatrical production processes, stage terminology, fitting etiquette, fabric science, and costume shop safety standards.
•
Practical knowledge of wigs, hair, stage makeup, millinery, or specialty craft construction.
•
Strong organizational, multitasking, and time-management skills with the ability to manage costume requirements across multiple concurrent productions (e.g., Main Stage theatre and lyric theatre/opera).
•
Strong interpersonal and communication skills; ability to work collaboratively with diverse teams of faculty, guest directors, designers, and students.
•
Proficiency with office software (word processing, spreadsheets, file sharing, e-mail) and basic budget tracking/reconciliation.
•
If interested in designing for the department, demonstrated experience designing costumes for mainstage theatre, musicals, or lyric theatre/opera productions is preferred.
Work conditions:
Work requires:
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Frequent reaching, handling, fine-motor manipulation (cutting, pinning, hand/machine sewing).
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Frequent stooping, kneeling, crouching, and bending during fittings, alterations, and storage management.
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Frequent standing and walking for extended periods during shop work, fittings, and dress rehearsals.
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Frequent pushing, pulling, lifting, and carrying of costume racks, fabric bolts, dress forms, and storage bins (able to lift and transport up to 40–50 lbs).
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Exposure to costume shop equipment, irons/steamers, dyes, adhesives, aerosols, and laundry chemicals with appropriate ventilation and PPE.
Schedule: Standard weekday afternoon shop hours with significant evening and weekend work required during tech weeks, dress rehearsals, fitting periods, strikes, and performance runs. Irregular production schedule based on the performance calendar. This is a 10-month position.
Application Requirements:
Applicants should submit the following documents in a single PDF with the file name LastName_FirstName in the order listed: a letter of interest, resume or curriculum vitae, and complete contact information for three references. Additional application materials and samples of work may be requested at later stages of the search for candidates who advance. Review of applications will begin October 15, 2026, and will continue until the position is filled. Questions may be directed to Professor Maegan McNerney Azar, Chair of the Department of Theatre Arts, at [email protected].
Education Requirements:
Certification Requirements:
Job Posting End Date (if date is blank, posting is open ended):