Costume Supervisor

Posting Details

Position Information

Job Title Costume Supervisor Job Description

Position Overview

Sarah Lawrence College seeks a Costume Supervisor to support the Theatre Program's academic curriculum, production season, and costume facilities. This combined position includes a part-time staff appointment and an Affiliate Faculty role teaching Costume Design I, II, and Costume Conference. The Theatre Program is a collaborative, interdisciplinary community that values rigorous research, creative experimentation, and inclusive artistic practice, preparing students for professional work in the field.

The Costume Supervisor oversees all aspects of costume design, production, wardrobe operations, and costume facilities. Responsibilities include mentoring undergraduate and graduate student designers, supervising costume shop employees and production crews, managing budgets and inventories, coordinating rentals and purchases, and maintaining costume spaces and equipment. The role also involves close collaboration with directors, designers, faculty, and production staff, and regular coordination with the Director of the Theatre Program and Production Manager.

This position emphasizes student learning, safety, organization, and sustainable production practices. Supported by student employees, the Costume Supervisor fosters an educational costume shop environment grounded in mentorship and collaboration. The role includes attending production meetings and technical rehearsals and supporting interdisciplinary projects across the College.

Appointment Structure

This position consists of:

• A part-time, 10-month staff appointment supporting the Theatre Program's productions, costume shop, wardrobe facilities, and student employees
• An Affiliate Faculty 10-month appointment teaching Costume Design I, Costume Design II, and Costumer Conference

Essential Duties Summary

Responsibilities

• Teach Costume Design I, Costume Design II, and Costume Conference
• Develop course materials, assignments, assessments, and learning outcomes in accordance with Theatre Program and College expectations
• Mentor undergraduate and graduate student costume designers throughout the research, design, fitting, technical rehearsal, and production processes
• Supervise costume shop student employees, wardrobe crews, and production assignments
• Manage the operations of the costume shop, costume storage, dressing rooms, laundry facilities, and wardrobe spaces
• Develop and manage production costume budgets in collaboration with faculty, directors, designers, and the Production Manager
• Purchase, rent, borrow, document, and track costumes, fabrics, supplies, and costume materials
• Maintain the costume inventory and related databases or tracking systems
• Coordinate costume fittings, alterations, construction schedules, wardrobe preparation, and production deadlines
• Attend required production meetings, fittings, technical rehearsals, dress rehearsals, and performances as assigned
• Supervise costume load-ins, wardrobe preparation, work calls, maintenance, and strikes
• Establish and communicate production timelines, costume deadlines, and expectations
• Oversee student employee schedules, timekeeping, training, and payroll documentation
• Develop, communicate, and enforce costume shop and wardrobe safety procedures
• Maintain costume equipment and facilities and recommend repairs, replacements, and capital improvements
• Coordinate the maintenance, cleaning, repair, and proper storage of costumes following productions
• Facilitate approved costume checkouts for Theatre classes, Film projects, independent student work, and student organizations
• Collaborate with Theatre faculty and production staff to support classroom instruction and curricular projects
• Attend Theatre Program faculty, staff, and production meetings as required
• Foster an inclusive, collaborative, process-oriented learning environment grounded in mentorship, care, experimentation, and creative exploration
• Perform other related duties consistent with the scope of the position

Required Qualifications

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; MFA or equivalent professional experience preferred
• Professional experience in costume design, costume technology, wardrobe supervision, or costume shop management
• College-level teaching experience preferred
• Strong knowledge of costume construction, tailoring, draping, patternmaking, alterations, dyeing, wardrobe maintenance, and costume crafts
• Experience supervising student employees, wardrobe crews, or production teams
• Demonstrated ability to mentor students with varied levels of design and technical experience
• Ability to manage multiple productions, budgets, schedules, and deadlines
• Strong organizational, communication, and collaborative skills
• Ability to work effectively with faculty, staff, students, directors, designers, and guest artists
• Experience with Google Workspace and/or Microsoft Office
• Self-directed, with strong leadership, judgment, and creative problem-solving abilities
• Commitment to creating an inclusive and educational working environment

Preferred Qualifications EEO Statement

Sarah Lawrence seeks to recruit and retain a diverse administration, staff, and faculty. Every job opening is seen as an opportunity to increase diversity, and every effort will be made to expand the applicant pool in accordance with these goals. (Please see our Nondiscrimination Policy.) For information on Sarah Lawrence College, our curriculum, teaching methods, and philosophy of education, please see our website at: https://www.sarahlawrence.edu/.

Salary $44k-$48k Position Type Full Time

Posting Detail Information

Posting Number S00455P Open Date Close Date Open Until Filled Yes Special Instructions to Applicants

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

• What is the highest level of education attained?
• GED
• High School Diploma
• Associates Degree
• Bachelors Degree
• Masters Degree
• PHD

Documents Needed To Apply

Required Documents

• CV/Resume
• Cover Letter

Optional Documents