Costume Shop Manager | College of Arts & Letters

The University of Notre Dame is a vibrant, mission-driven community where every employee is valued and supported. Notre Dame is committed to fostering an environment of care that nurtures the whole person—mind, body, and spirit. The institution aims to support well-being and career growth while contributing to the university’s mission and broader impact. This position is within the College of Arts & Letters Production Team and supports productions for the Film, Television, and Theatre season, the Notre Dame Shakespeare Festival, and Opera Notre Dame.

Reporting to the Production Manager, the Costume Shop Manager oversees all aspects of costume shop operations, including construction, fittings, budgeting, staffing, and maintenance of the university’s costume collection. This role collaborates with faculty, guest artists, costume designers, and production staff to meet artistic goals while maintaining production schedules and fiscal responsibility. The position combines advanced technical expertise in costume construction with leadership, mentorship, and administrative oversight.

It supervises student employees and temporary artisans while fostering a safe, collaborative, and inclusive working environment. This is a full-time position with frequent evening and weekend responsibilities during production periods.

• Production Execution & Technical Leadership:
  Collaborate with costume designers to execute artistic visions through advanced costume construction, draping, pattern-making, tailoring, and alterations.
• Lead costume shop workflow for all productions, developing schedules that ensure costumes are completed before technical rehearsals.
• Construct, modify, and repair costumes, fabrics, and costume accessories as required.
• Coordinate costume fittings with designers and performers and implement fitting adjustments.
• Assist designers with pulling costumes from stock and purchasing or sourcing materials, fabrics, and costume pieces.
• Supervise student workers and temporary costume artisans to ensure high-quality craftsmanship and timely completion of production deadlines.
• Participate in production meetings and provide technical expertise related to costume construction, crafts, wigs, hair, and makeup.
• Attend dress rehearsals and performances as assigned and coordinate costume maintenance and strike activities following each production.

• Personnel Leadership & Student Mentorship:
  Recruit, hire, train, schedule, and supervise student employees, wardrobe supervisors, and temporary costume artisans.
• Provide hands-on instruction and professional mentorship to students pursuing theatrical production and costume technology.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, creativity, professionalism, inclusion, and workplace safety.
• Establish weekly shop schedules based on production priorities and supervise all assigned labor, including staff, contractors, student employees, and volunteers.

• Administrative & Budget Management:
  Manage costume shop budgets, including tracking expenditures for materials, labor, rentals, and purchases.
• Coordinate payroll for student employees and temporary staff.
• Prepare contracts, rental agreements, invoices, and purchasing documentation.
• Maintain detailed records of production progress, budgets, labor schedules, and payroll.
• Monitor inventory of shop supplies, notions, expendable materials, and specialized equipment while planning future purchases.

• Costume Collection Management & Community Engagement:
  Oversee the organization, preservation, and long-term maintenance of the university’s costume collection.
• Manage costume rentals and loans for campus users and external organizations.
• Generate rental agreements, invoices, and inventory records while ensuring timely return, cleaning, repair, and restocking of costumes.
• Serve as the primary liaison for costume rentals, applying departmental policies and providing customer service to university and community partners.

• Shop Operations & Safety:
  Maintain a clean, organized, and safe costume shop environment in accordance with university policies and OSHA safety standards.
• Perform routine maintenance of sewing…