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Shop Manager

St. Louis, MO

Under the direction of the Director of Production, the Costume Shop Manager serves as a key member of The Repertory Theatre St. Louis (LORT B) Production Department. Seeking an experienced, motivated individual to oversee The Costume Department, providing leadership and supervision of the costume team made up of full-time staff and overhires. The Costume Shop Manager is responsible for supporting the artistic vision of the director and designers as it relates to planning, budgeting, and managing costume elements and personnel for productions and artistic programming. Based on the production needs, the Costume Shop Manager will create and execute a plan to realize the costume design collaboratively and creatively, ensuring all costumes, crafts, and wigs are completed in a timely and fiscally responsible fashion.

 

The Repertory Theatre St. Louis is committed to creating a culturally diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.

 

PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

PRODUCTION AND DESIGNER COMMUNICATIONS

  • Provide and promote the flow of clear communication between Guest Artists, Designers, and the Rep STL’s various departments and personnel within them to ensure the successful integration of a show’s technical elements.
  • Work with the Creative Team and Director of Production to manage and maximize the artistic impact of financial resources by evaluating costume designs to determine show needs and cost estimates for materials, labor, rentals, and outsourcing.
  • Acts as the liaison between Stage Management and Costume stakeholders including scheduling fittings, responding to rehearsal requests and following through on production notes.
  • Attend all design presentations, meetings, rehearsals and run-throughs as designated by the Director of Production.


PERSONAL AND BUDGET OVERSIGHT

  • Supervise and manage assigned budgets for costume materials and labor. Keep all financial records up to date, discuss with Director of Production any possible overages, and ensure each production's needs are met and executed within the budgetary parameters while maintaining quality.
  • Recruit, hire, train and orient costume staff and designers to costume shop procedures and protocols.
  • Foster the development of the costume team with formal reviews, periodic feedback, and training opportunities.
  • Maintain and promote a safe work environment by following and enforcing all safety regulations, providing safety equipment, and advising on safety-related policies and decisions.
  • Ensure that the costume shop work environments, fittings, quick-change spaces, and all other workspaces and activities under the costume department's purview are inclusive and respectful for performers, designers, and staff. Maintain discretion and diplomacy in all activities to ensure that individuals feel supported and safe.


ADMINISTRATIVE TASKS

  • In coordination with the Assistant Costume Shop Manager, project and track expenses for each production.
  • Ensure all relevant show files are up to date and maintained throughout the season.
  • Organize and prepare information for daily Costume Shop operations.
  • Collaborate with Shopper/Buyer to ensure materials are purchased in a timely and resource-efficient manner.

ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE AND QUALIFICATIONS
  • Demonstrated professional experience in non-profit regional theatre, LORT theatre in a lighting or video department; or a combination of equivalent experience and training.
  • Commitment to creating and maintaining an equitable, inclusive, and anti-racist environment that values diversity and centers excellence.
  • Experience in preparing budgets, labor estimates, building calendars, and staffing schedules.
  • Successful candidates will be adept at managing competing priorities, navigating emergent challenges, and proactively identifying and mitigating risk.
  • Strong project management skills that demonstrate the ability to deliver complex, multilateral productions.
  • Ability to work independently, exercising judgment and discretion, while demonstrating initiative in the performance of all job duties allowing employees to work on their own and make decisions.
  • Knowledge of costume and fashion history to make informed evaluations of designs for productions.
  • Knowledge of sewing, patterning, and tailoring techniques to advise and evaluate staff.
  • Knowledge of peers in industry to create ongoing creative networking.
  • Knowledge of shopping techniques including catalogue, internet and New York/LA fabric resources to effectively accomplish production needs and designer requests.
  • Ability to exercise professional diplomacy in personnel and design management.
  • Ability to understand other theater departments and the relationship of the costume department to them.
  • A good design sense or good taste to monitor the implied theater aesthetic, including superior quality, when working with designers.
  • Ability to delegate and to have confidence in direct reports.
  • Ability to communicate effectively and persuasively in oral and written communication on an interpersonal or group level.
  • With advanced notice, the ability to work a flexible schedule including morning, evening, and weekend hours.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS
  • Ability to access all technical spaces in the theater.
  • Ability to operate a computer.

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