Costume Director (6146U) - #69208 Job Listing at University of California in Berkeley, CA (Job ID 69208)

Description

About Berkeley

At the University of California, Berkeley, we are committed to creating a community that fosters equity of experience and opportunity, and ensures that students, faculty, and staff of all backgrounds feel safe, welcome and included. Our culture of openness, freedom and belonging make it a special place for students, faculty and staff.

The University of California, Berkeley, is one of the world's leading institutions of higher education, distinguished by its combination of internationally recognized academic and research excellence; the transformative opportunity it provides to a large and diverse student body; its public mission and commitment to equity and social justice; and its roots in the California experience, animated by such values as innovation, questioning the status quo, and respect for the environment and nature. Since its founding in 1868, Berkeley has fueled a perpetual renaissance, generating unparalleled intellectual, economic and social value in California, the United States and the world.

We are looking for equity-minded applicants who represent the full diversity of California and who demonstrate a sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, and ethnic backgrounds present in our community. When you join the team at Berkeley, you can expect to be part of an inclusive, innovative and equity-focused community that approaches higher education as a matter of social justice that requires broad collaboration among faculty, staff, students and community partners. In deciding whether to apply for a position at Berkeley, you are strongly encouraged to consider whether your values align with our Guiding Values and Principles, our Principles of Community, and our Strategic Plan.

At UC Berkeley, we believe that learning is a fundamental part of working, and our goal is for everyone on the Berkeley campus to feel supported and equipped to realize their full potential. We actively support this by providing all of our staff employees with at least 80 hours (10 days) of paid time per year to engage in professional development activities. To find out more about how you can grow your career at UC Berkeley, visit grow.berkeley.edu.

Departmental Overview

The Department of Theater, Dance, and Performance Studies (TDPS) teaches performance as a mode of critical inquiry, creative expression, and public engagement. Through performance training and research, we create liberal arts graduates with expanded analytical, technical, and imaginative capacities. As a public institution, we make diversity and inclusion a key part of our teaching, art making, and public programming.

Located within the College of Letters and Science, the faculty, staff, and students in TDPS — and in the allied Graduate Group in Performance Studies — pursue a wide spectrum of research and production activities. We see performance as an interdisciplinary form, exploring verbal, visual, spatial, and embodied registers of experience. We see performance as a transnational cultural form, exploring the politics and poetics of social life in all parts of the world. We see performance as a public forum for contemporary ideas, allowing us to test and debate the central concerns of our time in a space that is at once critical, emotional, and collective.

Our faculty and staff are nationally and internationally known, both for their scholarly research and their artistic work in design, directing, choreography, acting, and experimental performance. Our curriculum ranges from the classics to the contemporary; it cuts across theatrical, dance, and visual art forms; it spans all corners of the globe, using the site of performance to deepen UC Berkeley's critical education in the humanities.

Position Summary

The Costume Director is Head of the Costume Department and is primary responsible for managing the costume production process for all TDPS productions inclusive of scope, budget, personnel and timeline management; costume construction and/or pulling, altering and purchasing of costumes; supervising costume fittings, hair and make-up approvals, final costume show maintenance, strike and restocking of all costume elements. The Costume Director also supervises two staff members, a Full Time Head Costumer and a Part Time Costume Curator/Wardrobe Supervisor, plus 4-6 work study students. Additionally, the Costume Director is responsible for training and supervising students completing Costume Labs for THEATER 168 (Shop Lab Practice) and THEATER 169 (Advanced Shop Lab Practice). 

The Costume Director oversees annual costume shop budgets, shop upgrades, maintenance, equipment and tool purchases and manages expense tracking and reconciliation. In addition, the Costume Director takes an active role in communicating with faculty costume designers and student costume designers with an emphasis on honoring artistic integrity, while managing budget targets and ensuring appropriate design scale or scope, in order to maintain a balanced, safe and healthy work environment for costume shop staff and student workers. 

Costume Director has primary responsibility for the costume shop and related shops (30,000+ piece costume collection storage facility, historical collection, costume library, costume design studio, make-up workroom, dye room, fitting room, dressing rooms, etc.). In coordination with the Production Manager the Costume Director has responsibility for all costume spaces, collections, and equipment, for maintenance of facilities and equipment, and establishing procedures for operations for all users within the facilities, and for providing a safe and effective learning environment for students.

Application Review Date

The First Review Date for this job is: 05/31/2024. For full consideration please apply by 06/15/2024, this position is open until filled.

Responsibilities

Costume Production: 

• Recommend as to feasibility of pending or proposed projects (theatrical and dance productions), including setting design and budget deadlines and costume build, load-in and strike schedules with the Production Manager. 
• Consult with and recommend changes in design to designers and directors in the interest of efficiency or economy of construction, installation, and operation for costumes, crafts, and hair/wigs/make-up. 
• Determine construction techniques and details of construction and installation. 
• Research and recommend new materials and techniques to fulfill designer concepts. 
• Coordinate borrowing/purchasing/pulling from stock/rental of theatrical costume elements. 
• Build and decorate costumes and costume properties as required and develop patterns and prototypes as needed. 
• Supervise coordination between shop, stage management, designer and performers for measurements and fittings.

Lab Instruction: 

• In conjunction with the Head Costumer and Wardrobe Supervisor/Costume Curator for THR 168 (Shop Practice: Costume Lab) and THR 169 (Advanced Technical Theater Practice: Costume Lab) train and instruct students to become familiar with the costuming process from receiving a design, to building, pulling, altering a costume as well as costume storage and maintenance. 
• For THR 167 (Run Crew) train and supervise students completing wardrobe crew assignments on productions.

Budget Management: 

• Administer annual costume department budgets, ensuring that expenditures are within agreed upon budgetary limits and manages expense reconciliation. 
• Responsible for providing accurate estimates and feedback on proposed costume designs, and working with faculty designers and student designers to reach final design choices that can be attained within budget. 
• Recommend expenditures for equipment; advises on planning of major alterations of existing facilities or development of new facilities.

Personnel Management: 

• Supervise and direct work of Head Costumer, Costume Curator/Wardrobe Supervisor and 4-6 work study students with varying levels of experience in the creating, construction, and installation of costumes and coordinate installation activities. 
• Costume Director is responsible for analyzing staffing requirements, identifying and resolving work flow problems, recruiting, training, assigning work and schedules. 
• Responsible for allocation of personnel to projects and scheduling of equipment use for costume, costume properties, hair/wig/ make-up, and special effects production. 
• Recommend merit increases, salary adjustments, and classification reviews with Production Manager.

Attends technical/dress rehearsals and consults with designers regarding notes, changes, and/or additions. 

• Attends all department staff and production meetings; serves on department committees.

Maintains shop facilities and equipment and coordinates with senior managers regarding theater facilities and property management. 

• Responsible for storage, cataloguing, and disposal of all costumes and costume properties. 

Establishes procedures and leads users (staff and students) in safe, proper practices of theatrical construction and installation and in safe use, proper handling, and maintenance of all machinery, power and hand tools, and other shop and theater equipment. 

• Ensures professional and safe general shop conditions and operations, including fulfilling reporting and record-keeping requirements and all applicable rules/regulations including federal, state, OSHA and Cal/OSHA guidelines and regulations. 
• Works with Fire Marshall and Environmental Health & Safety to ensure the use, and documentation, of safe practices in all shops and performances spaces.

Required Qualifications 

Expert level knowledge in costume shop management construction and costume fabrication for the theater, dance and related industries and knowledge of theater practice, including, but not limited to: 

• Team Management: 1-3 years' experience supervising and leading a team of staff members and students with varying levels of experience.
• Knowledge of tool use and maintenance specific to the costume shop, and theater facility. 
• Knowledge of standards of practice in field, and standards of safety and safe operation in theater and related fields (concert, dance, opera, TV/film).
• Costume Construction:  Knowledge of historical costumes and costume history (period and style). 
• Standard techniques and practices of costume construction including: patterning, draping, cutting, fitting, fabric treatment, millinery, crafts, painting, dying, leatherwork, armor, shoes, accessories, hair/wig/makeup. 
• Knowledge of research techniques. 
• Safe and proper use of costume construction related equipment and tools; industrial sewing machines; fabrication of costumes and costume props, including finishing techniques; specialty skills (e.g. foam carving, sculpting).
• Health and safety regulations regarding make-up and make-up application.
• Thorough verbal and interpersonal communication skills to communicate complex instructions and information to disparate constituencies. 
• Ability to prioritize competing needs over time between short (production based) and long term (organizational) goals.
• Thorough problem recognition, avoidance and resolution skills.
• Computer Skills: Photoshop, Google Suite 
• Bachelor's degree in related area and/or equivalent experience/training.

Preferred Qualifications 

• Working knowledge of University and collective bargaining policies, practices, rules, regulations, etc., including safety rules and regulations.
• Computer Skills: Filemaker Pro, Berkeley Financial System, UCB EH&S Chemical Inventory Database.

Salary & Benefits

This is a 100% full-time (40 hrs a week) exempt career position, which is paid monthly and eligible for UC Benefits.

For information on the comprehensive benefits package offered by the University, please visit the University of California's Compensation & Benefits website.

Under California law, the University of California, Berkeley is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role and should not offer a salary outside of the range posted in this job announcement. This range takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, analysis of internal equity, and other business and organizational needs. It is not typical for an individual to be offered a salary at or near the top of the range for a position. Salary offers are determined based on final candidate qualifications and experience. 

The budgeted salary or hourly range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position is $79,000.00 - $105,000.00.

How to Apply

• To apply, please submit your resume and cover letter.

Driving Required

• A valid driver's license and DMV check for driving record is required.

Other Information

• This is not a visa opportunity.

Conviction History Background

This is a designated position requiring fingerprinting and a background check due to the nature of the job responsibilities.  Berkeley does hire people with conviction histories and reviews information received in the context of the job responsibilities.  The University reserves the right to make employment contingent upon successful completion of the background check.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status. For more information about your rights as an applicant, please see the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission poster.

The University of California's Affirmative action policy.

The University of California's Anti-Discrimination policy.