JOB DESCRIPTION

POSITIONWardrobe Manager

REPORTS TOArtistic Director

SALARYCompetitive

Job Purpose

To act as the main contact for all costumes for Ballet Central (BC) and Central School of Ballet (CSB) The Wardrobe Managerwill be fully responsible for the overall preparation and running of the Costume Department, both on tour and at the School and will, as required, have the responsibility for the making of all costumes. As the company is student-basedthe job role will include elements of a tutorial position.

Key Accountabilities

WARDROBE RESPONSIBILITIES

To maintain and organise the Costume Stock Room; managing an effective system for the provision of costumes for all performances, events, assessments and competitions, ensuring that all costumes are clean and stored appropriately in the CSB wardrobe. To maintain an up to date wardrobe loans book.

To ensure that all sewing machines and overlockers are serviced annually, and ensure that all other necessary equipment is in safe working order throughout the year.

To ensure that necessary and efficient supplies of stock for the general running of the wardrobe, whilst at the school and when touring are maintained.

To be responsible for the Costume Department budget,liaising with the Finance Department and the Artistic Director, ensuring that all expenditures are within agreed budget limits.

To ensure that the all 1st, 2nd year and 3rd year students are measured, and that these measurements are recorded and updated as required.

To order uniforms as required and liaise with suppliers as necessary.

To organise and deliver lectures on general costume maintenance, touring responsibilities and costume design on stage in relation to their studies as required.

To advise and guide students with the preparationof their Graduation costumes,liaising with the Artistic Director and BC Staff members.

To attend all relevant staff meetings, including Ballet Central weekly meetings.

PRE PERFORMANCES RESPONSIBILITIES

To be responsible for making costumes and for the recreation of existing costumesfor all Ballet Central and CSB performances, events and competitions, with the guidance of

the Artistic Director of BC, and liaising with choreographers, teaching staff, and designers.

To contribute to the designing of costumes, as required.

To be responsible for liaising with outside organisations and individuals regarding the rental, borrowing and making of costumes, arranging preparation, collection, and delivery and cleaning.

To produce acostume biblefor the Ballet Central Tour and the School Show.

To ensure that all costumes are produced within agreed deadlines and labelled with the appropriate student’s name.

MANAGEMENT & SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

To plan and manage the work of freelance makers/costumiers, ensuring delivery of an efficient and effective service.

To select and coach interns (e.g. costume degree students) to participate in a work experience programme within the department, ensuring compliance with appropriate health and safety legislation and the staff handbook, where applicable.

PERFORMANCES & TOURING RESPONSIBILITIES

To contribute, through tutorials, to the development of students’ technical knowledge and skill, particularly in the areas of costume and make-up.

To contribute to the pastoral well-being of students on tour, as required by theArtistic Director.

To supervisethe student wardrobe team at all venues, assuring that all the costumes are prepped, washed, ironed/steamed and ready for the performance, and during the get-out organising the wardrobe team to collect & bag up all costumes and accessories, ensuring the costumes are checked off an inventory.

To provide a list of how to care for the costumes with detailed guidelines, including how to wash & clean the costumes, settings for iron & steamer. To be given to students within the wardrobe team.

To wash all washable items of costume after each performance.To dry clean costumes when appropriate and within budgetary restraints.

To pack all costumes, including shoes & accessories, for transportation to all venues, together with all necessary items,such as costume rails, sewing machine, steamer, iron and ironing board, washing materials.

To ensure that all students have the correct make-up, shoes, and wardrobe basics required for the tour.

To allocate dressing rooms, making sure costumes are organised and placed withinthe appropriate dressing room.

To allocate a quick change area, helping students with these changes as appropriate andhelping with wig and makeup application when necessary.

General

  • Adhere to School policies, procedures and guidelines
  • Assist, support and attend events/performances as requested
  • Contribute to the operating values and ethos of the School as determined in its mission statement
  • Exercise discretion/confidentiality in business, personnel and financial matters externally, particularly regarding press/media and potential competitors

Person Specification

Essential

  • Relevant experience in costume making
  • Experience of working within a Dance environment.
  • Experience of touring
  • Ability to worksuccessfully as part of a team and also independently using initiative to organise workload and meet agreed deadlines
  • Ability to develop good working relationships with all staff and external stakeholders
  • Excellent communications skills and the ability to communicate effectively at all levels both verbally and in writing
  • Experience of working successfully in a dynamic organisation where flexibility and adaptability are essential
  • Experience of successful project management

Desirable

  • Experience of costume design

Terms and Conditions

  • This is a fixed-term contract – expected to run from mid-January 2017 to 31st July 2017
  • The post will be offered on an initial 3-month probationary period
  • Normal working hours = 37.50 hours per week, excluding breaks and usually between 9am – 5.30pm. Evening and weekend working required during tour time will be eligible for time off in lieu. There are no overtime payments linked to this post
  • Travel expenses and Per Diems are provided in line with the School’s expense policy
  • In line with School policy, this post requires a Criminal Records Bureau Enhanced Disclosure
  • Holiday Entitlement: all English Bank & Public Holidays, plus 20 days (four weeks) per annum pro rata, rising to 25 days (five weeks)pro rata after completion of two years’ service
  • In line with School Policy, this post requires a Disclosure and Barring Service Enhanced Disclosure
  • Access to a workplace pension scheme with BC & E (People’s Pension) and enrolment with employer contributions at currently 1% of salary(subject to eligibility criteria)

The purpose of this document is to describe the key accountabilities that the person holding this position needs to achieve. It is in no way an exhaustive list of responsibilities of the role and in any event, the duties and requirements of this role may change from time to time as required by the School and/or Director.

CM/MJNov 2016