JOB DESCRIPTION
POSITION
Wardrobe Manager
REPORTS TO
Ballet Central Artistic Director
SALARY
£22,000 - £24,000 pa
Job Purpose
To act as the main contact for all costumes for Ballet Central (BC) and Central School of Ballet
(CSB). The Wardrobe Manager will be fully responsible for the overall preparation and running
of the wardrobe, both on tour and at the school’s base. As the company is student-based the
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 are in proper working order throughout the year.
To ensure that necessary supplies of stock for the general running of the wardrobe, whilst at
the school and when touring are maintained.
To be responsible for keeping all receipts and records of all petty cash spent and giving a
record of this to BC Company Manager and Finance Manager.
To ensure that the all 1st, 2nd year and 3rd year students are measured, and that these
measurements are recorded and updated at the start of each term.
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 the students with the preparation of their Graduation costumes. Liaising
with Artistic Director and BC Staff members.
To attend all relevant staff meetings especially Ballet Central weekly meetings
PRE PERFORMANCES RESPONSIBILITIES
To be responsible for designing and /or making costumes and for the recreation of existing
costumes, finding suitable costume makers when appropriate, for 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 be responsible for liaising with outside organisations and individuals regarding the rental,
borrowing and making of costumes, arranging preparation, collection, and delivery and
cleaning.
JOB DESCRIPTION
To prepare an initial costing to be presented to the Director for the making of any costumes in
liaison with BC Company Manager, ensuring that duplicate costumes and accessories are
available for cast changes and these are included in the costings.
To produce a costume breakdown, including hair and makeup guidelines, of all costumes taken
on Ballet Central tour.
Ensuring that all costumes are produced within the deadline and labelled with the appropriate
student’s name.
PERFORMANCES & TOURING RESPONSIBILITIES
Supervising 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.
Providing a list of how to care for the costumes with detailed guidelines, 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.
Allocating dressing rooms and making sure costumes are organised and placed within the
appropriate dressing room.
Allocating a quick change area and helping students with these changes as appropriate and
helping 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 qualification in costume design and/or making
 Experience of working within wardrobe management
 Experience of working within Dance.
 Experience of touring
Desirable
 Experience of working successfully as part of a team and independently using initiative to
organise workload and meet agreed deadlines
 Experience of developing good working relationships with all staff and externally
JOB DESCRIPTION
 Excellent communications skills and the ability to communicate effectively at all levels both
verbally and in writing
 Experience of working successfully in a changing organisation where flexibility and
adaptability are essential
 Successful experience of managing projects
Terms and Conditions
 This is a fixed term contract with an annual salary of £22-24,000
 The post will be offered on an initial 6-month probationary period
 Normal working hours = 42.5 hours per week, 9am – 5.30pm, including one-hour lunch each
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day. Evening and weekend working during tour time will be subject to time off in lieu. There
are no overtime payments linked to this post.
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,
rising to 25 days (five weeks) after completion of two years’ service
Stakeholder pension available on appointment
Opportunity to join Medical Insurance Scheme at a preferential rate on successful completion
of probationary period
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.
WG/VC Sep 2011