Head of Costume

Location: Glasgow (with travel across Scotland and the UK)Salary: Circa £45,000 per annum (depending on experience)Hours: 39 hours per week (management role; flexibility required including evenings and weekends)Closing date for applications: Monday 23 February 2026, 5pmScottish Opera is Scotland’s national opera company. We take world‑class opera to all corners of Scotland, ensuring that as many people as possible can enjoy this wonderful art form.Scottish Opera is seeking an experienced and inspiring Head of Costume to lead all aspects of costume delivery across our productions and commercial activities.This is a senior, hands‑on management role, overseeing the smooth running of our costume workroom, performance wardrobe, wigs and make‑up, and costume hire operations. You will play a key role in delivering world‑class productions while managing people, budgets, schedules and creative collaborations.About the roleThe Head of Costume is responsible for the strategic and day‑to‑day management of the Costume Department, working across Scottish Opera productions of all scales, external work for theatre, film and TV, specialist costume services, and our costume rental operation. You will lead a diverse team of permanent, contract and freelance staff, supported by a Deputy Head of Costume, and work closely with designers, directors, stage management, technical departments, and external suppliers.Key ResponsibilitiesDepartment Leadership & ManagementLine manage Costume Department staff, providing leadership, support and developmentPlan and allocate workload for in‑house staff and external makersMaintain high standards across the workroom, running wardrobe, wigs and make‑upEnsure robust health & safety practices, risk assessments and equipment maintenanceAct as a key point of contact for internal and external stakeholdersProduction DeliveryMeet with designers to plan and realise costume conceptsSupport Costume Supervisors to ensure productions are delivered on time and on budgetPrepare and manage production budgets, including labour and materialsSchedule fittings, rehearsals and overtime in line with production needsLiaise closely with stage management and other technical departmentsAttend rehearsals and oversee final delivery, including production costume biblesBudgeting & BuyingSource and purchase fabrics, garments and accessoriesPlace orders for productions and stock, maintaining accurate recordsTravel to meet designers, makers and suppliers as requiredMaintain organised storage of samples and materialsStaffing, Recruitment & DevelopmentManage timesheets, holiday records and staff administrationRecruit permanent, contract and casual staff in partnership with People & CultureMaintain a pool of skilled freelance and temporary staffSupport work experience placements and trainee recruitmentAct as a mentor to trainees, sharing costume administration expertiseGeneral DutiesAttend departmental scheduling and planning meetingsSupport marketing, press, photo shoots and filming activityHost visits from students and industry groupsManage departmental communications and administrationAbout youYou will be an accomplished costume professional with strong leadership and organisational skills, comfortable balancing creative collaboration with detailed planning and budget management. You’ll bring experience of managing teams, delivering productions to schedule, and working across a range of live performance environments.Experience within opera or large‑scale theatre is desirable, as is a collaborative, calm and solutions‑focused approach.How to applyAll applications should include a covering letter, CV and a completed Equality Monitoring Form. All candidates must be able to demonstrate a pre‑existing right to work in the UK and documentary proof of this will be requested at interview.You may also have experience in the following:Head of CostumeCostume ManagerSenior Costume SupervisorWardrobe ManagerHead of WardrobeCostume Department ManagerTheatre Costume ManagerOpera Costume ManagerCostume Production ManagerHead of Wardrobe & CostumeCostume Workshop ManagerCostume Design & Production ManagerSenior Wardrobe SupervisorCostume & Wardrobe LeadHead of Costume & WardrobeREF-226 595 #J-18808-Ljbffr