Costume Wardrobe Assistant Jobs (NOW HIRING)

At the University of California, Berkeley, we are dedicated to fostering a community where everyone feels welcome and can thrive. Our culture of openness, freedom, and belonging make it a special place for students, faculty, and staff.

As a world-leading institution, Berkeley is known for its academic and research excellence, public mission, diverse student body, and commitment to equity and social justice. Since our founding in 1868, we have driven innovation, creating global intellectual, economic, and social value.

We are looking for applicants who reflect California's diversity and want to be part of an inclusive, equity-focused community that views education as a matter of social justice. Please consider whether your values align with our Guiding Values and Principles, Principles of Community, and Strategic Plan.

At UC Berkeley, we believe that learning is a fundamental part of working, and provide space for supportive colleague communities via numerous employee resource groups (staff organizations). 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 full-time staff employees with at least 80 hours (10 days) of paid time per year to engage in professional development activities. Find out more about how you can grow your career at UC Berkeley.

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.

Position Summary
The Costume Stock Coordinator and Wardrobe Supervisor is a part-time position within the Department of Theater, Dance, and Performance Studies (TDPS).

As Costume Stock Coordinator, this position has primary responsibility for the maintenance, organization, storage, and preservation of the department's costume collection, under the general supervision of the Costume Shop Director. Maintain and update costume inventory and recommend new systems and procedures for stock management. Keep records of all items that have been checked out or returned, and create systems for restocking, including notifying the shop of laundry/dry cleaning and repair needs for all returned items. Facilitate the faculty costume designer or student designer's use of the collection. As needed, assist in the costume shop with costume fabrication, treatment, and implementation of costume designs during the production process. As needed, provide instruction and supervision to students in Theater 168 (Shop Practice - Costume Shop Lab) and THR 169 (Advanced Shop Lab Practice) based in costume storage and shops.

As Wardrobe Supervisor, this position is responsible for managing the stage wardrobe and dressing processes and procedures for all TDPS productions. In conjunction with the Costume Shop and Costume Designer, creates and maintains wardrobe run sheets and other paperwork needed to run the dresser tracks and maintain the original costume design. This paperwork should include presets; timings for all costume changes, quick changes, and actor hand-offs; costume maintenance and laundry needs. Additionally, this position is responsible for training and managing all student wardrobe crews in Theater 167 (Run Crew) in order for them to run their assigned dresser tracks during tech and performances. In conjunction with the Costume Shop, manages dressing room assignments and creates strike plans for student show crews. Works with the Hair and Make-up Artist to maintain makeup protocols and ensure the maintenance of wigs/hair/makeup during tech and performances as designed.

Application Review Date

The First Review Date for this job is June 11, 2026. For full consideration, please apply by the first review date.

Responsibilities
Costume Stock Curation (45%)

• Responsible for the maintenance, and storage of the costume collection. This includes, maintaining inventory listings and labeling of individual items. Determine appropriate procedures for safe preservation of the collection and regularly decide on the most effective use of space for storage.
• Receive, launder, list, label, integrate into the collection, and add to the database.
• Maintain rental/loan records. Pull items, handle returns, and make delinquent return calls as necessary.
• Recommend equipment expenditures for the costume stock.
• On occasion, supervise and instruct in the work of approximately 4-5 work study and 25-35 registered students per semester assigned to work in the costume shops for laboratory courses, including but not limited to THR 60 (Introduction to Technical Theater and Production), 174 (Costume Design for the Theater), and 176 or 179 (Applied Theatrical Design). Train in costume curation procedures and safe working practices.
• Facilitate the designer's use of the collection. Be available for designers (professional and student) to pull from costume stock by appointment. Establish and maintain a rack system for pulled items. Re-integrate returns to collection. Counsel and advise designers on items available in the collection. Keep records of items checked out and returned. Responsible for laundry/dry cleaning and repair as items are returned.

Wardrobe Oversight (50%)

• Attend production meetings, rehearsals, and designer runs, as needed, to create and maintain wardrobe run sheets and other paperwork required to operate the dresser tracks and maintain the original costume design.
  • This paperwork should include presets; timings for all costume changes, quick changes, and actor hand-offs; costume maintenance and laundry needs.
• Attend all technical and dress rehearsals and may attend performances, if needed.
• In collaboration with the Costume Director, the Wardrobe Supervisor manages dressing room assignments, manages the inventory of basic hair and makeup supplies in the hair and makeup room, coordinates dry cleaning schedules, and creates strike plans for student show crews.
• Instruct, train, and lead students completing laboratory practice in Theater 167 as wardrobe technicians on run crew, including standard methods of maintenance and repair of costumes and costume properties, and duties associated with wardrobe/dresser for live theater including standards of professional conduct.
• Complete and supervise student wardrobe technicians in the maintenance of wig/hair/makeup during tech and performances.
  

Costume Shop Assistance (5%)

• As directed and under the supervision of the Costume Shop Director, assist with the build and assembly of costumes and costume properties, such as shoes/boots, masks, hats, crowns, armor, and hair/wigs/makeup for all Department-produced or sponsored productions.
• Fit, cut, and finish garments from patterns working from designs, sketches, or specified research.
• Assisting in the construction of costumes and costume properties from cloth, metal, plastic, leather, fiberglass, etc.
• Assist in maintaining the costume shop and related facilities in a neat, orderly, and safe condition. Participate in daily clean-up.