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- Tasks: Lead the Costume Department, managing production delivery and team collaboration.
- Company: Scottish Opera, Scotland's national opera company with a passion for world-class performances.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible hours, and opportunities for creative collaboration.
- Why this job: Make a significant impact in the arts while leading a talented costume team.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in costume management and strong leadership skills.
- Other info: Dynamic role with travel across Scotland and the UK, perfect for creative leaders.
The predicted salary is between 45000 - 63000 £ per year.
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, 5pm
Scottish 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 role
The 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 Responsibilities
- Department Leadership & Management
- Line manage Costume Department staff, providing leadership, support and development
- Plan and allocate workload for in-house staff and external makers
- Maintain high standards across the workroom, running wardrobe, wigs and make-up
- Ensure robust health & safety practices, risk assessments and equipment maintenance
- Act as a key point of contact for internal and external stakeholders
- Production Delivery
- Meet with designers to plan and realise costume concepts
- Support Costume Supervisors to ensure productions are delivered on time and on budget
- Prepare and manage production budgets, including labour and materials
- Schedule fittings, rehearsals and overtime in line with production needs
- Liaise closely with stage management and other technical departments
- Attend rehearsals and oversee final delivery, including production costume bibles
- Budgeting & Buying
- Source and purchase fabrics, garments and accessories
- Place orders for productions and stock, maintaining accurate records
- Travel to meet designers, makers and suppliers as required
- Maintain organised storage of samples and materials
- Staffing, Recruitment & Development
- Manage timesheets, holiday records and staff administration
- Recruit permanent, contract and casual staff in partnership with People & Culture
- Maintain a pool of skilled freelance and temporary staff
- Support work experience placements and trainee recruitment
- Act as a mentor to trainees, sharing costume administration expertise
- General Duties
- Attend departmental scheduling and planning meetings
- Support marketing, press, photo shoots and filming activity
- Host visits from students and industry groups
- Manage departmental communications and administration
About you
You 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 apply
All 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.
Head of Costume employer: Scottish Opera
Contact Detail:
Scottish Opera Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Costume
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Attend industry events, workshops, and meet-ups to connect with fellow costume professionals. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or collaborations.
✨Tip Number 2
Showcase your work! Create a portfolio that highlights your best costume designs and projects. Share it on social media and professional platforms to get noticed by potential employers.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its productions. Be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with their vision and how you can contribute to their team.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to reach out directly.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Costume
Some tips for your application 🫡
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Make sure to highlight your relevant experience and passion for costume design. We want to see how you can bring your unique flair to the Head of Costume role at Scottish Opera.
Tailor Your CV: Don’t just send a generic CV! Tailor it to showcase your leadership skills and experience in managing teams and budgets. We’re looking for someone who can balance creativity with organisation, so make that clear!
Showcase Your Experience: In your application, be sure to include specific examples of past projects where you’ve led a team or delivered productions on time and within budget. We love seeing real-life applications of your skills!
Apply Through Our Website: Make sure to submit your application through our website. It’s the easiest way for us to keep track of your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates. We can’t wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at Scottish Opera
✨Know Your Costumes
Dive deep into the world of costumes before your interview. Familiarise yourself with Scottish Opera's past productions and their costume styles. Being able to discuss specific examples will show your passion and understanding of the role.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare to discuss your experience in managing teams and projects. Think of specific instances where you led a team through challenges, maintained high standards, or collaborated creatively. This will highlight your suitability for the Head of Costume position.
✨Budgeting Brilliance
Brush up on your budgeting skills! Be ready to talk about how you've managed production budgets in the past, including sourcing materials and keeping costs under control. This is crucial for demonstrating your financial acumen.
✨Ask Insightful Questions
Prepare thoughtful questions to ask during the interview. Inquire about the creative process at Scottish Opera, the types of collaborations you might engage in, or how they envision the future of their costume department. This shows your genuine interest in the role and the company.
