Wardrobe Supervisor

To manage, maintain, and coordinate all wardrobe and costume services for the Upper School, and to oversee the design, production, and delivery of costumes for the school's End of Year Performances across both Upper School and White Lodge.

SUMMARY OF THE ROLE:

The Wardrobe Supervisor is responsible for managing all costume-related activities for the Upper School throughout the school year, ensuring costumes are well maintained, altered, and repaired as needed. In addition, the role leads the planning, design, production, and delivery of costumes for the End of Year Performances across both Upper School and White Lodge, attending production meetings and fittings, liaising with other wardrobe departments and suppliers, and coordinating the logistics of costume management for all performances.

CONTRACT TERMS:

Hours:
0.8 FTE, 28 hours per week. This position moves to full time from April to August to support the End of Year Performances. This position is term time only. Occasional weekend work and additional hours may be required to fulfil the demands of projects.

Location:
White Lodge, Richmond Park and Upper School, Covent Garden

Salary:
Competitive salary offered

Application Closing Date:
4 December 2025

MAIN DUTIES:

Costumes

• Coordination and sourcing of costumes
• Prepare, alter and repair costumes and tutus for Royal Ballet School events and performances
• Re-imagine current stock to find solutions to new wardrobe needs and demands
• Obtain material samples, cost and create new costumes as mutually agreed with the Artistic Director and Managers
• Care for costumes: wash, clean, iron, store, packing appropriately
• Facilitate "get-in" and "get-out" arrangements for events including the transporting of costumes to and from outside venues
• Maintain an updated inventory of items of costume for each specific performance.

Financial Control

• To assist the Artistic Director, Head of Artistic Programmes and Production and the Upper School Artistic Manager with any Wardrobe budgetary needs or bids
• To manage the Wardrobe department finances, liaising with the Artistic staff, the Artistic Operations and Production Manager and Finance Department as and when required.

General

• Attend events, performances and competitions as required to coordinate and manage the wardrobe service, for example Linbury Theatre, Opera Holland Park, Royal Ballet and Opera, choreographic events, solos graduation etc.
• Supervise all wardrobe needs for performances
• To arrange for the maintenance of the Wardrobe Department's machinery and equipment
• Provide strong, inspirational leadership to all wardrobe assistants, ensuring a motivated, supported, and high-performing team
• Maintain close communication and partnership with other key departments
• Support students, as needed, with any matters related to wardrobe
• Collaborate closely with other departments to deliver the End of Year Performances and any other internal or external performances
• Any other duties that may reasonably be requested by the Artistic Director, Head of Artistic Programmes and Production and Artistic Operations and Production Manager, within the scope and range of the post holder.

PERSON SPECIFICATION:

Essential Criteria

• Extensive experience in a ballet/dance/performing arts school/company or theatre wardrobe department or quality fashion workshop
• Outstanding sewing and tailoring skills
• Good interpersonal skills, especially with young people
• Excellent planning and organisational skills
• Ability to work under pressure and to strict deadlines
• Basic administration and IT skills using MS Office packages or a willingness to be trained.

Desirable Criteria

• An interest in dance or the performing arts
• Experience of working in School environment
• Empathy with the aims and ethos of the School.

SAFEGUARDING DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

The School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and recognises that safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is everyone's responsibility. The School expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment to children's safeguarding and to share this child-centred approach. This approach means that staff must consider, at all times, what is in the best interests of the child. Additionally, the following is expected of all staff:

• To uphold the School's policies relating to safeguarding and child protection, behaviour, health and safety and all other relevant policies
• To promote and safeguard the welfare of children and young persons for whom you are responsible and come into contact with
• To report any safeguarding concerns using the relevant channels, such as informing the Designated Safeguarding Lead, in a timely and appropriate manner
• To ensure full compliance with all statutory regulations, particularly the most recent Keeping Children Safe in Education, and to communicate concerns to the Designated Safeguarding Lead, other relevant staff of The Royal Ballet School or local children's services as appropriate.

This job information cannot be all encompassing. It is inevitable over time that the emphasis of the job will change without changing the general character of the job or the level of duties and responsibilities entailed. Consequently, this information will be periodically reviewed, revised and updated in consultation with the post holder to reflect appropriate changes.

We are committed to creating an environment where all our employees feel part of our team and can flourish, regardless of their background. We're proud to be an inclusive workplace that promotes and values diversity.