10003028

Fairfax, VA

Classified Staff

Opening on: Aug 7 2025
Department: Col of Visual and Performing Arts
Classification: Media Specialist 3
Job Category: Classified Staff
Job Type: Full-Time
Work Schedule: Full-time (1.0 FTE, 40 hrs/wk)
Location: Fairfax, VA
Workplace Type: On Site Required
Pay Band: 04
Salary: Salary commensurate with education and experience
Criminal Background Check: Yes

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in related field or the equivalent combination of education and experience;
• Demonstrated professional costume management experience;
• Significant professional experience in the area of costume design and construction (ideally for dance);
• Demonstrated experience supervising staff in the construction of costumes and costume inventory management;
• Significant knowledge of stage costume construction;
• Strong sewing, alteration, fabric selection and care, fitting and measuring, patterning, construction, painting and dyeing skills;
• Strong organizational skills and time management abilities; and
• Ability to work with a wide range of expertise from students to professional artists to university faculty and staff.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master’s degree in related field;
• Significant professional experience costuming for dance;
• Experience working in a higher education setting and mentoring students in costume construction (ideally for dance);
• Significant knowledge of costume design and construction for dance;
• Clear, respectful communicator able to work with a range of artistic voices and technical personnel while maintaining professionalism backstage and in the shop;
• Commitment to artistic excellence; and
• Demonstrated ability working with a diverse population of artists, students, faculty, staff, and community members.

• Collaborates with School of Dance faculty, the School of Dance Production Manager, student choreographers, and visiting guest artists to interpret costume needs;
• Designs, sources, purchases, constructs, and alters costumes that align with the choreographic visions, production contexts, and technical requirements of each work presented by the School of Dance;
• Oversees all costume logistics throughout the production cycle, including:
• Pre- and post-production storage;
• Load-in and strike;
• Maintenance, laundering, and repairs during a show run; and
• The management of rentals;
• Fits dancers and makes necessary alterations to ensure costumes support mobility, safety, and comfort in addition to the artistic visions and technical requirements of the pieces they support;
• Supervises costume shop staff in costume construction and maintenance for School of Dance projects;
• Maintains and updates inventory of costume stock, ensuring proper organization, care, and documentation of School of Dance costume inventory;
• Attends design and production meetings and rehearsals as appropriate to support costume development and execution; and
• Ensures all work meets production deadlines and budget constraints in coordination with the School of Dance Production Manager.