JOB DESCRIPTION

Role / Title:HOD/CUTTER – Production Costume Department

Reports to:Head of Production Costume

Manages:6 full time staff, casual staff and work placement.

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OverallPurpose of the Job:

To manage the Men’s Workroom and make costumes for men and women of the Royal Opera, Royal Ballet and Birmingham Royal Balletto design specifications, ensuring the highest standards of work. To ensure that all work is produce to the highest quality, speed and economic efficiency with due regard to health safety and security policies of the ROH. To participate in building and being part of an effective team whilst maintaining good people and communication skills, representing the Royal Opera House and Costume Department to visiting artists and encouraging good relations with other Royal Opera House colleagues. WorkisusuallycarriedoutattheROHbutmayberequiredatdesignatedvenues.

Key Accountabilities:

  • Producefinishedmadetomeasure costumes to the highest standard, collaborating with Designers and Costume Supervisors on designs and fabrics.
  • To interpret and realise costume designs, ensuring both Designer and Artists achieve the highest quality and standards
  • To attend fittings and dress rehearsals where necessary for new and revival productions to ensure quality of standards in relation to costumes for a production and to liaise with designers and directors to ensure that all involved parties are satisfied.
  • To liaise closely with the Costume Designers to achieve the best results within the financial restrictions of the budget.
  • Ensure the artistic integrity of revivals/hire/tour productions is maintained
  • To manage theworkroom andorganiseanddistributeworktostaffwithaccordancetothegradingsystemandpersonalcapacities.
  • Forward planning for the Men’s Workroom to ensure the area and staff are used to optimum efficiency to meet production deadlines
  • Maintainandmakewherenecessary costumes forrevivals,toursandhiredshows.
  • Continualcontributiontothebuildingofshowrecords(includingpatterns,relevantnotesandsamples)withinthedepartment that can be retrieved and used where necessary.
  • Source, monitor and report deficiencies in stock levels and shop for and collect materials and equipment if required
  • Realise costumes requirements using a wide range of techniques, materials and finishes as appropriate and be fully conversant with required standards
  • Work as part of a team to agreed deadlines, informing the line manager of any problems at the earliest opportunity, always monitoring and ensuring the highest standards of work
  • Promotethe Costume DepartmentoftheRoyalOperaHousebyrespondingpositivelytorequestsforadviceand/orsuppliesfromothertheatresandcompanieswhereappropriateandfeasible.
  • Produce costumesof the highest quality for various freelance productions and Birmingham Royal Ballet productions.
  • To be available to individual members of the Royal Opera or Royal Ballet companies to advise on their choreographic and opera projects.
  • Attend and participate effectively inmeetingsasrequiredand collaborate withDesigners,Supervisors,HeadofCostumeWorkshops,andRunningWardrobeHeadandProps.
  • Participateintherecruitment of staff, including students and freelance staff with a view to future employment.
  • To take responsibility for the informal stage of disciplinary procedures withstaffasappropriate
  • Participate in training as necessary and appropriate
  • Toberesponsibleforthepersonaldevelopment of staff
  • Tocarryout voluntary AnnualDevelopment reviewswithstaff.
  • To check and authorise timesheets, sickness forms and holiday request and to monitor sickness and absence in the department and take action where necessary.
  • Tomonitortheprogressoftrainingwithinthedepartment.
  • To actively monitor the Royal Opera House Health and Safety policy and correct working methods according to COSHH regulations within the department, and undertake Health and Safety training in accordance with the Production Department policies.
  • Maintain high standards of operation and good housekeeping
  • To ensure that all equipment is maintained and serviced when necessary and that any machinery requiring insurance checks are up to date
  • To continually ensure the department is adequately equipped and keep up to date with working practices. To select and order industrial equipment and machinery.

Essential Knowledge/Skills and Experience:

  • BA/City and Guilds or equivalent in Costume Making/Tailoring
  • Significant experience in Men’s theatrical tailoring
  • Excellent knowledge of period costume, cutting and construction of tailored costumes for men, including appropriate terminology
  • Excellentcutting, fitting, hand and machine sewing skills and construction of men's/women's costumes
  • Experience of working on Ballet costumes
  • HOD or equivalent experience of supervising the making of theatrical costumes

Desirable Knowledge/Skills and Experience:

  • Familiaritywiththehouserepertory and basicknowledgeofresidentcompanymembersandvisitingartistes an advantage
  • Abilitytorealiseandinterpretdesignswithnaturalartisticflairforthetheatre
  • Excellent knowledge of fabric
  • Knowledgeofdifferentsewingmachinesand their maintenance, familiarity with sewing terminology and techniques
  • Possession of leadership qualities and experience of staff supervision
  • Proven ability to organise and plan the department and its workloads to achieve specific deadlines.
  • Management training course qualification
  • Health and Safety training (Essential but training given by ROH)
  • Ability to further develop skills through appropriate training.
  • Able to work within a team
  • Good interpersonal and communication skills
  • Helpful,positiveandflexibleapproach
  • Reliable and responsible
  • Excellent personal time management
  • Self-motivation to acquire new skills and knowledge
  • Able to travel within the UK and overseas
  • Basic computer skills
  • Flexibilityregardinghoursofwork i.e. Evenings/weekends/bankholidaysifrequired.

Essential Knowledge/Skills and Experience:

  • BA/City and Guilds or equivalent in Costume Making/Tailoring
  • Excellent knowledge of period costume, cutting and construction of tailored costumes for men, including appropriate terminology
  • Excellent cutting, fitting, hand and machine sewing skills and construction of men's/women's costumes
  • Significant experience in Men’s theatrical tailoring
  • Experience of working on Ballet costumes
  • HOD or equivalent experience of supervising the making of theatrical costumes

Other Essential Knowledge/Skills and Experience:

  • Abilitytorealiseandinterpretdesignswithnaturalartisticflairforthetheatre
  • Excellent knowledge of fabric
  • Knowledgeofdifferentsewingmachinesand their maintenance, familiarity with sewing terminology and techniques
  • Possession of leadership qualities and experience of staff supervision
  • Proven ability to organise and plan the department and its workloads to achieve specific deadlines.
  • Able to work within a team
  • Good interpersonal and communication skills
  • Helpful,positiveandflexibleapproach
  • Reliable and responsible
  • Excellent personal time management
  • Self-motivation to acquire new skills and knowledge
  • Able to travel within the UK and overseas
  • Basic computer skills
  • Flexibilityregardinghoursofwork i.e. Evenings/weekends/bankholidaysifrequired.

Desirable Knowledge/Skills and Experience:

  • Familiaritywiththehouserepertory and basicknowledgeofresidentcompanymembersandvisitingartistes an advantage
  • Management training course qualification
  • Health and Safety training (Essential but training given by ROH)

Context:

The Head of Men’s Workroom mustpossessgoodpersonnelskillsandtheabilitytoorganiseworkloadsforallthestaffinworkroom.Inadditionitisessentialtobeabletoexplainmethodsofworkandtechniquesaswellasdealwithanyqueriesregardingtheproductions. Inordertoundertakethisjobsuccessfullyyouneedtocontributetotheworkroomaspartofateamandbeabletoworkeasilyunderpressure. Itisessentialtobeabletoworkeveningsandweekendsaswellasthenormal40hourweektoensurethatthecostumesarereadyforthestartoftheproduction. The Men’s Workroom alwaysworksonmultipleshows, soitisvitaltobeabletofocusonmorethanoneproductionatatime.

Note: This Job Description reflects the current situation. It does not preclude change or development that might be required in the future.

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