Technical Head of Wardrobe 5th Avenue Theatre Seattle, WA

The 5th Avenue Theatre’s mission is to nurture, advance, and celebrate all aspects of the great art form: the musical. As one of America's premier musical theater companies, The 5th is a major economic driver, playing a key role in the revitalization of downtown Seattle. We produce multiple musicals annually and proudly employ local talent, with 90%+ of our 700 artists living in Washington.

Our renowned education programs serve 35,000 K-12 students annually, and our engagement programs facilitate connections between people, organizations, different cultures, and various art forms. The 5th is an invaluable treasure to Seattle, and central to America's theatrical landscape; we have originated 26 new musicals, 11 of which have gone on to Broadway and garnered 15 Tony Awards®, including two for Best Musical.

Position Title:

Head of Wardrobe Department:
Production

Reports to:

Costume, Wardrobe & Hair Director Compensation: IATSE, Local No.887contract rateof $47.08 / hour FLSA Classification:
Hourly Benefits:
Benefits are provided through Local
887according to the terms of the collective bargaining agreement and include deferred comp,retirementand health. This role comes with discounted parking perks and complimentary show tickets to self-produced shows.

Work Location:

Downtown Seattle, on site in The 5th Avenue Theatre, backstage areas.

The Head of Wardrobe, in close coordination with the Costume, Wardrobe & Hair Director, the creative team, and designers, is responsible for leading and supervising the wardrobe crew and overseeing the planning, execution, maintenance, and operation of the wardrobe department for all mainstage productions at The 5th Avenue Theatre. This role ensures the artistic integrity and vision of the designers, creative team, and The 5th Avenue Theatre are upheld throughout each production.

This position is represented by IATSE, Local No.887.

Serve as an active member of the IATSE wardrobe crew. For self-produced productions, the Head of Wardrobe functions as a supervisor without an assigned track and may assist with limited quick changes as needed.

Supervise, train, and support the wardrobe run crew and oversee daily wardrobe operations.

Collaborate with the Costume, Wardrobe, and Hair Director, designers, and Stage Management to plan, staff, and execute wardrobe needs for all productions.

Create wardrobe run tracks, schedules, and backstage setups, including quick-change areas and laundry systems.

Participate in technical rehearsals, performances, and day work, ensuring ongoing costume maintenance, repair, and continuity throughout each production.

Maintain wardrobe documentation, stock, equipment, and supplies, including ordering materials as needed.

Support load-in, strike, and costume load-out processes, including the return of rentals.

Manage designated budgets, track expenses, submit receipts, and process payroll in accordance with departmental procedures.

Maintain safe working conditions in compliance with AEA, OSHA, and applicable agreements.

Attend production and department meetings as requested and provide regular updates to the Costume, Wardrobe, and Hair Director.

Participates and actively engages in Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiations.

Be an active participant in the 5th Avenue Theatre’s work towards equity, diversity and inclusion and accountability and becoming an anti-racist organization by participating in all trainings and workshops and actively working implementing learned skills and policies in your department.

The ideal candidate for this position will possess most of these skills and qualifications, or relevant experience and achievements to help them meet needs of the role.

Proven experience supporting production and design processes for large-scale theatrical productions.

Advanced knowledge of costumes, fabrics, historical periods, and wardrobe practices.

Strong experience with show tracking, wardrobe maintenance, laundry systems, stain removal, shoe repair, and quick-change execution.

Proficiency in quick-change choreography, crew track planning, and both home and industrial sewing machines, including basic…