Lecturer in Costume Technology

Lecturer in Costume Technology
Job No: 533424
Work Type: Non-Tenure-Track Faculty
Location: Main Campus at The University of Florida (Gainesville, FL)
Categories: Recreation/Event Services, Humanities
Department: 13040100 - COTA-THEATRE-CHAIR

Job Description
The School of Theatre and Dance in the College of the Arts seeks a highly skilled and motivated costume technician to join their team as a Lecturer in Costume Technology beginning August 16, 2025. The successful candidate will teach courses that integrate skill building and production in the BFA Theatre Production: Costume Specialization degree program such as draping, tailoring, crafts, production practicum, and beginning makeup; be an integral and collaborative member of their costume area as a project manager and/or draper for the production season; and participate in degree activities including portfolio reviews, senior projects, and advising.

The School seeks an innovative thinker who can actively participate in and contribute to the greater learning community by exploring new connections through live entertainment production practices and critical discourses in the context of the evolving professional and cultural landscape. They seek a colleague who will prepare students to access and unsettle centers of power of any ideology in a radically changing world. They seek a colleague who will position emerging artists and researchers as catalysts for justice on local and global levels.

The School is invested in responding to industry developments regarding person-centered production practices that advance curiosity, inclusion, open intellectual discourse, and the well-being of all in an environment of complex diversities, and supports the health and well-being of students in design and production, theatre performance and studies, and dance. The School seeks a collaborator to help them create sustainable production practices and identify areas where they can respond effectively to these developments in the field.

The University of Florida College of the Arts intends to be a transformative community, responding to and generating paradigmatic shifts in the arts and beyond. As artists and scholars, they embrace the complexity of our evolving human experience and seek to empower students and faculty to shape that experience fearlessly through critical study, creative practice, and provocation. They seek a colleague who identifies as a change-maker.

The University of Florida is an equal opportunity institution dedicated to building a broadly diverse and inclusive faculty, seeking faculty of all backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives.

More information about the school and mission can be found here:
SoTD Mission and Vison Statements: https://arts.ufl.edu/academics/theatre-and-dance/about/mission/
UF Arts Faculty: https://arts.ufl.edu/directory/

This position is covered by the United Faculty of Florida Contract. You can view this employment union contract here https://hr.ufl.edu/manager-resources/employee-relations/union-contracts/united-faculty-of-florida-contract/.

Responsibilities
• Teach undergraduate courses which may include draping, tailoring, crafts, production practicum, and beginning makeup.
• Maximize student learning, skill acquisition, and portfolio building through costume technology coursework on realized productions.
• Engage in project planning with production management, costume shop manager, and design faculty throughout the creative process to indicate opportunities for BFA costume production students.
• Contribute to the production season as lead draper by establishing efficiency and quality standards, completing necessary research, fabricating patterns, estimating yardages, fitting costumes, and overseeing construction teams.
• Contribute to the production season as a project manager for the costume area as appropriate.
• Collaborate with design faculty mentor towards MFA design student learning outcomes as they intersect with draping and construction teams.
• Mentorship of students in the graduate and undergraduate programs.
• Ensure completion of all shows in a timely manner and at stated level of quality in collaboration with professional costume shop staff.
• Establish, maintain, and update costume area practices in collaboration with production management, costume shop manager, and design faculty.
• Contribute to advising and recruitment of undergraduate students.
• Contribute to the overall effectiveness of the Design & Production Area activities in the School through engaged collaboration.
• Participate in shared governance through service to the School, College and University.

In addition to salary, the University of Florida (UF) offers low cost https://www.mybenefits.myflorida.com/health/health_insurance_plans plans, a number of Dental plans to fit you and your family’s needs, and Vision. Domestic partner coverage through GatorCare is also available. Optional plans such as life, disability, legal and accident insurance are also available. UF provides a variety of leave programs including vacation, sick leave, 11 paid holidays, personal leave days, and family medical leave 9 month FACULTY employees accrue approximately 10 days of sick leave per year. UF also provides you the flexibility to deal with life’s challenges by offering paid family leave, eight full weeks of leave over a 24-month period. Build a retirement roadmap with competitive pension plans, investment accounts and a host of voluntary add-ons, such as 457 deferred compensation and 403(b) plans.

UF Employees are also eligible for the https://benefits.hr.ufl.edu/gatorperks/, which provides big savings at various business and retailers!
Explore UF’s plethora of benefit options here: https://benefits.hr.ufl.edu/my-benefits/explore/eligibility/faculty/non-clinical/

Expected Salary: $67,000 with a comprehensive and highly competitive leave and benefits package
Health Assessment Required: No
Applications Close: Open until filled

Requirements

Minimum Requirements
The successful candidate will meet all of the following:
• MFA in Theatre Costume Technology or Design, or closely related field, or an equivalent combination of experiences and skills.
• Experience in teaching at the university level and/or mentoring beyond graduate assistantship.
• Indication of organizational, time management, and collaborative skills.
• Evidence of successful collaboration and collegiality with faculty, students, and staff
• Experience as a professional artist as evidenced by portfolio of draping and/or tailoring and craft work.
• Experience in developing and creating syllabi and curricula that intentionally broaden the approaches to design and technology courses through an awareness of, and sensitivity to a multiplicity of voices that reflect diverse perspectives and experiences.
• Evidence of skill in designing and facilitating academic work that advances curiosity, inclusion, open intellectual discourse, and the well-being of all in an environment of complex diversities.

Preferred Qualifications
The successful candidate will meet some of the following:
• MFA in Theatre Costume Technology or Design.
• 3+ years of teaching at the university level.
• 5+ years ongoing experience as a professional artist as evidenced by portfolio of draping and/or tailoring and craft work.
• Evidence of a commitment to emerging technologies and innovative practices.

Application Instructions

To apply, visit: https://apptrkr.com/5795040

Application Deadline: Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until an applicant pool is established. To ensure full consideration, all application documents must be submitted by January 6, 2025. Applications received after this date may be considered at the discretion of the committee and/or hiring authority.

Application Process: Applications must be submitted via the University of Florida’s online application system. Online applications must include the following: (1) a detailed letter of application that explains how you match the particular qualifications of this position and how your work and perspective will contribute to and enhance our transformative community; (2) a curriculum vitae; (3) a PDF portfolio with 10-15 images (Note that the UF application system only allows for one 5 MB maximum file size PDF document) or a link to website of 10-15 images of your draping and/or tailoring, craft work; and (4) names and contact information of four professional references, it is preferred that at least one should be a production stage manager, stage manager, costume shop manager, or equivalent. The Search Committee may request additional materials at a later time.

The College of the Arts does not utilize AI or other software to provide any level of applicant assessment.

Inquiries may be sent to:
Andrew Cao, Senior Lecturer
Chair, Lecturer in Costume Technology Search Committee
Email: mailto:acao@arts.ufl.edu

The selected candidate will be required to provide an official transcript to the hiring department upon hire. A transcript will not be considered “official” if a designation of “Issued to Student” is visible. Degrees earned from an educational institution outside of the United States are required to be evaluated by a professional credentialing service provider approved by National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES).

If an accommodation due to a disability is needed to apply for this position, please call +1 (352) 392- 2477or the Florida Relay System at +1 (800) 955-8771 (TDD). Hiring is contingent upon eligibility to work in the US. Searches are conducted in accordance with Florida’s Sunshine Law.