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Overview
Senior Draper/Patternmaker reports to David Geffen School of Drama/Yale Repertory Theatre (DGSD/YRT) Costume Shop Manager. Exercising a high degree of autonomy and discretion, interprets graduate student or guest costume designers’ sketches and creates stage-worthy costumes for DGSD/YRT while maintaining high standards of craftsmanship, efficiency and safety.
This is a full-time seasonal position from mid August-mid May.
Required Skills and Abilities
1. Strongly demonstrated mastery of tailoring, draping and flat-patterning techniques; mastery in all aspects of costume construction including but not limited to cutting, sewing, altering and finishing of garments. Strongly demonstrated professionalism in fittings.
2. Strongly demonstrated ability to create wide range of specialized costumes and craft pieces. Strongly demonstrated mastery of costume history and period silhouette and properties of all types of fabrics.
3. Strongly demonstrated ability to work as a team player effectively and flexibly with a large number of staff, students, interns, guest artists, and other professionals with a commitment to a diverse and inclusive workplace. Calm and collected under pressure w/strongly demonstrated ability to set/meet deadlines, set/follow schedules and give clear instructions.
4. Strongly demonstrated ability to guide, advise, mentor, and lead students and staff in a professional setting.
5. Strongly demonstrated mastery of costume shop machinery including but not limited to industrial straight stitch and zigzag sewing machines, industrial overlock machines, industrial steam irons and steamers, and small incidental shop tools.
Preferred Education and Experience
MFA degree in theatre production with emphasis in costume design or costume technology. Experience in millinery and other costume crafts. Knowledge of job-related health and safety issues and ability to identify potential hazards.
Principal Responsibilities
1. Collaborates with Costume Designer to interpret costume renderings, discussing possible materials and methods used to achieve designs. 2. Creates unique patterns using draping and flat-patterning techniques. 3. Supervises the work of first hands, stitchers, and students, while ensuring and participating in the construction of a wide range of complex and specialized costumes and craft pieces. 4. Fits costumes on a wide range of actors. 5. Uses a variety of complex and specialized tools, processes, materials, and equipment. 6. Attends appropriate meetings and rehearsals. 7. Assists in maintaining the safety and efficiency of all costume shop operations. 8. Prioritizes and performs maintenance and repair of costume shop, tools and equipment. 9. Works occasional nights, weekends and holidays. 10. May perform other duties as assigned.
Required Education and Experience 1. Ten years’ experience as a draper and a high school-level education; or eight years of draping experience and an Associate’s degree; or six years of draping experience and a Bachelor’s degree in a related field; or four years of draping experience with an MFA in a related field; or an equivalent combination of experience and education. 2. Professional experience as a draper.
Required License(s) or Certification(s) Required License(s) or Certification(s):
Physical Requirements 1. Sit and stand for long periods of time. 2. Hold and control sewing tools and equipment including sewing machine foot pedal. 3. Lift, carry, push or pull up to 25 lbs.
Job Posting Date
06/19/2026
Job Category
Technician
Bargaining Unit
L34
Compensation Grade
Labor Grade E
Compensation Grade Profile
Hourly Range
$35.64
Time Type
Full time
Duration Type
Staff
Work Model
On-site
Background Check Requirements
All candidates for employment will be subject to pre-employment background screening for this position, which may include motor vehicle, DOT certification, drug testing and credit checks based on the position description and job requirements. All offers are contingent upon the successful completion of the background check. For additional information on the background check requirements and process visit "Learn about background checks" under the Applicant Support Resources section of Careers on the It's Your Yale website.
Health Requirements
Certain positions have associated health requirements based on specific job responsibilities. These may include vaccinations, tests, or examinations, as required by law, regulation, or university policy.
Posting Disclaimer
The hiring rate of a role is determined in accordance with the provisions outlined in the respective collective bargaining agreement.
The intent of this job description is to provide a representative summary of the essential functions that will be required of the position and should not be construed as a declaration of specific duties and responsibilities of the position. Employees will be assigned specific job-related duties through their hiring department.
The University is committed to basing judgments concerning the admission, education, and employment of individuals upon their qualifications and abilities and seeks to attract to its faculty, staff, and student body qualified persons from a broad range of backgrounds and perspectives. In accordance with this policy and as delineated by federal and Connecticut law, Yale does not discriminate in admissions, educational programs, or employment against any individual on account of that individual’s sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, age, disability, status as a special disabled veteran, veteran of the Vietnam era or other covered veteran.
Inquiries concerning Yale's Policy Against Discrimination and Harassment may be referred to the Office of Institutional Equity and Accessibility (OIEA).
Note
Yale University is a tobacco-free campus.
