Job Description
Location: Hickory, North Carolina
The Lenoir-Rhyne University College of Fine Arts and Communication invites applications for a part-time appointment in Theatre as Costume Designer. Appointment begins August 2025.
Essential Accountabilities We seek a colleague who is committed to developing well-rounded artists, critical thinkers and engaged citizens. The ideal colleague will have a passion for working with a small liberal arts program that explores the ways in which what we do onstage relates to what is happening in the world around us.
This role involves designing and implementing all wardrobe-related aspects for our production season, managing the Costume Shop and providing technical training and mentorship to students participating in theatre production practicums and work study, maintaining costume-related equipment, preparing inventories, and teaching courses in costume design and technology. The position requires applied work with students and participation in student recruitment.
Education and Experience The ideal colleague will have a broad knowledge of costume design and production including tailoring, draping, pattern making, dyeing, hand and machine sewing, make-up, and hair; knowledge of industry standards, safety regulations, and best practices; strong leadership, work ethic and organizational skills; the ability to track budgets effectively/efficiently; and excellent communication and creative problem-solving.
MFA in Costume Design, Production or a related field preferred; candidates with five years or more of professional experience considered. Qualified applicants will demonstrate a commitment and capacity for teaching excellence, student mentorship, professional engagement and campus citizenship.
Work Conditions - The ability to work with a flexible schedule, including some evenings and weekends as required by the production schedules.
- Capable of the physical demands of costume construction, including hand and machine sewing, taking measurements, and cutting fabric.
- Possess a valid Driver's license (if out of state, apply for North Carolina Driver's License within 30 days of appointment).
- Must be able to successfully pass a pre-employment background check.
- Must adhere to CDC guidelines and LR's requirements for health and safety.
Application Process While completing the application, candidates will be prompted to submit a:
- Letter of Application specifically discussing how one's professional experiences and perspectives relate to the needs of the position
- Curriculum Vitae or resume including the names and addresses of three references
- Link to website, portfolio and / or performances, if applicable
The position will remain open until filled. Any questions regarding the position or the search process should be submitted electronically to the Dean of the College of Fine Arts and Communication, Jennifer Heller, Ph.D., at hellerj@lr.edu .
Lenoir-Rhyne University promotes a welcoming campus environment that is integral to the university's commitment to excellence in engagement and education. We are particularly interested in candidates who have demonstrated experience nurturing a welcoming community, working with faculty, staff, and/or students from all walks of life and/or incorporating varied perspectives and traditions in their current or previous positions. This commitment is rooted in our Lutheran tradition of fostering wisdom, nurturing vocation, and preparing students for lives of purpose while serving the common good.
About the College of Fine Arts and Communication Members of the College of Fine Arts and Communication are committed to developing well-rounded graduates who are perceptive readers and listeners, persuasive writers and speakers, and skilled artists and educators. Our curricula strive to express, enrich, and elevate the human condition by providing students with interdisciplinary experiences that strengthen their abilities to create, collaborate, and contribute to the public good. Programs in the College include Communication Studies, English, MFA in Creative Writing, Music, Theatre and Visual Art.
About Lenoir-Rhyne University Lenoir-Rhyne University is a co-educational, private masters comprehensive liberal arts institution founded in 1891, with its traditional campus located in Hickory, North Carolina, a town of more than 40,000. The university has additional graduate centers in Asheville, N.C., and Columbia, S.C. Situated in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Lenoir-Rhyne is less than an hour drive from Charlotte, and the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton Metropolitan Statistical Area has a population of about 365,000. The university now offers more than 45 undergraduate and 20 graduate degree programs to approximately 2,400 students. Lenoir-Rhyne University seeks to liberate mind and spirit, clarify personal faith, foster physical wholeness, build a sense of community and promote responsible leadership for service in the world. Affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), Lenoir-Rhyne is open to people from all religious and non-religious backgrounds. Please visit the About section of the LR website to learn more about the university. Lenoir-Rhyne University
Job Tags
Part time, Flexible hours, Afternoon shift,