Design Coordinator

Company Overview

Who We Are:

Based in Stratford, Ontario, the Stratford Festival is one of the world’s foremost repertory theatre companies. It operates year-round, presenting a season of about a dozen plays each year between the months of April and November, a rich stream of digital content and hundreds of events designed to deepen understanding of the plays. For every person a theatregoer sees on our stages, we have seven people working behind the scenes, some of the world’s most dedicated and experienced arts workers.

The Stratford Festival is committed to ongoing work to support equity, inclusion, anti-racism and anti-oppression in all areas of our work. These areas include play selection, casting, marketing and public relations efforts, education programs, production, recruitment of staff and volunteers, and the composition of the Board of Directors.

Why You Should Apply:

• Creative work environment     
• Employee Assistance Program to encourage work-life balance and strong mental health
• Complimentary & discounted ticket offers and events
• Employee discounts on merchandise and event space

Shared Values:

• Inclusion: contribute to an environment where everyone is welcome, valued and respected; consistently demonstrate an open-mindedness and intellectual curiosity that promote and celebrate the diversity of perspectives.
• Innovation: put experience and knowledge into creative problem-solving and the continuous improvement of the organization.
• Rigor: show integrity in behaviour, attention to detail in work and commitment to excellence and professional evolution
• Caring: be empathetic, understanding and attentive to others
• Connection: establish and maintain trusting relationships that are respectful and constructive

Who Should Apply:

We welcome applicants of every identity, and encourage applications from Indigenous, Black, People of Colour, Deaf, disabled and 2SLGBTQ+ folks. We are committed to accommodating people with disabilities throughout the recruitment process and beyond. If you require accommodation (including, but not limited to, an accessible interview site, alternative format documents, ASL Interpreter or Assistive Technology) during the recruitment and selection process, please let our recruitment team know.

No candidate will meet every desired qualification. If your experience looks a little different from what we've identified and you think you can bring value to the role, we’d love to learn more about you!

If you would like to contribute your own remarkable talents to North America’s largest not-for-profit theatre, we’d like to hear from you.

Job Description

The Design Coordinator is responsible for acting as a liaison for all designers and assistant designers in matters related to the Stratford Festival Shops and Costume & Props Warehouse.

This position reports to the Head of Design and is a part of the design and production teams. 
This position requires full time residency in Stratford, ON for the contract period of December 9, 2024 to August 30, 2025 with the possibility of an extension through the fall of 2025.

Responsibilities:

•    Act as a liaison and resource for all designers and assistant designers
•    Act as a liaison between design office and other departments as needed
•    Supervise and guide the assistant designers
•    Manage driver requests, shipping needs, designer travel details, and other day-to-day administration within the department
•    Lead the onboarding of all assistant designers
•    Oversee the assistant costume designer process
•    Aid with costume fittings when requested
•    Attend design presentations and production meetings in order to be fully informed on the development of the design process for all productions
•    Attend technical rehearsals as needed
•    Adhere to the Stratford Festival Health & Safety Commitment and Procedures, and ensure that safe work practices and policies are supported and enforced within reporting structure.
•    Perform other duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications:

• University undergraduate degree (four year program) or equivalent (i.e. BA, BSc, BComm, etc) in theatre design and production is an asset
• 4 to 6 years of related experience
• Experience working as a Designer in a theatre with a strong focus on costume design, fabric craft and/or wardrobe management
• Experience in mentoring young-in-craft designers
• Experience working in rep theatre, an asset but not a necessity
• Proficient with Microsoft Office suite

Behavioural Competencies:

• Organization skills: create structure and optimally use resources to achieve results and ensure productivity
• Initiative: proactively execute tasks and resolve issues with minimal guidance
• Attention to Detail: meticulously review work and ensure accuracy and precision in all tasks.
• Communication: actively listen and effectively transmit and receive information
• Diplomacy: show discretion and tact in dealing with a variet of stakeholders.

This posting closes 5:00pm July 26, 2024