Head of Department - Costume Design

JOB DESCRIPTION 

The Head of Department will lead the NFTS MFA in Costume Design for Film and Television. This course is a practice-led, two-year full-time programme that prepares students for professional work as costume designers in film and high-end television. The course attracts talented students and leading contributors from the UK and internationally, and is designed to develop advanced craft skills, design leadership, and the production confidence required to lead costume departments at the highest level.

Purpose of role:

The Head of Department provides academic and professional leadership for the Costume Design MFA, ensuring it remains rigorous, industry-relevant, and at the forefront of screen costume practice. The role combines hands-on teaching and studio supervision with curriculum ownership, student support, budget oversight, and active engagement with the school's wider academic community and external industry partners. This is a role for someone who brings both significant industry credibility as a costume designer and a genuine commitment to nurturing the next generation of screen costume talent; people who can lead departments with authority, creativity, and professional confidence.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Leadership and Teaching

• Lead and teach on the MFA course in Costume Design, delivering sessions across core subject areas and providing one-to-one tutorial support to students.
• Oversee the teaching programme as a whole, including the scheduling and quality of specialist teaching by visiting tutors and other staff.
• Monitor and review each student’s progress, attending review meetings and providing rigorous, constructive feedback at every stage of their course.
• Support students in developing the judgement, confidence, and authority required to lead costume departments on complex screen productions.
• Play a leading role in preparing students for life after the school, equipping them with the networks, skills, and confidence to achieve their intended career destinations.

Curriculum and Quality

• Take ownership of ongoing curriculum review and development, ensuring the course remains current, industry-relevant, and intellectually demanding.
• Maintain and develop a roster of visiting tutors, keeping records up to date and planning course schedules and activities to a high standard.
• Contribute to student selection processes, including interviews or application review, to ensure the school attracts talented and motivated participants.

Collaboration and Partnerships

• Engage proactively with colleagues across other NFTS departments to develop shared teaching, workshops, and cross-course initiatives that benefit students.
• Build and maintain positive relationships with industry partners, ensuring the department works collaboratively with the screen sector to create opportunities, relevance, and real-world engagement for students.
• Represent the department positively within the school and beyond, fostering a culture of collaboration, ambition, and mutual respect.

Marketing and Profile

• Work proactively with the school’s Marketing team to promote the course effectively, representing the course at open days, outreach events, taster days, and other recruitment activities.
• Act as an ambassador for the course, and the NFTS, to prospective students, industry partners, and the wider creative and academic communities.

Budget and Administration

• Review and manage the departmental budget in collaboration with the school Management Accountant, maintaining responsible budgetary control within agreed limits.
• Carry out associated administrative tasks in a timely and organised manner, consistent with the smooth running of the courses.

Health & Safety

• Take responsibility for the Health and Safety of all persons engaged in Department activities, including students, staff, tutors, suppliers and volunteers, and report any H&S matters arising in your department to the Management Team and H&S Manager as required/appropriate
• Working with the Curriculum Coordinator, ensure that all persons engaged by the Department are H&S competent as persons who will be working with and may be responsible for students as young persons
• Ensure that a Risk Assessment is carried out, approved and implemented in any project or workshops.  Tasks may be delegated to staff/tutors, however the duty to ensure compliance remains with the Head of Department and it is the Head of Department’s responsibility to approve Risk Assessments

PERSON SPECIFICATION

This role requires an experienced screen costume professional with a strong track record as a costume designer in film and/or high-end television, who is committed to developing the next generation of industry-ready designers. 

The course attracts talented students and leading contributors from across the UK and around the world. Leading the programme therefore requires a genuine passion for diverse perspectives and for helping individual creative voices to flourish within the discipline of screen costume.

A key part of the role is supporting students to develop not only advanced technical and design skills, but also the leadership capabilities, professional confidence, and industry understanding needed to take on head-of-department responsibilities in complex production environments. 

During their time at the NFTS, students work on live productions, complete substantial realised garments, undertake industry work experience, and develop a practice-based dissertation. Supporting this breadth of development often requires a significant investment of time and individual attention from the Head of Department. 

Our graduates are expected to enter the industry with strong portfolios, production experience, and the authority and ambition to progress into leading roles in screen costume design.