Wigs and Make Up Senior Manager

  • Contract
  • London

Royal Ballet and Opera


  • Job Title: Wigs and Make Up Senior Manager
  • Salary: £40k-£50k
  • Hours:
    Full time
  • Artform: Performing arts
  • Role: Technical & Production
  • Contract: Permanent
  • Closing date: Mon, 01 Dec 2025

  • Location:

    London

Job Summary

This is an incredibly exciting opportunity to join our costume department in a key leadership role as the Wigs and Make-Up Senior Manager.

Job Description

Permanent Contract
Full-time; 42.5 hours per week
£58,623.63 per annum
Based in: Covent Garden, London

The Royal Ballet and Opera continues to lead the way in opera, ballet, music and dance both live on stage and through multiple digital platforms, from live streaming to worldwide cinema screenings. Our Covent Garden theatre has been at the heart of London and British cultural life for three centuries. We are home to two world-class Companies: https://www.rbo.org.uk/about/the-royal-ballet – The Royal Ballet and https://www.rbo.org.uk/about/the-royal-opera – The Royal Opera.

The Royal Opera House describes the place we work, not who we are. The whole is always more than the sum of its parts – we may be a House, but three quarters of our audiences experience what we do outside this building. While our Covent Garden theatre is the nerve centre, the impact and influence of the organisation can be felt in every corner of the country, and around the world.

The role:
This is an incredibly exciting opportunity to join our costume department in a key leadership role as the Wigs and Make-Up Senior Manager. In this role you will be responsible for all the work of the Wigs and Make-up department, ensuring that all activities are carried out to the highest possible standard, and providing effective leadership and management of staff. The Wigs and Make-Up department is made up of 27 permanent members of staff, alongside an excellent pool of casual and freelance staff.

Job Requirements

We are looking for a dynamic and experienced candidate who can bring a strong team leadership ethic to the role. You will be confident leading by example and promoting a positive, collaborative team environment, with a passion for building a diverse and inclusive workplace.

You will also be able to demonstrate:

  • Excellent professional experience in hair and make-up techniques for the theatre.
  • Extensive knowledge of the latest techniques, materials and products used for wig making, make-up looks, and prosthetics, as well as historical period wig making and setting, hair qualities and suppliers
  • Strong experience of budget and resource management.
  • Strong relationship management skills, and the ability to manage conflict and seek resolution with a professional and positive approach.

We value the diversity new hires can bring to our workforce. A working knowledge of our repertoire is not essential, but the ability to learn quickly is.

How to Apply

Please follow the Apply Now link which will take you to the role on our careers page where you can submit your application.

We encourage applications from people with a wide range of backgrounds, experiences and skills to join our teams. We particularly welcome applications from those who are from a global majority background and/or those who are disabled, as they are under-represented within our organisation.

Closing date for applications: Midnight, Monday 1st December 2025.

First round interviews will be held the week of 8th December.

Second round interviews will be held the week of 15th December.

Applicants must have work authorisation for the UK. No agencies.

Apply now
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