EMPLOYMENT & INTERNSHIPS

Pittsburgh Opera seeks its next visionary leader

As it looks forward to its 87th season, Pittsburgh Opera—one of America’s most artistically respected and community-driven opera companies—invites recommendations and applications for the position of General Director.

Our innovative and transformational leader, Christopher Hahn, retires at the end of the 2025-26 season. During his 26-year tenure, first as Artistic Director (2000) and then as General Director (since 2008), Pittsburgh Opera has become a national model of creativity, inclusivity, and resilience. His leadership has brought new vitality, audiences, and acclaim to the company.

A full job description is available here. 

The Deadline for Application is Monday, September 15, 2025.

Interested candidates are invited to submit a letter of interest, resume and the names/contact information for four professional references, in confidence to:
Margaret Genovese
Senior Partner, Genovese Vanderhoof & Associates
416-340-2762; contact via email

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POSITION DESCRIPTION

The Costume Director is a key member of the Company's production team and facilitates all costume and wig/makeup aspects of the Pittsburgh Opera season and special events. The Costume Director oversees costume personnel, budgets, and equipment, along with maintaining costume rental inventory, production records, and costume department paperwork. They are responsible for the management of new production builds from the design phase through completion and work to ensure a high artistic standard for all rented costume packages. The Costume Director reports to and advises the Director of Production on budgetary, operational, and human resource needs of the costume and wig/makeup departments. They will also participate in the season planning as it relates to the costume and wig/makeup departments.

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES

• Hire and supervise union costume and wardrobe staff
• Schedule and attend all fittings to maintain consistency and industry standards
• Attend all dress rehearsals and performances
• Design and render costumes when called upon to do so – either as a member of the production design team or fill in gaps in rental packages
• Conduct all departmental purchasing: notions, materials, equipment, etc., and track spending
• Manage all incoming and outgoing costume rentals
• Prepare and approve payroll reports according to CBA
• Enforce Pittsburgh Opera policies, procedures, and work rules
• Oversee the maintenance of shop equipment and costume stock
• Works with the Director of Production to prepare budgets and forecasts for all costume and wardrobe aspects of productions, including labor and materials
• Communicate with the Production Stage Manager and Production Coordinator regarding fittings, rehearsal needs, and performer requests
• Attend regular Company and Production meetings
• Work directly with costume designers and stage directors to balance budget necessities and design integrity
• Create documentation for each production with financial, artistic, and technical information
• Maintain a positive and communicative atmosphere in the department and with production teams

QUALIFICATIONS

• 2-4 years of management experience
• Extensive knowledge of costume history, costume design, costume construction techniques, and fabric
• Knowledge of draping, cutting, constructing, fitting, and alterations
• Ability to work with artists and designers, anticipating the needs of each while balancing the department's ability to complete the work on schedule
• Excellent interpersonal, organization, problem-solving solving and management skills
• Demonstrated proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite
• Ability to work nights and weekends, as required
• Must have the ability to occasionally lift and carry up to 50 lbs.
• Must be able to tolerate exposure to common laundry and fabric dyeing chemicals
• Knowledge of safety standards for costume-related equipment, products, and tools and their implementation.

Salary and Benefits

The position is full-time exempt. The salary range for this position is $50,000 to $52,000. An offer will be based on experience and demonstrated skills. Benefits include medical and vision insurance, paid vacation, and holidays.

To apply

Please send a cover letter and resume to Steven Grair, Director of Production, at Costume Director Search.

The Pittsburgh Opera Internship Program seeks mutually beneficial relationships with individual interns who are interested in opera, whether from an artistic or an organizational perspective. Each intern will be provided with opportunities to be creative, to accomplish real-life work that furthers the mission of Pittsburgh Opera, and to develop personally and professionally. In return, Pittsburgh Opera will receive valuable assistance that contributes significantly to the organization’s goals.

Internships run at various times throughout the year and are available in several areas, including development, artistic, production, and education.

To apply for an internship, please send a letter of intent, resume, and a letter of reference from an academic advisor to:

Internship Programs
Kristin Gatch, Executive Assistant
Pittsburgh Opera
2425 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222

No phone calls, please.

Become a Student Ambassador!

Now is a perfect time to become a Student Ambassador, spreading the word about Pittsburgh Opera and enjoying exclusive benefits!  Established by five intrepid women in 1939, Pittsburgh Opera is viewed as one of the most vibrant opera organizations in the U.S., with a rich artistic tradition, outstanding educational programs, and a progressive outlook toward the future that we want you to be a part of. 

Even if you don’t know much about opera (yet!), if you’re outgoing and enthusiastic then we’d love to work with you. For those interested in a career in arts marketing or education, becoming a Student Ambassador is great opportunity to gain firsthand experience while enhancing your resume.  Student Ambassadors will be asked to hang posters on campus and to be a presence at campus fairs/events.  Most importantly, we want to hear YOUR ideas about how best to share Pittsburgh Opera with your fellow students.

As a Pittsburgh Opera Student Ambassador, you’ll receive:

• A pair of complimentary tickets to each Benedum Center production
• A free membership to the New Guard, Pittsburgh Opera’s young professional network
• Networking opportunities with Pittsburgh Opera staff and other Student Ambassadors

If you can entice your fellow students to buy tickets over the course of the season, you can earn even more benefits!

• 5+ tickets – Get the star treatment with a pair of VIP seats at the Song Shop concert of your choice
• 15+ tickets – See the show before anyone else with an invite to a Benedum Center show final dress rehearsal

Please contact us via email letting us know why you would make a great Ambassador and an example of how you’d like to promote the opera on campus. We look forward to hearing from you!

Pittsburgh Opera knows that the opera stars we love to see on stage would never be able to share the beauty and thrill of the operatic voice without the teachers that helped them along the way. We want to share our love for all voice teachers out there and connect with those who love opera singers as much as we do.

Pittsburgh Opera’s Voice Teacher Ambassador program is a new initiative designed for teachers both locally and beyond to enjoy exclusive benefits, share their perspective, and help continue to spread the operatic joy that Pittsburgh Opera is dedicated to bringing to the public. Established by five intrepid women in 1939, Pittsburgh Opera is viewed as one of the most vibrant opera organizations in the U.S., with a rich artistic tradition, outstanding educational programs, and a progressive outlook toward the future that we want you to be a part of.

Whether you are a seasoned professor working in a university or run a dedicated private vocal studio, if you are enthusiastic about developing the voices of the world’s opera divas then we’d love to work with you. Voice Teacher Ambassadors will be asked to share Pittsburgh Opera’s digital season of free operatic performances with their students and, as we return to in-person live theater, encourage their students to visit our stages and experience our productions first hand (special student priced tickets are always available). Most importantly, we want to hear YOUR ideas about how best to share Pittsburgh Opera with your students. Please contact us via email to discuss. We look forward to hearing from you!

As a Pittsburgh Opera Voice Teacher Ambassador, you’ll receive:

• Complimentary tickets to Opening Night of each of our Benedum Center productions
• Free admission to our Opera Up Close programs, which offer an in-depth look at the upcoming production with the artists that make them happen
• Complimentary access to select Master Classes throughout the season
• Access to complimentary “Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) in the Arts” workshops
• Virtual and In-Person Networking
• Participation in surveys and “think tanks” with other industry professionals
• Access to select educational resources