Ballet Footwear Manager

Ballet Footwear Manager Application Deadline: 5 January 2026 Department: Technical and Costume Employment Type: Full Time Location: London Compensation: £40,000 - £45,000 / year Description Joining English National Ballet, you will find a community of artists, musicians, theatre and costume craftspeople, creatives, business and administration professionals, all working together to achieve a common goal: to open up the possibilities of ballet, to move more people in more ways. We are a multi-skilled, multi-cultural, open and inclusive organisation and we place a high value on diversity and diversity of thought in our teams. About the role English National Ballet are looking for a Ballet Footwear Manager to support the busy schedule of a touring ballet company. You’ll oversee the full provision of footwear for all dancers, artists and students performing with the company, from managing a full inventory and liaising large-scale orders from shoe suppliers, to carrying out alterations to shoes for the individual needs of each dancer and for the costume requirements of each performance. The role combines first-class technical knowledge of ballet footwear with meticulous organisational skills in a key managerial role within English National Ballet’s technical department. Your main responsibilities as Ballet Footwear Manager will include: Coordinate and manage an effective service for measurements, fittings and timely provision of ballet footwear for all dancers, artists, character artists and students rehearsing or performing with the Company Liaise with choreographers, designers, and wardrobe staff to meet artistic needs Prepare and finish pointe shoes to individual dancer specifications Dye, paint, and alter shoes to meet costume and design requirements Manage an efficient stock monitoring and distribution system, track stock levels, anticipate requirements, and ensure timely reordering As ENB is a touring company, be prepared to travel as needed and work evenings and weekends during performance weeks for any production requirements Key Selection Criteria Experience in wardrobe, costume, or footwear management, preferably in ballet or performing arts with strong knowledge of requirements for pointe shoes, ballet footwear, and character/theatrical shoes Ability to prepare ballet footwear to specified design and production needs, including dyeing, painting, reinforcing, and sewing Experience in working to a production schedule, with good planning skills and the ability to assess own workload capacity including planning orders, deliveries, distribution and lead times needed Strong ability to maintain positive working relations with dancers, artists, team members, creatives, Artistic team members and stakeholders Good negotiation skills and ability to manage supplier relationships