The Director of Residential Life is responsible for overseeing the daily operations of the school’s residential program, including the supervision and management of dorm staff, the development and implementation of policies and procedures for dorm living, and the coordination of services and programs for resident students. They provide leadership for the vision and continued growth of the residential life program, ensuring it remains responsive to the needs of students and aligned with the school’s mission. The Director works to create a supportive and inclusive atmosphere within the residential community by fostering students’ academic success, well-being, and engagement in activities. They also coordinate exciting programming and activities that enrich the residential experience and strengthen community life. In addition, they ensure the safety and comfort of all residents by maintaining a secure environment and addressing issues as they arise. The Director of Residential Life is required to live in school-provided housing. This is a full time 12 month position. This position is fully benefits eligible. The pay range for this position is $65,000 - 80,000.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Provides strong and consistent leadership and vision for the Residential program, ensuring it aligns with the school’s mission and community life vision.
• Establishes a positive and inclusive community culture within the Residential program that prioritizes the safety and well-being of boarders.
• Creates and maintains a warm and positive atmosphere in the dorms.
• Develops and implements a comprehensive and cohesive Residential Life Curriculum, an effective support and supervision system, and conducts ongoing program evaluations.
• Develops and maintains a manual for residential faculty that supports the program’s needs and is aligned with the Employee Handbook.
• Trains, supervises, and leads Residential Life Staff, and provides regular and constructive feedback.
• Partners with student support staff to meet students’ safety, academic, social, and emotional needs.
• Oversees the residential program, including budget, weekend activities, and staff supervision.
• Coordinates administrative duties such as student transportation, guest overnights, and special meals.
• Manages discipline matters within the residential program, ensuring accountability and consistency.
• Manages Reach (leave management system) and oversees leave approvals for all residential students.
• Communicates with boarding parents and guardians and acts as a liaison for the school.
• Supervises and manages dorm staff, develops and implements policies and procedures for dorm living, coordinates services and programs for resident students, and responds to crisis situations in the dorms.
• Arranges and delivers professional development opportunities for residential faculty to train them for their role supervising, caring for, and mentoring residential students.
• Collaborates with other departments to ensure a cohesive and supportive living and learning environment for resident students.
• Provides support and guidance to resident students in areas such as personal development, decision-making, and conflict resolution.
• Maintains accurate and up-to-date records of dorm occupancy, room assignments, and other relevant information.
• Responds to and resolves crisis situations in the dorms, including discipline and safety issues, emergencies, and incidents outside regular school hours.
• Provides practical support for Summer Programs in the dorm
• Performs other duties and responsibilities as assigned and required by the position and the school.

Supervisory Responsibilities

The Director of Residential Life supervises the Residential Life staff at NEIA (Residential Faculty). 

Education and/or Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Education or closely related field required; Master’s degree in Educational Leadership preferred.
• At least three years of teaching experience in a residential or day school setting is preferred.
• 5 years of experience working in a role providing pastoral care to students in a private/independent school.

Qualifications 

• Ability to create a welcoming and supportive community for a diverse study body.
• Ability to work with professionalism, discretion, sound judgment, equity, honesty, and personal accountability at all times.  
• Must have a driver’s license and be able to drive as needed
• Proficient knowledge of teaching strategies and methods.  
• Ability to incorporate goals, competencies, and objectives into lesson plans in ways that directly apply to students' lives.  
• Ability to use technology effectively in teaching, learning, and administrative functions and willingness to stay current in technology skills and learn emerging technologies as needed.
• Ability to efficiently and effectively manage the time of self and others.  
• Ability to be flexible and adapt to changing work priorities and stressful situations.
• Ability to serve as a role model and maintain good moral character.
• Ability to take initiative.
• Willingness to engage with students and families with empathy and kindness.
• Presents a professional image to students, staff, and parents/guardians, consistent with NEIA’s mission and culture.
• Be reliable and dependable.
• Ability to work nights and weekends.
• Creative, flexible, entrepreneurial, positive, culturally competent, warm, and possessing a sense of humor.
• Strong leadership and management skills, with the ability to supervise and mentor staff effectively.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to interact positively with students, staff, and other stakeholders.
• Strong problem-solving, conflict-resolution, and critical thinking skills.
• Ability to work well under pressure and in crisis situations.
• Ability to exercise good judgment and maintain appropriate discretion.
• Ability to employ a human-centered design process to design and implement residential life programs.
• Commitment to student development and fostering a positive and inclusive living and learning environment.
• Understanding of and adherence to applicable laws, codes, policies, regulations, and safety practices and procedures.

 Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Stand/sit for long periods of time.
• Bend, lift, push, kneel, crouch, crawl, stoop.
• Capable of moving around the classroom while teaching a class.
• Capable of adapting to frequent changes in position throughout the workday.
• Hearing and speaking to understand and exchange information in person or on the telephone.
• Speak clearly so listeners understand.
• Use hands and fingers for manipulation, educational tools, play equipment, keyboarding, and performance of first aid and CPR.
• Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, color vision, and depth perception.

Nothing in this job description restricts NEIA’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this position at any time.

Interested candidates are asked to send a cover letter and resume to careers@neiacademy.org with the subject: Director of Residential Life

We are unable to respond to phone or email inquiries. To learn more about New England Innovation Academy, please visit our website: https://neiacademy.org

About New England Innovation Academy

At New England Innovation Academy (NEIA), our mission and pillars form the bedrock of a holistic and transformative educational experience. This approach integrates academic learning with personal growth, allowing students to discover their passion and purpose, innovate with impact, and prepare for what comes next. Our students, known as 'innovators,' embark on a journey that is as much about self-discovery as it is about skill acquisition. Human-centered design is central to NEIA's philosophy and curriculum. Through real-world inclusion, students apply knowledge in practical projects with the community and industry. This experiential approach teaches vital skills like problem-solving, teamwork, and empathy while encouraging deep questioning and critical thinking across disciplines. Skilled educators enrich interdisciplinary learning through integrated projects, relevant problem-solving, and active engagement. Hands-on learning fosters innovation, creative thinking, empathy, and connection to the real world. Students delve into experiences and ideas that stimulate initiative, reflection, and ownership over their education. As NEIA continues to grow, expanding our enrollment t...o 350–375 students in the coming years, we seek passionate educators committed to this visionary approach. We look for professionals who excel in applying innovative teaching practices, are adept in student-centered and integrated learning, and are experienced in or excited about competency-based assessment. Continuous professional learning and a willingness to contribute to curriculum development and program scaling are essential. Diversity and inclusion are fundamental to our ethos at NEIA. We believe that innovation thrives in an environment where every individual feels a sense of belonging. By fostering a community that values diverse perspectives and backgrounds, we aim to create an inclusive culture for both our students and staff. To better understand our unique educational environment and ethos, we encourage prospective applicants to visit our website at https://neiacademy.org for more information.

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