Administrative Skills, Billing, Communication Skills, Community Support, Diversity, Emergency Procedures, Establish Priorities, Event Management, Facilities Management, Interpersonal Skills, Leadership, Logistics Management, Maintain Compliance, Multicultural, Multitasking, Needs Assessment, On Call, Operational Support, Operations Management, Organizational Skills, People Management, Performance Reviews, Procedure Development, Secondary School, Team Player, Time Management, Training Program, Training/Teaching
Job Description:
Director of Residential Life
The W.L. Gilbert Trust
Reports to: Head of School
Position Overview
The Director of Residential Life is a key member of The W.L. Gilbert Trust leadership team, responsible for fostering a safe, inclusive, and growth-oriented residential environment. This role directly shapes the boarding student experience by overseeing all aspects of dormitory operations, student support, and residential programming.
The Director brings a high degree of professionalism, integrity, and collaborative spirit to all interactions with administration, faculty, staff, students, families, and the broader community - always acting in the best interest of Gilbert students.
Minimum Qualifications
- A minimum of three years of experience working with boarding students in a secondary school setting
- Availability during daytime hours to manage operations, meet with staff, coordinate activities, and provide supervision as needed
- Demonstrated strength in human relations with excellent interpersonal and communication skills
- Proven ability to work collaboratively and professionally with colleagues, students, families, and the public
- Valid Public Passenger Endorsement
- Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously and meet deadlines
- Experience planning and executing events
- Flexibility to travel and work evenings and weekends as required
- Must successfully pass a background check
Key Responsibilities
Residential Operations
- Oversee the day-to-day operations of the boarding environment at The W.L. Gilbert Trust
- Manage operational logistics including key distribution, room checks, damage assessment, maintenance requests, billing, and hall openings and closings
- Serve as facility manager for the residence halls, ensuring a safe and well-maintained living environment
- Maintain accurate and confidential student records, personnel files, and communication logs
Staff Leadership & Development
- Recruit, hire, train, and supervise Resident Coordinators (RCs)
- Design and implement ongoing professional development and training programs for RC staff
- Supervise and evaluate staff performance in alignment with directives from the Head of School
- Delegate responsibilities to staff as appropriate and approved by the Head of School
Student Support & Community Building
- Build meaningful relationships with boarding students through individual outreach and community meetings
- Serve as a personal counseling resource for students and staff navigating roommate conflicts, personal concerns, or interpersonal challenges
- Act as a mediator and facilitator to resolve conflicts and promote a positive residential culture
- Collaborate with the administration on student behavioral concerns; administer appropriate responses in consultation with leadership
- Partner with RCs to assess student needs and develop programs that support educational, cultural, social, recreational, and service goals
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
- Champion a multicultural awareness and actively contribute to building an inclusive, diverse, and respectful residential community
- Model civil and inclusive behavior in all interactions with students, staff, faculty, and visitors
- Foster a flexible, collaborative, and welcoming living and working environment
Crisis Response & Safety
- Respond to crisis situations in accordance with established emergency procedures
- Maintain on-call responsibility as required to support student safety and well-being
- Work with RCs to proactively identify and address potential risks within the residential community
Administrative & Institutional Responsibilities
- Implement goals and priorities as established by the administration, including all operational components
- Ensure staff adherence to Residential Life policies and procedures
- Serve on institutional committees as assigned
- Participate in and help facilitate professional development sessions and training
- Support the development and assessment of student learning outcomes
- Report regularly on program needs and conditions to the Head of School
- Attend Board, committee, and other institutional meetings as directed
- Perform additional duties as assigned by the Head of School
EOE: The W.L. Gilbert Trust is proud to serve the individuals and communities that choose us as an independent secondary school. All employees are expected to perform their duties with professionalism, respect, care, and a commitment to excellent service for every person they encounter
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