The Dean of Residential Life works within the Upper School leadership team and leads the residential life team, including supervision of all heads of house and supporting team members, and coordinates their efforts to build and deliver a unique, exciting, and growth-oriented experience for Darlington’s diverse population of boarding students. This person also manages the implementation of the student health center and coordinates efforts with other departments and vendors that support the residential life program. This important leader will help craft and implement the residential life vision in support of the mission and values of the school with the primary goal of crafting a superior student experience around Darlington’s Cycle of Learning.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement policies and practices that support the consistent operation of the residential program, to include any handbooks, standard operating procedures, duty staff scheduling, and related information systems.
• Hire and supervise Heads of House, assist in establishing and supporting professional goals, and evaluate their progress in meeting those goals.
• As a member of the residential life team, supervises and coordinates Administrators on Duty (AODs), Campus Administrators on Duty (CADs),  and Library Duty staff.
• Implements training and evaluation of the school’s residential faculty.
• Oversees the cultivation and training of student prefects. 
• Coordinates with student life and counseling offices to direct the school’s comprehensive residential curriculum, which includes any supportive programs, courses, activities, and outreach in the areas of wellness, character education, and parent education.
• Work with counselors and any other support resources to support the emotional needs of students.
• Plans residential events that build community and improve the student experience, with special attention to events at the start and close of the school year and in conjunction with special occasions, holidays, and other customs and traditions of Darlington School.
• Works with the Student Life Office to manage student concerns in the houses.
• Partner with the admission office to appropriately place students in houses and work with the Upper School Director to assign duty faculty.
• Communicates with the school community at large about all residential related information.
• Actively participate in appropriate leadership meetings and committees, including Upper School Leadership Team and Students of Concerns.
• Formulate and oversee budgets related to residential life.
• Keep informed of the latest changes in the industry and research, evaluate and recommend new and updated research for the improvement of residential areas of the School.
• Attend conferences and participate in school visits in order to maintain a network of professional resources to benefit the department and school.
• Other responsibilities may include teaching a class or leading an extracurricular activity, being a student advisor, leading iPeriods, supervising students outside of class, writing student recommendations, and attending weekly faculty meetings, professional learning communities, committee meetings, professional development, weekend/campus activities, and campus events (i.e. parents weekend, admission, etc)

These are illustrative duties and the position holder will be expected to become involved in a range of work to enable the department to respond effectively to the evolving needs of Darlington School.

• Master’s degree and/or relevant experience preferred along with proven leadership ability.
• Experience working with students and developing programs in a residential setting is important.
• Ability to communicate and work well with people in one-on-one and group situations
• Excellent interpersonal skills enabling the position to deal with delicate, emotional, and sensitive conversations with a variety of people and foster a sense of collaboration and unity among faculty, parents, and students.
• Familiar with a variety of the field's concepts, practices, and procedures
• Can use experience, judgment, creativity, and independence to plan and accomplish goals