Director of Residential Life

Cognita•Stow, MA

6d•Onsite

About The Position

Masters Academy International (MAI) is seeking an experienced, highly visible boarding-school leader to serve as Director of Residential Life and a member of the Campus Leadership Team. The Director oversees all aspects of students’ residential experience, balancing structured daily routines with a vibrant, joyful community culture. The role includes building repeatable operational systems, developing house-parent teams, and maintaining transparent communication with families. The Director is expected to align residential strategy with institutional values and foster a safe, structured, and culturally rich environment for a diverse student body. The position oversees boarding students’ well-being, discipline, mental health, safeguarding, and crisis response; coordinates with academic, athletic, health, operations, and enrollment departments; and develops residential programming, traditions, weekend activities, and student leadership opportunities. It also contributes to strategic planning, enrollment alignment, budget management, and accreditation compliance as part of the Campus Leadership Team. The Director recruits, trains, line-manages, and evaluates house parents and support staff, and oversees residential schedules, supervision, holiday coverage, and policies. The role includes supporting residential staff through reflective supervision and professional development. The Director must be available for after-hours emergencies and is required to reside on campus. The anticipated start date is November 1, 2026. The salary is $100,000. Benefits for eligible roles include medical insurance, life insurance, a 401(k) savings plan, and more. MAI and Cognita Schools emphasize diversity, inclusion, equal opportunity, and safeguarding children and young people. Pre-employment background checks will be conducted.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required.
At least five years of progressive residential-life leadership experience in a New England independent boarding school or comparable U.S. boarding school environment.
Experience recruiting, developing, retaining, and leading residential teams, with evidence of improving team culture, communication, accountability, and operational consistency.
Strong experience in crisis management and safeguarding.
Ability to manage budgets and residential operations.
Availability for after-hours emergencies.
Must reside on campus.
Exceptional organization, emotional intelligence, executive judgment, communication, and ability to remain calm under pressure are described as important qualities.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree preferred in Education, Counseling, Student Affairs, or a related field.

Responsibilities

Oversee the holistic well-being, discipline, and mental health of boarding students; maintain safeguarding standards and lead crisis response.
Collaborate with Academics, Athletics, Health Services, Operations, and Enrollment to integrate Residential Life across campus.
Design residential programming, house traditions, weekend activities, and student leadership opportunities aligned with MAI’s values.
Develop an inclusive and equitable boarding culture and connect boarding and day student communities.
Serve on the Campus Leadership Team and contribute to strategic planning, enrollment alignment, budget management, and accreditation compliance.
Recruit, train, line-manage, and evaluate house parents and support staff, establishing clear expectations and accountability.
Manage staff duty schedules, supervision rosters, holiday coverage, and daily residential policies.
Provide reflective supervision, professional development, and support for residential staff.
Maintain transparent communication systems with families and coordinate communication across residential staff and academic teams.