What are the responsibilities and job description for the Director of Residential Life position at Cranbrook Inc?

Director of Residential Life

Founded by Detroit philanthropists George and Ellen Booth in 1904, Cranbrook Educational Community is one of the world's leading centers of education, science, and art. Comprised of a graduate Academy of Art, contemporary Art Museum, Center for Collections and Research, House & Gardens, Institute of Science, and more than 1,600 students attending our Pre-K through 12 independent college preparatory Schools, Cranbrook welcomes thousands of visitors and students to its campus each year. Critics have called Cranbrook "the most enchanted and enchanting setting in America" and in 1989 it was designated a National Historic Landmark. The campus is located in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, about 20 miles north of downtown Detroit. For more, please visit our website : www.cranbrook.edu.

The Director of Residential Life (DRL) is a senior-level administrative role at Cranbrook Schools, reporting directly to the Director of Schools with a dotted line to the Head of Cranbrook Kingswood Upper School. The DRL sits on the All-Schools Administrative Team, consults regularly with the Upper School Leadership Team, and resides on campus. The professional serving in this role is responsible for establishing a vision and direction for the residential program at Cranbrook's Upper School; development of student-facing programming that enriches the lives of residential students; hiring and ongoing professional development; and partnering with Cranbrook's Director of Wellness, Upper School Deans, counselors, nurses, and learning specialists to develop care plans for individual students and for the residential student population at large.

The Director of Residential Life, in partnership with the admissions office, will serve as the chief spokesperson for the residential program with prospective and current families; and working with members of the All-School Administrative Team and Upper School Leadership Team to ensure consistency and coordination of residential programming so that it continues to meet the diverse needs of our boarding population. The ideal candidate will be an individual committed to making an affirming impact on the lives of adolescents, someone who is enthusiastic about leading a dedicated staff in creating a robust, inclusive, and enjoyable residential life experience for all.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to :

Adult Leadership and Supervision

Foster a positive and collaborative work environment within the residential program.
Recruit, train, supervise, and evaluate residential faculty and staff, and provide ongoing professional development opportunities for all team members, including the work of two Senior Administrative Assistants (Dorm Office Managers), one on each campus.
Work with the Assistant Director of Schools and the Upper School Dean of Faculty to review all hires and / or faculty appointments that will include residential program duties and expectations.
Provide leadership, supervision, direction, and collaborative support to the Head House Adviser (HHA) and House Advisors (HAs) in the development and implementation of policy, the setting of tone, and the creation a sense of community among the boarding population and residential faculty.
Maintain a consistent presence in both residential dormitories in the evenings by working "alternate hours" throughout the week that supports the ability to connect and transition residential students from the day to the evening program. This could include, as an example : two days 10 : 00 AM-6 : 00 PM and three days of 3 : 00 PM-11 : 00 PM, Monday-Friday.
Serve as on-call person / resource for Administrators on Duty, along with Head of Upper School and Director of Schools, in challenging situations / events / emergencies.

Residential Programming

Develop and implement a comprehensive residential life program and curriculum that supports students' academic, social, and emotional growth by building community, fostering connectivity across campus, and meeting the unique needs of our residential population.

Collaborate with All-Schools Administrative Team and Upper School Leadership Team to identify opportunities for cross-campus collaborations and partnerships that will enhance residential student experiences.

Develop and maintain a weekly, monthly, and annual assemblage of evening and weekend extracurricular activities that offer residential students with opportunities to engage with one another on campus and to experience as fully as possible life in greater Detroit.

Residential Student Support

Serve as a mentor and role model for residential students, providing guidance and support.

Implement and enforce school policies and procedures in residential settings.

Manage residential-life-related student disciplinary issues in coordination with other school administrators, in particular Deans of Students.

Serve as a member of the Upper School Student Support Committee and the CARE team; collaborate regularly with the Deans of Students, Academic Deans, learning specialists, counselors, and nurses to ensure that students receive coordinated and holistic support.

Communication

In partnership with Dorm Office Assistants, manage and oversee communications to and with boarding parents / guardians through weekly newsletters and event specific push pages.

Build and maintain relationships with residential students, families, and faculty rotation teams to support the overall health of the boarding program and to develop a deep understanding of the unique interests and needs of both students and their families / caregivers.

Act as a liaison between residential life, academic departments, parents, and external stakeholders. Work closely with faculty to integrate residential life with the overall educational experience.

Speak at board and parent meetings as needed, including, but not limited to New Parent Orientation meetings, Family Association meetings, grade-level meetings, and Education and Student Life Committee meetings.

Communicate critical and confidential information out of Student Support Meetings to the HHA and HAs in the service of implementing support systems for residential students.

Meet with families / caregivers and residential students in relation to their student support plans, when and where applicable.

Campus Operations

Assume responsibility for the management of both the Cranbrook and Kingswood campuses. Coordinate with Facilities managers (Superintendent of Maintenance, Housekeeping Supervisor, Landscaping Superintendent, etc.) to organize and prioritize campus maintenance and improvement efforts.

In partnership with the Schools' Director of Business Operations, manages the overall budget for the residential program.

Partner with the Director of Security and Safety to ensure the wellbeing of all in the residential community, students and adults alike.

Coordinate shared facility usage with the Schools' Horizons Upward Bound (HUB) program, both on weekends during the school year and for HUB's six-week residential summer session.

Supervisory Responsibilities :

The DRL is responsible for the direct supervision of the Head House Advisor, 12 House Advisors / Assistant House Advisors, and two dormitory Senior Administrative Assistants (Dorm Office Managers).

Requirements :

A Bachelor's degree is required, a Master's degree is strongly preferred.

Five or more years of management experience in a residential program; five or more years of experience in counseling and / or administration in a school setting working with adolescents preferred.

Must be able to communicate effectively and professionally, both verbally and in writing, with students, families / caregivers, faculty and administrators.

Clear commitment to professional development through courses and workshops, indicating a growth mindset around counseling and adolescents.

Cursory knowledge of school law, Title IX, and generalizable best practices for Deans of Students is beneficial.

Experience in crisis management and emergency response is critical.

Working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications and Microsoft 365 is required, and a working knowledge of social media commonly utilized by teenagers is strongly preferred.

Requires a valid Michigan driver's license with satisfactory driving record.

Cranbrook offers competitive compensation and benefits that include medical, dental, life insurance, long-term and short-term disability, and retirement programs with employer contribution.

For consideration, interested candidates should submit a curriculum vitae or rsum, copies of undergraduate and graduate transcripts and any certifications, a statement of educational philosophy relative to this position, and two or three letters of recommendation with contact information. Please be sure all documents are uploaded at the time you submit your application.

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