Career Center

Resident Advisor Job Description

 General Function

The Resident Advisor (RA) supervises students after class and supports their social, emotional, academic, and personal adjustment in a private boarding school environment. The RA develops a sense of community among students and staff to enhance the quality of life in the dorm. The RA provides after-school academic support and organizes and supervises after-school and weekend activities. The RA enforces the rules and policies of the resident life program. The RA provides regular feedback to parents, faculty, and administration on student behavior.

Personal Requirements:

• Must have a passion to creatively support and assist teenagers with homework and engage them in a wide range of after-school & weekend activities
• Must possess the ability to exercise authority and maintain discipline with compassion and consistency in a dormitory living situation
• Must possess maturity, leadership, strong communication and decision making skills, a collaborative nature, enthusiasm, patience, flexibility, a desire to help students of different cultures succeed, and a sense of humor
• Must have conflict management skills and the ability to help teenagers cope with difficult situations in a calm manner
• Must be able to maintain an adult/student relationship at all times – being friendly but not friends
• Must possess excellent organizational, record keeping, and time management skills (punctuality)
• Must possess a positive attitude that embraces the school mission along with the policies and procedures North Cedar Academy
• Exercise good use of personal judgment to protect his/her credibility in the eyes of others which is critical to his/her ability to perform the job
• Must promote a culture of respect, mutual support, accountability, tolerance, service, compassion, and social and academic excellence
• Maintain open communication with other Resident Assistants and the Director of Resident Life
• Possess strong written and verbal communication skills in order to communicate with students, parents, teachers, administrators, and other resident assistants.

Dorm Requirements:

• Ensure the safety and well-being of students in a dormitory setting

• Knowledge of fire alarm system and fire drill procedures (will train)
• Meet with students who are experiencing issues (roommate conflicts, personal issues, etc.) and refer them to the Director of Resident Life for assistance as necessary
• Follow proper recording procedures for medication required by students
• Report and record all conduct and injury incidents
• report all medical issues to nurse and facilitate any prescribed treatment
• Check all packages received by students and report any banned substances
• Report any suspected sleep or eating disorders/issues
• Handle conduct issues with proper patience and follow up
• Set an example of cleanliness and encourage/enforce standards throughout the dorm
• Drive students in school vehicles only when everyone is seated and buckled properly. RAs must follow all road rules and take extra precautions to be sure all students are accounted for on trips.
• Enforce all rules and procedures of the resident life program with no bias
• Communicate any safety issues in the dorm (student or facility) with the Head Resident Assistant and Director of Resident Life
• Prepare dorm rooms for the arrival of new students
• Maintain accurate records of attendance while chaperoning field trips
• Assist with the orientation of student resident assistants at the beginning of the school year
• Keep all student records (phone, address, room #s, medical) up-to-date
• Assign and mentor students on dorm chores and duties to maintain dorm cleanliness

• Facilitate the creation of a strong resident life community

• Create and facilitate evening and weekend activities suited for students' interests, including sports and special outings that promotes cultural integration
• Attend all meals with students when on duty and be sure all students are out of the dorm for meals
• Chaperone special activities (dances, cultural events, sporting events)
• Drive students to appointments, activities, special outings, community service
• Bring students from different cultures together to strengthen diversity
• Encourage students to try new experiences
• Help to prepare some meals when necessary and serve other meals when required
• Update bulletin boards and announcement boards
• Attend weekly staff and dorm meetings
• Tutor students and assist with homework; maintaining an environment conducive to studying while promoting proper study habits
• Continue communication with teachers to follow up on student progress
• Communicate frequently with parents to pass along student dorm life updates and photos
• Mentor the student resident assistants to build leadership skills

Extra Duties As Assigned (depends on skills and abilities)

• RAs will sometimes be asked to assist with special activities during day hours or when otherwise not scheduled to be on duty
• RAs, depending on qualifications, may be asked to substitute for an absent teacher during the school day from time to time for a stipend.
• RAs may also sponsor a club, coach a sport if qualified for a separate stipend.
• RAs may also teach a class or classes depending on their education and experience under a separate contract addendum through the Academic Dean.

Position Requirements
•    US Citizenship or valid US work visa
•    Successful completion of a criminal background check (including the Federal          Register for Sexual Offenders)
•    Valid US driver’s license and clean driving record
•    Be 21 years of age or older in order to drive school vehicles
•    must be physically able to climb stairs and help students perform light household cleaning duties
•    Minimum Associates Degree required, Bachelor’s degree preferred
•    experience with teenagers preferred
•    CPR and First Aid certification (will provide training)
•    40 hour week with 2 late afternoons & evenings/week and alternating weekends required – some daytime hours required as well on occasion
•    This is a live-in, 9.5 month (end of August to late May), position (housing is provided year-round if returning for the following year)

Physical Requirements and Work Environment:

• Occasionally lift up to 30 pounds.
• May work in varied outside weather conditions during special activities.
• Regularly sit, talk, hear and interact with students.
• Ability to move around campus, including walking and walking up and down flights of stairs (up to four (4) stories of a building at once).
• Be able to drive or ride short and long distances in school-owned vehicles, including a 15-passenger bus.
• Be able to ride short and long distances in charter buses.
• Ability to drive at night.