Easthampton, Massachusetts
St. Louis, Missouri
Posted: 16-Dec-25
Location: Kents Hill, Maine
Type: Full Time
Categories:
Preferred Education:
About Kents Hill School
Founded in 1824, Kents Hill School is one of the oldest independent co-educational schools in the United States. Nestled on a sprawling 400-acre campus in the heart of Central Maine, Kents Hill is a vibrant community of 225 boarding and day students, alongside 90 dedicated faculty and staff who support the school, its programs, and the student experience. In a community that is purposefully small, Kents Hill crafts an academic and co-curricular experience where students are able to be their authentic selves and make meaningful connections.
Position Overview
The Dean of Residential Life, as a visible campus leader and a central leader in student life, oversees residential and community programs that foster belonging, growth, engagement, and student agency at Kents Hill School. Working closely with the Dean of Students, this role designs and implements initiatives that strengthen school culture, support well-being, and promote leadership and responsibility for both boarding and day students.
Guided by Kents Hill’s core values of Courage, Care, Curiosity, Integrity, and Responsibility, the Dean of Residential Life serves as an empathetic, visible, and values-driven presence on campus. The successful candidate will bring strategic vision, sound judgment, and a collaborative spirit to all aspects of community life—empowering students and colleagues alike to thrive. This is a residential position that requires an active campus presence, including evenings and weekends, to nurture a connected and caring school community.
Primary Responsibilities and Duties
Residential Life
- Provide leadership, oversight, professional development, and mentorship for dorm heads and residential teams, fostering a safe and supportive environment that embodies care and responsibility.
- Design and implement a student life curriculum that promotes courage, curiosity, and integrity, supporting age-appropriate growth and a positive peer culture for both our boarding and day students.
- Oversee training, scheduling, and supervision of dorm staff and duty teams, ensuring accountability and consistency.
- Manage housing logistics, including roommate pairings, room changes, move-in/move-out, and policy enforcement, upholding responsibility and fairness.
- Partner with dorm heads to address residential concerns and integrate day students into the community
- Serve as a visible presence in dorms, mentoring students, and supporting daily residential life.
Community Life
- Lead efforts to build a campus culture grounded in care and integrity, fostering inclusion, respect, and joy by developing student agency and ownership of the Kents Hill experience.
- Oversee student leadership and governance, cultivating courage, curiosity, and integrity among Student Council, proctors, and other student leaders.
- Plan and coordinate major student events and traditions (e.g., Fall Ball, Halloweek, Spring Fling, Prom, and similar), creating meaningful opportunities for community engagement.
- Develop and implement orientation schedules and programs to help students embrace community values and expectations, fostering care and connection from day one.
- Collaborate with the dorm and activities team to deliver evening and weekend programs that promote engagement, joy, and inclusivity.
- Continuously examine our practices through the lens of developing appropriate levels of student agency to improve the overall student experience and increase student engagement.
- Stay on the cutting edge of best practices in community life and student experience by developing and maintaining strong external professional networks, participating in relevant conferences and associations, and bringing new ideas and innovations back to strengthen our campus community.
Administrative Leadership
- Oversee budgets for dorms, student life, and campus activities and events.
- Collaborate with the Dean of Faculty and Assistant Head of School on faculty housing assignments and dorm leadership appointments.
- Partner with facilities to respond to requests from Dorm Heads with regard to dormitory maintenance.
- Partner with the Chief Operations Officer to coordinate emergency drills, advance campus safety initiatives, and serve on relevant safety committees.
- Obtain and maintain appropriate certifications, including Maine Safe School and FEMA training.
- Perform additional duties as assigned by the Assistant Head of School.
Other Responsibilities and Duties
- Serve as an OD on the Administrative Duty Team
- Teach one class
- Serve as an advisor
- Serve as a coach/program leader for one afternoon activity*
- Serve as a member of the CARE Team
- Serve on the Graduation Planning Team
*Coaching and academic course requirements can be adjusted to serve the needs of the school. A second afternoon activity can be added in instances when you are not teaching an academic class.
Desired Qualifications and Attributes
- Deep commitment to Kents Hill School’s mission, vision, and core values and a belief in the transformative power of community, especially at a residential school.
- Significant and meaningful experience in student life leadership, with a strong understanding of adolescent development and the distinctive nature of residential life at independent boarding schools.
- Relational and student-centred leadership style that is approachable, optimistic, and responsive, empowering students and colleagues to take courageous risks and grow with integrity.
- Ability to lead through complexity and change with steadiness, empathy, and vision, fostering confidence and resilience across the community.
- Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, ensuring every student is known, valued, and supported.
- Growth-oriented mindset, embracing curiosity, reflection, and persistence as essential elements of learning and leadership.
- Capacity to make compassionate and principled decisions, balancing institutional priorities with the individual needs of students and faculty.
- Proven skill in student support, faculty mentorship, and crisis management, grounded in care, responsibility, and sound judgment.
- Demonstrated success in program design, policy implementation, and organizational development, guided by integrity and collaboration.
Kents Hill School offers its employees a comprehensive benefits package, on-campus housing, meals in the Bibby & Harold Alfond Dining Commons for employees and their families while school is in session, and access to campus facilities and grounds, including 400 acres with a trail system, athletic facilities, and our on-campus ski hill.
How to Apply
Please send a letter of interest, resume, and contact information for three references to Human Resources, hr@kentshill.org, with the subject line “Dean of Residential Life.” The position is open until filled.
Kents Hill School is committed to maintaining a work and learning environment free from discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, pregnancy, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital/civil union status, ancestry, place of birth, age, citizenship status, veteran status, political affiliation, genetic information or disability, as defined and required by state and federal laws. Additionally, we prohibit retaliation against individuals who oppose such discrimination and harassment or who participate in an equal opportunity investigation