Director of Residential Life

Cranbrook Schools is enthusiastically seeking an experienced and dedicated senior-level administrator to serve as the Director of its thriving Upper School residential program. Cranbrook’s next Director of Residential Life will be an individual who is committed to making an affirming impact on the lives of adolescents and someone who is enthusiastic about leading a dedicated staff in creating a robust, inclusive, and engaging residential experiences for our students.  Serving on both the All-Schools Administrative Team and the Upper School Leadership Team, this position reports to the Director of Schools and the Head of Upper School. The Director of Residential Life works in close coordination with the Head House Advisor, House Advisors, Deans of Students, Academic Deans, Dean of Faculty, Director of Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access, and Director of Wellness to ensure consistency and coordination of residential student programs.  Commitment to setting a positive tone and treating students as individuals within the context of a broader community are critical components of all positions at Cranbrook. Experience leading in a boarding community is required. The Director of Residential Life is expected to live on campus, and alternates campuses for dorm rotation.

Cranbrook is a PK-12 independent school with a vibrant residential component for students in grades 9-12.  Approximately one-third of Cranbrook’s Upper School students are boarders and over half of the Upper School faculty reside on campus in service of the program. Faculty and administrators alike engage students and support their development as members of a shared community.  Eagerness to live among students and to engage them in the evenings and on weekends is a must.

The Cranbrook Educational Community’s (CEC’s) 322-acre, national landmark campus is known worldwide for its architectural beauty and significance.  In addition to the Schools, the CEC also consists of the MFA-granting Cranbrook Academy of Art, the Cranbrook Institute of Science, and Cranbrook Art Museum, the Center for Collections & Research, three historic homes, several miles of wooded walking trails, a stream, several ponds and bogs, and a lake, all of which faculty are encouraged to take full advantage of as they develop curricula and program for their students. The campus is located about 10 miles north of Detroit.? For more, please visit our website: www.cranbrook.edu, and take an aerial tour of the campus. 

This position requires a Bachelor’s Degree, with a Master’s Degree in a related field preferred.  Experience leading in a residential community is also expected.  Enthusiasm for working with adolescents/children and excellent communication skills are required for all educators at Cranbrook. 

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 résumé, 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.

Please click here to apply and see the full job description: Director of Residential Life | Cranbrook Employment Opportunities

About Cranbrook Educational Community

Cranbrook History 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, House and Gardens, Institute of Science, and more than 1,600 students attending its PreK-12 independent college-preparatory Schools, Cranbrook welcomes thousands of visitors, students, and campers 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 Detroit. Cranbrook Mission and Values Mission: Cranbrook Schools are independent day and boarding schools that provide students with a challenging and comprehensive college preparatory education. We motivate students from diverse backgrounds to strive for intellectual, creative, and physical excellence, to develop a deep appreciation for the arts and different cultures, and to employ the technological tools of our modern age. Our schools seek to instill in students a strong sense of personal a...nd social responsibility, the ability to think critically, and the competence to communicate and contribute in an increasingly global community. Guiding Principles: Cranbrook Schools comprise a college preparatory day and boarding educational institution, early childhood through 12th grade, consisting of three divisions: a lower, middle and an upper school. We are structured to recognize and respond to the developmental, cognitive and creative needs of boys and girls and are dedicated to excellence in all aspects of education.

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Connections working at Cranbrook Educational Community