Career Center

Garrison Forest School is seeking a Director of Residential Life to provide leadership and day-to-day management of its residential life program, for girls in grades 8-12. The Director of Residential Life is responsible for all elements of the residential curriculum and supervising the residential life faculty who administer that curriculum. The Director reports to the Head of School serves on the school’s Leadership Team and is responsible for upholding the school’s mission and philosophy and fostering collaboration between divisions and departments in support of the residential life program. This is a full-time, 12-month position beginning July 1, 2023, and requires the candidate to live on campus in faculty housing.

Major Duties:

The primary objective of this position is to provide leadership and initiative in planning, coordinating, and implementing the goals of the residential life program so that our diverse community of students derives maximum benefit from their Garrison Forest experience. The Director of Residential Life performs the following duties:

• Provides an atmosphere that supports the intellectual, ethical, psychological, and physical development of boarding students in accordance with the Mission and Core Values of Garrison Forest School.
• Hires, trains and evaluates residential life faculty.
• Works with Academic Advisors and Middle/Upper School administrative teams to support students in their academic progress.
• Develops and implements the residential life curriculum and oversees all activities and logistics related to boarding students grades 8-12. Provides administrative oversight for the school’s residential life program, including registration and orientation for boarding students.
• Coordinates with the Deans of Students, Health Services, the Division Heads and school counselors to support the health and well-being of the students and the community.
• Coordinates with the CFO/COO and the Director of Facilities to oversee the procurement, maintenance, and care of the dormitories and faculty housing.
• Ensures that all boarding students are familiar with the code of conduct as outlined in the Residential Life Handbook and enforces rules and policies as outlined in the Handbook pertaining to boarders.
• Manages the interface between academics, athletics, co-curricular events, and residential life programs so as to ensure the complementary operation of their respective offerings and to facilitate student health and success.
• Acts as a liaison to boarding families, including regular communication, and assists with travel logistics, nationally and internationally
  
  
  
• Leads regular residential life faculty meetings and proactively develops programs for professional development for residential faculty during the August retreat and throughout the year to promote leadership skills, core values, and student safety and well-being. Ensures that all residential life faculty have a clear understanding of procedures and protocols that provide for the well-being of all boarding students.
• Contributes to and is committed to supporting diversity and multicultural educational practices. Demonstrated ability to work in a diverse community is essential.
• Manages the residential life cell phone and performs duties alongside the residential life faculty as scheduled. Duties may include weekday evenings as well as numerous weekends, which require availability Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Duties and responsibilities may be modified from time to time and additional duties may be assigned.

School Overview:

Garrison Forest School is an independent, nonsectarian college-preparatory girls' day and boarding school in Baltimore County, Maryland with an elementary, middle and high school program, a coed preschool, and a national and international boarding program for girls in grades 8-12. Founded in 1910 and set on a stunning 110-acre campus in suburban Owings Mills, Garrison Forest offers a program with a wealth of opportunities in Academics, the Arts, and Athletics. Confident, creative and compassionate, GFS students are encouraged to be fully engaged as they develop their passions and their own authentic voices within a spirited and joyful environment.

Candidates should support the Mission, Core Values, and Statement of Respect of Garrison Forest School. Garrison Forest School is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, sexual orientation, ethnic origin, sex, gender identity or expression, religion or disability in its employment policies and other school-administered programs. Candidates from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

Education and/or Experience:

• A bachelor’s degree in an appropriate educational field is required; a Master’s Degree is preferred.
• At least 3 years of boarding school experience.
• A demonstrated ability to work within a collaborative management context.
• Prior experience working with international students and their families.
• A passion for girls’ education as well as the professionalism, energy, and commitment necessary to achieve the responsibilities of this position.
• A focus and interest on the crucial boarding school experiences that take place outside the classroom.

Skills/Knowledge/Abilities:

The ideal candidate will be able to:

• Communicate clearly in written and oral forms with diverse constituents.
• Facilitate effective trainings with students and adults.
• Speak effectively before groups and/or employees of the organization.
• Use technology in communication and in instruction.
• Read, analyze, develop and interpret documents such as curriculum, safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.
• Serve as a welcoming and reassuring presence for GFS boarding students and their families.
• Confidence in navigating difficult or sensitive conversations and managing confidential information

About Garrison Forest School

Garrison Forest School is an independent, college preparatory, girls’ day and boarding school with a co-educational preschool located in Owings Mills, Maryland, minutes northwest of Baltimore City. Garrison Forest School is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

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