Head of Residential Life

TeachBeyond; Mussoorie; On-site; INR 1,500,000 - 2,500,000; Full time

Job summary

Woodstock School in Mussoorie invites applications for Head of Residential Life to lead a safe, engaging and transformative boarding experience for every student.

You will oversee wellbeing, safeguarding, staff leadership, programming, operations, and community culture, reporting to the Vice Principal, and collaborating with Counselling, Health Centre and academic teams.

This is a leadership role at one of Asia's leading international boarding schools, starting February 2027 on a full-time basis.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and teaching qualification required.
• 5 years of progressive leadership experience in boarding.
• Experience with safeguarding and wellbeing programs.
• Strong communication and organisational skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee all aspects of residential life and boarding.
• Ensure health, safety, safeguarding, and wellbeing of students.
• Recruit, supervise, and develop residential staff.
• Collaborate with academic, counselling, health, and facilities teams.
• Maintain strong communication with parents and families.

Skills

Leadership

Safeguarding

Communication

Pastoral care

Education

Bachelor's degree

Teaching qualification

Master's degree

Job description

Woodstock School seeks an exceptional educational leader to serve as Head of Residential Life, creating a safe, supportive, engaging, and transformative boarding experience for every student.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Head of Residential Life provides strategic leadership for all aspects of the boarding programme, including student wellbeing, safeguarding, staff leadership, residential programming, operations, and community culture. Working closely with the Vice Principal, Academic Heads, Counselling Team, Health Centre, and operational departments, this individual helps ensure that boarding remains a place where students feel known, supported, challenged, and cared for.

ABOUT WOODSTOCK SCHOOL

Founded in 1854, Woodstock is an inclusive Christian international boarding school located in the Himalayan foothills of Mussoorie, India. Home to approximately 500 students representing more than 30 nationalities, Woodstock combines academic excellence with a deep commitment to whole-person education, student wellbeing, character development, and community life.

REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor's degree and teaching qualification.
• 5 years of progressive leadership experience in boarding or residential education.
• Demonstrated experience leading pastoral programmes and supporting student wellbeing.
• Strong communication, organisational and interpersonal skills.
• Strong commitment to pastoral care and student wellbeing.
• Training and certification in safeguarding and wellbeing of children and young people.

PREFERRED REQUIREMENTS

• Master’s Degree in Education, Educational Leadership or a related field.
• Experience in an international boarding school environment.
• Experience leading cross cultural teams

SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE

• An experienced educational leader with strong pastoral instincts
• Deeply committed to student wellbeing and safeguarding
• Calm, compassionate, and approachable
• Skilled in navigating complex student situations
• A collaborative colleague who builds strong relationships
• An effective communicator with students, staff, and families
• Solutions-oriented and proactive
• Committed to restorative practices and positive school culture
• Inspired by Woodstock's mission and community
• Most importantly, the successful candidate will embody Woodstock's commitment to being Humble, Hungry, and Smart while placing student growth and wellbeing at the centre of their work.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Leading and overseeing all aspects of the residential life and boarding programme.
• Ensuring the health, safety, safeguarding, and wellbeing of boarding students.
• Serving as the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) for the school.
• Building a positive residential culture that promotes belonging, personal growth, responsibility, and student leadership.
• Recruiting, supervising, supporting, and developing residential life and boarding staff.
• Managing boarding operations, facilities, budgets, programmes, and contracted services.
• Collaborating closely with academic, counselling, health, facilities, food service, security, and operational teams.
• Maintaining strong and effective communication with parents and families.
• Leading continuous improvement efforts to ensure boarding practices reflect both Woodstock's mission and global best practice.

This is an extraordinary opportunity for a passionate and experienced boarding leader to shape the lives of young people from around the world while contributing to one of Asia's leading international boarding schools.

Woodstock is undertaking an exciting period of strategic transformation, marked by organizational restructuring and a significant opportunity to redesign and enhance the school's educational experience. To support this vision, several new leadership positions have been created, which will bring together a newly formed team charged with shaping the future of the school. For leaders who are energised by innovation, collaboration, and meaningful impact, this is a rare chance to help define a bold future for Woodstock in one of the world's most remarkable educational settings.

POSITION START DATE: February 2027

TYPE OF POSITION: Full-time (35+ hrs/week)