Director of Residential Life

Cognita; Stow (MA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

401(k) plan

Paid time off

Job summary

Masters Academy International (MAI) in Stow, MA, is seeking an experienced Director of Residential Life to lead the boarding program and serve on the Campus Leadership Team. The role balances structured routines with a vibrant, inclusive community, developing repeatable systems, and building house-parent teams to support student safety, well-being, and growth.

The successful candidate will bring emotional intelligence, executive judgment, and a track record of aligning residential strategy with

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred in Education, Counseling, Student Affairs, or a related field.
• Minimum of five years of progressive leadership experience in residential life within a New England independent boarding school or comparable U.S. boarding school environment.
• Proven record of recruiting, developing, retaining, and leading residential teams, with evidence of improving team culture, communication, accountability, and operational consistency.
• Strong experience in crisis management and safeguarding.
• Proven ability to manage budgets and residential operations.

Responsibilities

• Lead Student Care & Safeguarding: Oversee holistic well-being, discipline, and mental health of boarding students with safeguarding standards.
• Drive Interdepartmental Collaboration: Partner with Academics, Athletics, Health Services, Operations, and Enrollment.
• Design Residential Curriculum & Community Culture: Create engaging programming, house traditions, weekend activities, and student leadership opportunities.
• Foster Diversity & Belonging: Build an inclusive boarding culture connecting diverse backgrounds.
• Contribute to Executive Governance: Serve on the Campus Leadership Team and support strategic planning, enrollment alignment, and budget.
• Recruit & Develop House Teams: Hire, train, line-manage, and evaluate house parents and staff.
• Manage Operational Logistics: Oversee staff schedules, rosters, holiday coverage, and daily policies.
• Support & Model Staff Well-being: Provide supervision and professional development for residential teams.

Skills

Residential leadership

Crisis management

Budget management

Staff development

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Master’s degree preferred

Job description

Position: DirectorofResidential Life

Location: Stow, Massachusetts, Masters Academy International

Anticipated Start Date: November 1, 2026

Masters Academy International

Masters Academy International (MAI) is New England’s only school that intentionally integrates professional-level athletics with top-tier academics to prepare future leaders who excel in sport, scholarship, and life. For many of our students, MAI is not simply a school; it is home.

Our residential program is central to our mission. Boarding at MAI must reflect the same standard of excellence that defines our academic and athletic programs—structured, nurturing, disciplined, joyful, and deeply aligned with our values. Students who live on campus entrust us with their safety, well‑being, and development during these formative years. That trust demands leadership of the highest caliber.

About the Role

MAI is seeking an experienced, highly visible boarding-school leader for the Director of Residential Life to serve on the Campus Leadership Team (CLT) and oversee all aspects of student residential experience. Balancing disciplined daily routines with a vibrant, joyful community culture, the Director will be responsible for building lean, repeatable operational systems, developing house-parent teams, and maintaining transparent communication with families. The ideal candidate brings exceptional emotional intelligence, sound executive judgment, and a proven track record of aligning residential strategy with institutional values to foster a safe, structured, and culturally rich environment for a diverse student body.

What You Will Do

1. Lead Student Care & Safeguarding: Oversee the holistic well‑being, discipline, and mental health of boarding students while maintaining world‑class safeguarding standards and leading crisis response.
2. Drive Interdepartmental Collaboration: Partner closely with Academics, Athletics, Health Services, Operations, and Enrollment to integrate Residential Life seamlessly across campus.
3. Design Residential Curriculum & Community Culture: Create engaging residential programming, house traditions, weekend activities, and student leadership opportunities that align with MAI’s values.
4. Foster Diversity & Belonging: Build an inclusive, equitable boarding culture that connects students from diverse backgrounds and intentionally bridges boarding and day student communities.
5. Contribute to Executive Governance: Serve on the CLT, contributing to strategic planning, enrollment alignment, budget management, and compliance with accrediting standards.
6. Recruit & Develop House Teams: Hire, train, line‑manage, and evaluate house parents and support staff, ensuring clear expectations and robust accountability.
7. Manage Operational Logistics: Oversee staff duty schedules, supervision rosters, holiday coverage, and daily residential policies to ensure continuous quality of care.
8. Support & Model Staff Well‑being: Provide reflective supervision, professional development, and active support for residential teams working in a demanding boarding environment.

Who You Are

You are an experienced, highly organized residential leader who is deeply aligned with MAI’s values and dedicated to student well‑being, character formation, and safeguarding. Bringing a balance of warmth, empathy, and natural authority, you command respect while remaining an approachable, highly visible, and engaged presence in the school community. You excel at managing complex logistics and creating predictable communication systems across residential staff, academic teams, and diverse, international families. Culturally sophisticated and calm under pressure, you are a decisive communicator during crises and handoffs, approaching every aspect of boarding school life with integrity, discretion, and genuine enthusiasm.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred in Education, Counseling, Student Affairs, or a related field.
• Minimum of five years of progressive leadership experience in residential life within a New England independent boarding school or comparable U.S. boarding school environment.
• Proven record of recruiting, developing, retaining, and leading residential teams, with evidence of improving team culture, communication, accountability, and operational consistency.
• Strong experience in crisis management and safeguarding.
• Proven ability to manage budgets and residential operations.
• Availability for after‑hours emergencies; on‑campus residence required.

To view the full Role Profile, please click here.

Compensation and Benefits

The salary range is $100,000. Benefits for eligible roles include medical, life insurance, a 401(k) savings plan, and more.

Diversity, Inclusion, and Safeguarding

We are deeply committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout our organization. We strive to build a culture in which every colleague feels that they belong, are trusted, and are valued. We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds and strongly encourage those from underrepresented groups to apply.

Cognita Schools are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff, volunteers and other third parties to share this commitment. Safer recruitment practice and pre‑employment background checks will be undertaken before any appointment is confirmed.

We are an equal opportunities employer committed to diversity and treating all employees with dignity and respect regardless of background.

Early applications are encouraged; we reserve the right to interview and appoint at any time during this process.