Director of Residential Life

Located in Norden, CA, Sugar Bowl Academy (SBA) is a community dedicated to providing passionate skiers the opportunity to pursue athletic dreams, academic excellence, and personal growth while celebrating grit, grace and courage.

SBA is hiring for the position of full-time Director of Residential Life. Life in the SBA residential hall mimics life in a typical American home. The Director of Residential Life lives in the residential hall setting and supervises all student residents. They are responsible for providing care, guidance, supervision, and support for the approximately 30 students who live in the residential hall. They will establish and maintain a framework of policies and organized procedures that the residential students and staff will live within. Residential Hall staff play a vital role in creating a structured, family-like environment that fosters students’ academic, athletic, emotional, and social development so they can reach their full potential. 

Primary Responsibilities     

• Create a positive, safe, and supportive residential environment for all boarding students


• Encourage and support student success in school work, athletics, chores and upholding SBA values


• Establish and enforce all behavior standards for resident students and hold residents accountable for guidelines and standards of the school


• Plan and coordinate meal services with the Head Chef. Manage dorm food and prepare meals, with lead from SBA Head Chef


• Supervise residential life staff, including scheduling, training, performance support, and day-to-day communication


• Transport residential students to airport and required medical appointments using school vehicles


• Maintain a consistent, visible, and supportive presence in the residential community during evenings, weekends, and school breaks 


• Ensure stewardship including cleanliness of common areas and resident spaces in the Residence Hall and coordinate chores and responsibilities. 


• Participate in weekly Residential Life meetings and plan and execute logistics for day to day operations of the Residence Hall .


• Plan and implement on-campus and off-campus activities for residents

Dormitory Supervision & Student Life

• Oversee all dormitory operations, including check-in and check-out procedures, room assignments, curfew enforcement, and dorm meetings.


• Implement and oversee the application used to manage campus leaves and software used for parent communication and campus leave approvals


• Monitor student well-being and proactively address concerns in coordination with the Director of Students and the School Counselor related to peer relationships, homesickness, conflict resolution, and community policies


• Enforce the behavioral and residential expectations outlined in the SBA Handbook, support disciplinary matters in a fair, consistent, and restorative manner


• Work with the Discipline Committee regarding all discipline issues


• Foster a residential culture grounded in the school's core values of grit, grace, and courage


• Support evening study hour routines that promote consistent academic engagement

Health, Safety & Student Wellness

• Oversee health and safety protocols within the residential program, including emergency procedures, illness management, and after-hours support


• Maintain accurate records of student health, incident reports, and residential life documentation


• Identify and respond to signs of student distress, connecting students with appropriate support resources as needed


• Support students in managing the demands of a rigorous combined academic and athletic schedule

Communications

• Serve as a key communicator between students, staff, and parents and maintain clear records of communication between parties 


• Serve as a liaison between the residential program and the athletic and academic departments to ensure scheduling alignment and student accountability

Student Activities & Community Life

• Plan and coordinate a calendar of weekly activities, weekend programming, and community events that enrich student life and build school culture


• Encourage student leadership and agency in shaping the residential community


• Organize off-campus excursions and community service opportunities that connect students to the broader Truckee/Lake Tahoe community


• Celebrate student achievements and milestones in ways that reinforce a positive, inclusive community identity

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required


• Minimum of two years of experience in residential life, boarding school administration, or a closely related field


• Demonstrated ability to supervise and develop a team of staff members


• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build trust with students, families, and colleagues


• Experience managing student conduct, wellness, and crisis response in a residential setting and implementing restorative practices


• Highly organized with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic, fast-paced environment


• Proficiency with Google Workplace and various data platforms is required. 


• A genuine commitment to the development of the whole-child


• Strong passion for SBA’s core sports and the mission of the organization. 


• Must be able to live and work in a high altitude, mountain environment with frequent, heavy storms disrupting day-to-day operations, and have a sense of humor, creativity, and flexibility to be effective in that environment

Physical Requirements 

• Must hold a valid driver's license and a clean driving record 


• Must be able to sit for extended periods of time.


• Must be able to stand for extended periods of time. 


• Ability to look at a computer screen for extended periods of time.


• Must be able to lift up to 25 pounds overhead.

SBA offers an excellent benefits package, including vacation, medical + life insurance, voluntary dental and vision options, and a 403(b) employee retirement plan. Additional benefits include season passes, access to shared gym, daily prepared meals during school and a dynamic work setting.

As a condition of employment all employees must pass a State of California fingerprinting background check via Livescan as well as complete a two-hour Safesport training.