Assistant Director of Community Life 

Department: Student Life 

Reports to: Director of Community Life & Culture 

Status: Full-time, 10-month, residential position

About Us

Westover School is a gender-inclusive girls boarding and day school for grades 9–12. Our community is built on close student–adult relationships, shared responsibility, and a deep belief that young people thrive when expectations are clear, care is consistent, and belonging is intentional.

The Office of Community Life plays a central role in shaping the lived experience of students at Westover. This work requires presence, sound judgment, compassion, and the ability to translate values into daily practice within a residential school environment.

Job Summary

The Assistant Director of Community Life is a senior member of the Student Life leadership team and is responsible for the day-to-day coordination, consistency, and execution of residential and community life programming. This role provides critical leadership in residential life operations, student accountability, and community standards, ensuring students experience a predictable, supportive, and equitable environment.

Working in close partnership with the Director of Community Life & Culture, the Assistant Director supports students through daily challenges, reinforces community expectations, and helps maintain a healthy and well-functioning residential program. This position requires regular evening, weekend, and on-call responsibilities, as well as a visible and relational presence with students.

Responsibilities and Duties

Residential Life Leadership

• Provide primary oversight of the residential life program, supporting approximately 175 boarding students.
• Supervise and support dorm parents and residential faculty in collaboration with the Director of Community Life & Culture.
• Coordinate residential duty schedules, evening and weekend coverage, and on-call systems.
• Lead the development and implementation of residential programming, including health, wellness, and life skills initiatives.
• Serve as a first responder for residential concerns, student needs, and emergent situations during assigned coverage.

Community Standards and Accountability

• Oversee minor disciplinary processes, including dress code, phone policy, and general community expectations.
• Ensure consistent enforcement of community standards across grade levels and residential spaces.
• Facilitate restorative conversations and accountability processes at the minor to moderate level.
• Track patterns and trends in student behavior and communicate concerns and recommendations to the Director of Community Life & Culture.
• Partner with and support the Community Life Coordinator as a primary interventionist for minor accountability and student support needs.

Student Leadership and Traditions

• Partner with and support the Traditions and Activities Coordinator in the planning and execution of traditions and community programming.
• Support student leadership structures, elections, and leadership development initiatives.
• Collaborate with community life colleagues on the planning and execution of signature school events.
• Maintain a visible presence at community events, residential programs, and student activities.

Program Operations and Collaboration

• Play a key role in Welcome Week planning and execution, particularly related to residential readiness and student onboarding.
• Partner with academic, counseling, health, and international student support teams to provide coordinated student care.
• Assist with school opening and closing logistics related to residential life and student transitions.
• Participate actively in the dorm duty rotation, including evening and overnight responsibilities.

Required Qualifications and Skills

• Demonstrated commitment to student-centered education and adolescent development.
• Experience working in residential life, boarding schools, or comparable student life environments.
• Ability to establish clear expectations while maintaining warmth, empathy, and trust with students.
• Strong judgment and capacity to respond calmly and effectively in crisis situations.
• Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and culturally responsive practices.
• Excellent communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• Willingness to work a flexible schedule that includes evenings, weekends, and on-call responsibilities.

Working Conditions

This is a residential position that requires regular evening, weekend, and overnight duty as part of the residential rotation. The role involves frequent interaction with students, faculty, and staff and requires flexibility to respond to emergent student needs. Work is performed primarily on campus in a school and residential setting.

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

• Ability to move throughout campus, including residence halls and academic buildings.
• Ability to respond to emergencies, including walking quickly or standing for extended periods.
• Ability to lift or move up to approximately 25 pounds.
• Ability to work at a computer and communicate in person, by phone, and electronically.

Compensation and Benefits

This is a full-time, 10-month, residential position with a salary range of $65,000–$75,000, commensurate with experience. Westover School offers a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• Health and vision insurance
• Dental reimbursement
• Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA)
• Life insurance
• Retirement plan with employer contributions
• Professional development support
• On-campus housing is provided in accordance with school residential policies.

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Statement

Westover School is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, disability, sex, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive community and strongly encourage applications from candidates from historically marginalized or underrepresented backgrounds, as well as those with non-traditional career paths.