Girls Leadership Summer Program
Position Title: Director of Residential Life
Reports To: Director of Summer Program
Nature of the Position: Seasonal and Residential
Dates: Five hours per week, May 15– June 13, then full time June 13 – August 9, 2017
Number of Positions: 1
Girls Leadership Description:
Girls Leadership teaches girls tools for assertive self-expression, emotional intelligence, and healthy relationships for a life of authentic leadership. Our programs include parent-daughter workshops, day camps, a residential summer program, professional development trainings for educators, parent education presentations, and after-school classes.
Program Description:
Girls Leadership seeks experienced Director of Residential Life dedicated to girls’ social and emotional development to work at its residential summer program at Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, MA, from June 13 – August 9, 2017. The Girls Leadership Summer Program is divided into three sessions, 1 ten day session serving 6th grade through 8th grade, 1 fifteen day session serving 6th grade through 8th grade, 1 fifteen day session serving 9th grade through 12th grade.
The Director of Residential Life supervises nine to ten Residential Counseling staff. With the support and under the supervision of the Director of Summer Program, the Director of Residential works in collaboration with the Guidance Counselor and Director of Wellness to oversee residential life at the program. The Director of Residential Life also works with the Director Wellness to oversee non curriculum activities such as on the on campus adventure day, beach day and off campus activities.
The Director of Residential Life helps create the “Girls Leadership magic” that allows girls to take risks that they never thought possible and to build stronger friendships than they’ve ever known. What does the Girls Leadership magic look like? It is 90 screaming girls, covered in face paint, playing kickball. It is you cheering for every single girl at bat and then watching each girl start to cheer for others. It’s leading a group sing along (when you can’t carry a tune) under a tarp in the pouring rain. It’s acknowledging and supporting a girl’s real emotions, just when you thought you were done for the day. It’s about taking risks and being your real self in order to give girls the permission to do the same.
The Director of Residential Life receives one day off every 7-8 days and two days off in between sessions. Working as a member of the Girls Leadership staff is a unique, exciting and demanding opportunity. Creating the Girls Leadership community requires hard work, long hours, and significant commitment. Staff must maintain a high level of energy, patience, professionalism, and compassion from early morning wake-up to evening staff meetings. This intense work schedule requires stamina and dedication. The result is an incredibly rewarding job transforming the lives of adolescent girls.
Overall Staff Statement:
All Girls Leadership staff are active members in creating an inclusive summer program community. By engaging the fundamental concepts of the Girls Leadership curriculum, we work together to ensure that members of the community identities are celebrated. It is our collective responsibility to challenge and support each other and the girls to work together to create a more socially just and empowering Girls Leadership community.
Primary Responsibilities:
- Create a safe, nurturing, inclusive community that celebrates each girl
- Role model the values and skills of the Girls Leadership curriculum
- Supervise, evaluate, and mentor nine to ten Residential Counselor staff
- Conduct one-on-one meetings with Residential Counselors throughout the program
- Plan, manage, and facilitate daily Residential Counselor staff meetings
- Oversee, support and manage evening activities by helping to create lessons plans, gather materials and provide general support for Residential Counselor staff
- In collaboration with other staff, address community and individual girl issues as they arise
- Rotate on call residential evening responsibilities with Director of Wellness
- Support the execution of fitness activities
- Work with Director of Wellness to oversee non curriculum recreational activities
- Support and execute all off campus field trips
- Oversee the organization and inventory all materials and supplies used in the dorm
- Serve as a mandated reporter
Additional Responsibilities:
- Participate in regular staff meetings and Management meetings to debrief lessons and discuss girls’ progress
- Prepare office and materials for staff arrival at Mount Holyoke College, June 13-16
- Lead, support, and participate in seven full days of staff training at Mount Holyoke College, June 16 – 23
- Engage in two full days of clean up, pack up and staff evaluation at Mount Holyoke College, August 7 & 8
A sample of a typical day for a Director of Residential Life
7:30 Oversee wake – up and morning prep
8:00 Breakfast
8:40 Meeting with Director of Summer Program and Director of Wellness (30 minutes)
9:30 One-on-one meetings with Residential Staff
11:45 Lunch
12:45 Oversee Free time for girls
1:45 Lead Residential Staff Meeting (1 hour 5 days a week)
2:30 Management Meeting (1 hour 4 days a week)
4:20 Meetings & Prep/Time off
5:45 Dinner
7-9 Evening Activity
9-9:30 Oversee Bed Prep (rotate with Director of Wellness)
9:30-10 Love Notes
10:00 Lights out
Qualifications:
Candidates must be at least 25 years of age, have some supervisory experience and have experience planning and leading activities with groups of young people as a teacher, counselor, or coach. Employment is contingent upon a clear background check.
The ideal candidate will:
- Ability to create an inclusive residential community through intentional language use, activities, and role modeling.
- Ability to facilitate conversations about equity and inclusion.
- Demonstrate a commitment to equity and inclusion practices
- Demonstrate excellent cross-cultural communication skills
- Demonstrate social and emotional intelligence
- Demonstrate the ability to care for oneself during a demanding work schedule
- Demonstrate a “can do” attitude
- Be passionate about girls’ empowerment and leadership
- Strongly connect with girls in grades 6-12
- Possess strong organizational skills
- Have experience supervising and/or mentoring staff
- Possess transparent and clear communication skills
- Possess experience supervising and managing others
- Be responsible and self-motivated
- Have the ability to remain flexible and patient in the face of time pressure and multiple demands
- Be detail-oriented and committed to excellence
- Approach crisis management and challenges calmly, creatively, and proactively
- Work effectively with others as part of a team
- Open to and participate in professional observation and regular feedback
- Have experience working with and mentoring youth
Compensation:
- $6,400 for eight weeks of summer program inclusive of training and staff orientation, June 13 – August 9, 2017
- $500 for 5 hours per week, May 15-June 13, 2007
- Room and board at Mount Holyoke College for June 13 – August 8, 2017
- Upon arrival only, Girls Leadership will pick up staff arriving to Bradley International Airport, Amherst Bus Stop and Springfield Amtrak station. Girls Leadership is not able to accommodate transportation after the summer due to limited vehicle access.
- Total travel reimbursement, for arriving to campus in June and leaving in August, is up to $200 if traveling beyond a 150 mile radius from Mount Holyoke College. Point of origin and distance needs to be confirmed with the Summer Program Director before travel.
To apply:
Applications will be reviewed and processed in the order received. Applications will be reviewed and processed in the order received. We encourage you to apply early and our deadline to complete hiring for all positions is March 30th. Applicants should send a cover letter, resume, and click here for the application, and at least three references’ contact information in MS Word or a PDF format to Cora Garner at cora@girlsleadership.org.
The subject line of the email should include your full name and Director of Residential Life Application.” Please call 866-744-9102, extension 2 with any questions. To watch the Girls Leadership video, see photos from last summer, or read testimonials please visit www.girlsleadership.org. Girls Leadership is an equal opportunity employer. Individuals of color are encouraged to apply.
Girls Leadership is committed to equal opportunity for all persons without regard to sex, age, race, ethnicity, color, religion, creed, national origin, marital status, gender expression, disability or sexual orientation.
