Sugar Bowl Academy Hiring Full-Time Director of Residential Life

Department: Programs
Location: Norden, California
Employment Type: Full-Time
Compensation: Starting at $70,000 USD annually (based on experience)

Located in Norden, California, 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 a full-time Director of Residential Life. Life in the SBA residential hall mirrors a typical American home. The Director of Residential Life lives in the residential hall and oversees all student residents, providing care, guidance, supervision, and support for approximately 30 boarding students. This role establishes and maintains the policies, procedures, and structure that guide residential life while creating a family-like environment that supports students’ academic, athletic, emotional, and social development.

Primary Responsibilities

• Create a positive, safe, and supportive residential environment for all boarding students.
• Encourage and support student success in academics, athletics, daily responsibilities, and upholding SBA values.
• Establish and enforce behavioral standards while holding students accountable to school expectations.
• Plan and coordinate meal services with the Head Chef, manage dorm food, and prepare meals with guidance from the SBA Head Chef.
• Supervise residential life staff, including scheduling, training, performance support, and daily communication.
• Transport students to airports and required medical appointments using school vehicles.
• Maintain a consistent, visible, and supportive presence within the residential community during evenings, weekends, and school breaks.
• Oversee the cleanliness of common areas and residential spaces while coordinating student chores and responsibilities.
• Participate in weekly Residential Life meetings and coordinate daily dorm operations.
• Plan and implement engaging 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.
• Manage the software used for campus leave requests, parent communication, and leave approvals.
• Monitor student well-being and proactively address concerns related to peer relationships, homesickness, conflict resolution, and community expectations in collaboration with the Director of Students and School Counselor.
• Enforce behavioral and residential expectations outlined in the SBA Handbook using fair, consistent, and restorative practices.
• Collaborate with the Discipline Committee on student conduct matters.
• Foster a residential culture grounded in SBA’s core values of grit, grace, and courage.
• Support evening study hall routines that encourage academic success.

Health, Safety & Student Wellness

• Oversee residential health and safety protocols, including emergency procedures, illness management, and after-hours support.
• Maintain accurate records of student health information, incident reports, and residential documentation.
• Identify and respond to signs of student distress while connecting students with appropriate support resources.
• Help students balance the demands of a rigorous academic and athletic schedule.

Communications

• Serve as a key communicator between students, staff, and parents while maintaining clear communication records.
• Act as the liaison between the residential, athletic, and academic departments to ensure scheduling alignment and student accountability.

Student Activities & Community Life

• Plan and coordinate weekly activities, weekend programming, and community events that strengthen school culture.
• Encourage student leadership and ownership within the residential community.
• Organize off-campus excursions and community service opportunities throughout the Truckee/Lake Tahoe region.
• Celebrate student achievements and milestones while fostering an inclusive community.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Minimum of two years of experience in residential life, boarding school administration, or a related field.
• Demonstrated ability to supervise and develop staff.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to build trust with students, families, and colleagues.
• Experience managing student conduct, wellness, crisis response, and restorative practices.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficiency with Google Workspace and data management platforms.
• Genuine commitment to whole-child development.
• Passion for SBA’s athletic programs and organizational mission.
• Ability to live and work in a high-altitude mountain environment where winter weather can impact daily operations, while maintaining flexibility, creativity, and a positive attitude.

Physical Requirements

• Valid driver’s license with a clean driving record.
• Ability to sit for extended periods.
• Ability to stand for extended periods.
• Ability to work at a computer for extended periods.
• Ability to lift up to 25 pounds overhead.

Benefits

Sugar Bowl Academy offers an excellent benefits package, including:

• Vacation time
• Medical and life insurance
• Voluntary dental and vision coverage
• 403(b) retirement plan
• Season passes
• Access to a shared gym
• Daily prepared meals during the school year
• A dynamic, team-oriented mountain work environment

As a condition of employment, all employees must successfully complete a California Live Scan fingerprint background check and a two-hour SafeSport training course.st complete a California Live Scan fingerprint background check and SafeSport training as a condition of employment.