Job Abstract

Residential Advisor
Reports to: Dean of Residential Life

The Residential Advisor oversees the social, emotional, physical, and educational well-being of the students residing in their residence. They create a safe and happy community within their residence by being a welcoming and consistent advisory presence in the everyday life of their students. Together as a team, the Residential Advisors play a key role in supporting the school’s global mission. We safeguard trust with a real family feel that makes our school a home away from home.

As both a start-up and a boarding school, at EF Academy Pasadena our faculty and staff are guided in their practice by an educator competency architecture with four domains that define how to be and become inspiring educators, committed caretakers, courageous innovators, and relationship builders.  Working on this team of staff requires a commitment to best practices, a comfort with iteration, and a fervor for collaboration. 

Professional Qualifications and Qualities:

• Experience in a residential setting strongly preferred;
• 2+ years of experience working with adolescents in an educational, residential or care-taking setting;
• Desire to work with young people to support their well-being, growth and development;
• Commitment to making a positive impact on the lives of adolescents and willingness to embrace the opportunities of the boarding school environment;
• Excellent organizational, communication, and decision-making skills including attention to detail, the ability to manage multiple tasks under pressure, and in a timely manner;
• Ability to administer policies fairly and consistently;
• Excellent interpersonal skills including a demonstrated ability to work collaboratively and communicate effectively with diverse constituencies including students, faculty, administrators, and parents;
• Significant foreign travel or cross-cultural experiences a plus;
• Ability and desire to work during hours when students are not in class, including early mornings, evenings and weekends;
• Be a motivated and flexible team player that is ready to work towards the good of the community.

Key Responsibilities in each domain:

Committed Caretakers
We take our responsibility of ‘in loco parentis’ very seriously. When students are in our care, they are the most important thing in the world. Every interaction with them should come from the heart.

• Continuously monitor the well-being of students, through checking-in and meeting with students regularly;
• Ensure students are awake each morning, on time for class on school days, encourage participation in clubs and activities, monitor evening study halls and do all required check ins when on duty;
• Proactively be alert to indicators of potential child protection or well-being issues and report these immediately in accordance with the school’s procedure;
• Help students to reflect on and grow from their decisions and, when necessary, liaise with the House Parents, Deans and Health Center Team regarding disciplinary issues and well-being concerns;
• Collaborate with other faculty and staff as part of each student’s support network.
• Keep up-to-date about students’ academic accomplishments and challenges, as well as changes in mental and physical well-being, through using the student information system. Record regular logs in the system to update parents and other departments as to the well-being and progress of students as community members;
• Take responsibility for student safety and ensure all protocols are adhered to, as stated in the Student Handbook and school policies.
• Support students in healthy living and hygiene routines, ensuring cleanliness, good order and adherence to the student code of conduct, escalating issues as appropriate;
• Collaborate with colleagues, on-call staff and senior leaders to help resolve emergency situations, such as missing students and/or students in distress, both on and off campus;
• Prioritize student safety by checking and activating passes, using the school information system, supervising the safe use of the fitness center and supporting with mail room duties;
• Provide care and support for students who are unwell, including accompanying them to medical appointments and assist with all health protocols;
• Embrace responsibilities as a trained Mental Health First Aider and Medication Administrator to support student well-being.

Relationship Builders
We offer our students a second home. They join an extended family that cares for them, nurtures them and encourages them to become their best selves.

• Contribute to a caring and student-centered approach to our residential community, working closely with the Residential Life Team to ensure that all students feel known and included;
• Get to know and understand students by spending time with them, celebrating their accomplishments, encouraging them through challenges and providing emotional support;
• Make our day students feel welcome, known and cared for through intentional and authentic interactions;
• Support the planning and implementation of regular corridor community activities that create a family feel with students.
• Contribute to community-building through student welcome, arrival and departure days;
• Participate in and attend school events, activities and excursions to support students and develop our sense of community;
• Maintain a proactive approach in the retention of students by ensuring they feel supported through collaboration with parents and EF Academy staff;

Inspiring Educators
Create meaningful and intentional learning opportunities through residential life programming for students to learn how to be proactive and self-reflective in managing their well-being, developing their independence, and engaging in the community.

• Contribute to residential life programming by liaising with relevant faculty and staff in delivering workshops and group sessions focused on a range of areas, such as student wellness, independence and resilience-building;
• Be a reliable and consistent trusted adult by setting and maintaining key routines with students, such as supporting them with time management and executive function skills;
• Educate students regarding self-management and behavior expectations and apply the school discipline policy in a consistent and fair way, focusing on the value of restorative justice practices. Take a proactive approach to conflict resolution to prevent escalation as much as possible;
• Thoughtfully reflect on practice via the professional portfolio process annually.

Courageous Innovators
Be brave in collaborating with others to implement exciting and creative opportunities for students to develop their cultural competency.

• Build hall spirit through planned hall events, activities and the celebration of different cultures;
• Play a key role in creating a school-wide culture which places the safety, well-being and happiness of its students at the forefront;
• Encourage and incorporate student voice and leadership into hall meetings and decision-making processes;
• Participate in professional learning opportunities offered by the school.

In keeping with the nature of this role in creating a home away from home, other duties may be assigned as required.

Working Hours:
Part-time non-residential positions
This is a non-exempt, hourly position. The average working week will depend on the individual’s availability and agreed through the recruitment process. Part-time hours could be up to 25 hours per week with opportunities for additional hours to cover staff absence, events, activities and busy periods. Hours will range from early mornings, daytime, evenings and will include weekends. The hourly rate for this role is $16.93.

Full-time residential positions:
This is a non-exempt, salaried position. The average working week will be 40 hours per week with opportunities for overtime hours to cover staff absence, events, activities and busy periods.  Hours will range from early mornings, daytime, evenings and will include weekends.  Full-time positions are usually residential, which means accommodation is provided on campus for 12 months of the year. Overnight on-call duty will be on rotation for all residential full-time roles. The full-time salary for this role is $35,214.

Working and living on campus provides mutual benefit to the employee and the school. In exchange for room and board during the full academic year (including move in, induction, and move out), we expect all team members to be active and flexible participants in our residential community. Please review the details below to ensure that you are willing and able to meet these expectations, understanding that serving the needs of students, immediate or otherwise, is the role of all staff members working as a team: 

1. Supervise and assist students and participate in activities during student Welcome Days at the start of the academic year and subsequent student Arrival/Departure Days;
2. Lead, co-ordinate or support at least one after-school club/activity (including sports) during the week as part of the standard working day;
3. Provide support through being on-call on rotation across evenings and weekends;
4. Be available to work on any inclement weather days, which may occur at short notice.

Public Holidays:
Holidays falling within the academic year require staffing to assist and care for our students. You will be expected to be available to work on a minimum of three of the five Public Holidays, which may involve supervision of students on campus and participation in organized activities or excursions.  The work expectations across the five holidays are listed below. Time worked in excess of your usual work week will be paid at overtime rates.

• All Hands On Deck for Labor Day (ALL faculty and staff work at least one day on Labor Day weekend);
• At least 2 days across the Thanksgiving 4-day weekend;
• At least two of the following three additional public holidays will be required work days: Indigenous People’s Day; Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day; and President’s Day.

About EF Education First
At EF we believe that the world is better when people try to understand one another. Since 1965, we have helped millions of people see new places, experience new cultures, and learn new things about the world and about themselves. Our culturally immersive education programs—focused on language, travel, cultural exchange, and academics—turn dreams into international opportunities.

When you join EF, you join a multicultural and diverse community working across more than 600 schools and offices in 50 countries, all with one shared mission of opening the world through education. Whoever you are, whatever you are passionate about—we welcome you and want you to bring that to work every day. EF is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and we are committed to inclusion and belonging across race, ethnicity, gender, age, religion, caste, parental status, identity, experience and everything else that makes you unique.

Founded in Sweden in 1965, EF has schools and offices around the world, including hubs in Boston, London, Mexico City, São Paulo, Shanghai, Stockholm, Zürich, and more. Learn more at https://www.ef.com.