Residential Life Manager

Residential Life Manager

APEX International Education Partners

Location: Derby Connecticut USA

About APEX International Education Partners Established in 2011 APEX International Education Partners helps U.S. secondary schools recruit and support international students promoting diversity and cultural awareness. We provide international students with the support needed to thrive academically socially and culturally while studying in the U.S.

Our portfolio includes private day schools across the U.S. a dormitory in Connecticut and host families who ensure the wellbeing and success of students. We are committed to guiding students through both their academic and social experiences ensuring a seamless integration into American culture.

Position Overview APEX is seeking an experienced handson Residential Life Manager to oversee daily operations within our dormitory in Derby CT housing a vibrant community of 70 international middle and highschool students attending 10 offcampus private schools throughout Connecticut. This role focuses heavily on creating engaging experiences for students leading dormitory events and ensuring their overall wellbeing while managing daytoday operational tasks.

This position reports directly to the Director of Residential Life & Dormitory Operations and provides significant development and promotional opportunities for those who excel in their role including but not limited to managing operations and other dormitory locations.

Key Responsibilities As the Residential Life Manager you will be responsible for creating a nurturing engaging and wellstructured environment that supports students emotional social and academic needs. Your role will be both strategic and handson with direct involvement in student interaction event planning and staff management.

Student Engagement & Event Management

• Create and manage a handson Event Calendar: Plan organize and actively participate in weekly events that engage students socially culturally and recreationally. From cultural nights to educational outings to participating in a basketball or tennis game ensure that events are interactive relevant and fun.
• Lead student activities: Take charge of organizing and directly overseeing activities such as athletics movie nights talent shows holiday celebrations and teambuilding exercises. Lead these activities to encourage student participation and community building.
• Coordinate dormitory clubs: Actively create oversee and engage with studentled programs such as the Student Council Ambassador Program and Yearbook. Act as an advisor helping students take ownership of these new clubs and initiatives.
• Provide handson support: Regularly interact with students to ensure they feel connected and supported in their transition to life in the U.S. Offer personal guidance and conflict resolution when needed helping students adjust to their new environment.
• Host student orientation and checkins: Take an active role in the arrival process including student orientations checkin activities and creating a welcoming environment for new students.
• Organize Plan Manage & Lead Summer Camps: work closely with ShortTerm Program Coordinator to welcome 100 middle and upper international students attending summer enrichment camps at nearby private schools from lateJune through earlyAugust and residing in Derby CT dormitory. Provide afterschool and weekend activities for summer campers and work with transportation team to provide daily transportation to/from school and extracurricular activities.

Dormitory Operations & Supervision

• Manage Dormitory Residential Life Coordinators (RLCs) and Resident Assistants (RAs): Supervise and support RLCs and RAs in their daily tasks. Lead by example taking on handson responsibilities including conducting student checkins attending to student concerns and ensuring timely and effective resolution of academic and behavioral issues.
• Coordinate emergency and nonemergency student support: Respond to student needs both in urgent situations and daily challenges. Act as a first point of contact for students in distress stepping in to mediate disputes provide emotional support and ensure safety.
• Conduct regular walkthroughs: Personally walk through the dormitory multiple times a day to ensure that everything is running smoothly from room conditions to safety measures. Address minor maintenance issues and make immediate changes as needed.
• Oversee student conduct: Directly handle student infractions when they occur. Facilitate and mediate conversations between students and staff ensuring that disciplinary measures are consistent and fair. Lead by example ensuring that the dormitory is a positive respectful environment.

Facilities & Campus Community

• Ensure dormitory cleanliness and upkeep: Work closely with the facilities team providing handson involvement in preparing rooms for new students conducting inspections for damage and ensuring common areas are properly maintained.
• Help manage safety protocols: Actively participate in safety drills and oversee security measures (e.g. key fob systems cameras alarms). Work directly with staff to ensure students safety needs are met.
• Support staff in logistics: Take part in overseeing the daytoday operations of room assignments meal times and transportation to ensure everything runs smoothly. Jump in to help as necessary to ensure all operational aspects are wellcoordinated.

Transportation & Logistics

• Oversee and ensure student transportation: Work handson with the transportation team to schedule and ensure students safe travel to/from school activities and appointments. Occasionally step in to accompany students during transportation to ensure safety and engagement.
• Monitor transportation logistics: Handle the coordination of daily vehicle and driver schedules to/from 10 private schools across Connecticut including responding to lastminute transportation changes. Actively review and ensure vehicles are maintained clean and ready for student use.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelors degree required; a Masters degree in student affairs counseling education administration or a related field is preferred.
• Residential Life and Supervisory Experience: At least 5 years of experience in secondary and/or international education including a minimum of 2 years in a supervisory role. Experience with international students especially Chinese students as well as experience in residential life or boarding schools is highly preferred.
• Skills: Strong organizational skills the ability to manage multiple teams and excellent communication and interpersonal skills. Sense of urgency. Proficiency in English is required.
• Attributes: Ability to connect with students lead events and directly manage student behavior in a compassionate and constructive way. Must be handson proactive and able to step in at any moment to ensure smooth operations.

Other Requirements

• Customer Service: Demonstrated ability to navigate the expectations of a demanding client base (including parents and agencies abroad in China) while aligning student support with the retention and growth objectives of a missiondriven forprofit organization.
• Flexibility: Demonstrated flexibility and availability to support students and staff outside of regular school hours including scheduled evening office hours occasional weekends and some holidays. Students attend school offcampus during the day and the majority of student engagement occurs in the evenings and on weekends either within the dormitory or offsite. This role requires a consistent presence during outofschool hours leading and participating with other staff members in student events/activities and a responsiveness to student needs or emergencies. This position will oversee and manage other residential staff members including staff who live in the dormitory and are scheduled during evening weekend and overnight hours to provide additional support.
• Desire to work directly with students and be engaged: Ability and desire to engage with students in a way that fosters trust growth and community.
• ProblemSolver: Strong problemsolving skills and the ability to address a variety of situations in a calm effective way.

Job Type:

FullTime Salaried Exempt OnSite yearround position. The position requires the individual to be available afterschool timeframe occasional weekends and some holidays for office hours student events and activities address student or staff issues/concerns periodically participate in RA onduty/oncall rotation/coverage and be available for unpredictable or emergency situations etc. The ideal candidate will live locally or within a short commute to the Derby CT office/dormitory. No LiveIn Option Available.

Typical Office Hours: 4 Weekdays 11am 7:30pm 1 Weekday 7am3:30pm & occasional Saturdays or Sundays. *This position requires flexibility and additional availability on a regular basis.

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive base salary based on experience.
• Discretionary Bonus (up to 10 of base salary based on performance metrics including student retention and satisfaction)
• Comprehensive benefits including health dental vision life insurance and paid time off
• 401(k) with employer match after one year
• Free meals during onsite working hours American breakfast Chinese lunch & dinner.

Development & Promotional Opportunities This position offers significant development and promotional opportunities for those who demonstrate excellence in their role. As a Residential Life Manager there is potential for advancement into higher leadership positions within Residential Life & Dormitory Operations based on performance initiative and leadership ability.

How to Apply To apply please submit a resume and a cover letter outlining your experience and qualifications relevant to this position at:

APEX is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Required Experience:

Manager