Director of Boarding Life
Rosseau Lake College has an exciting opportunity for a full-time Director of Boarding Life position to join our team!
About Rosseau Lake College
Rosseau Lake College is one of Canada's most unique independent, co-ed, day and boarding schools, offering extraordinary learning in a highly experiential academic program in grades 7-12. Every September since 1967, RLC has welcomed boarding and day students to our 56-acre campus located along the shores of beautiful Lake Rosseau in Ontario, Canada.
At RLC, we challenge and empower each student through the rigours and adventures of a highly academic program, one that is intentionally rooted in the vast opportunities of nature and our incredible geographical setting. When students graduate from RLC and depart for their chosen post-secondary school, they have developed the skills, knowledge, and confidence to take on any challenge. They are ready for anything.
To learn more about Rosseau Lake College, please visit: https://www.rosseaulakecollege.com.
The Position
Rosseau Lake College (RLC) seeks an experienced, student-centred Director of Boarding Life to provide strategic leadership, operational oversight, and exceptional pastoral care for the school’s boarding program.
This leadership role is central to shaping the lived experience of students outside the classroom and ensuring that RLC’s boarding environment is safe, inclusive, developmentally supportive, and deeply aligned with the school’s mission, values, and strategic priorities.
The Director of Boarding Life is responsible for the quality, culture, safety, and daily functioning of the boarding community and plays a critical role in delivering RLC’s holistic educational experience.
The position reports to the Deputy Head of School and works closely with academic leadership, student support services, operations, admissions, and co-curricular programs.
Reports To
Deputy Head of School
Direct Reports
Head House Parents (4)
Assistant House Parents (4)
Boarding Life Dons (4–5)
Boarding Life Coordinator (1)
(Structure may evolve with program growth)
Compensation & Benefits
Salary range: $53,778 – $110,353 CAD annually as per the RLC faculty salary grid, commensurate with experience and qualifications.
In addition, the role includes:
- On-campus housing (equivalent to 4 residential units)
- Meal plan while on duty
- Comprehensive benefits package and pension participation
- Professional development support
Core Competencies
- Student-centred leadership
- High emotional intelligence
- Sound judgment and discretion
- Crisis management capability
- Collaborative leadership style
- Cultural competence
- Integrity and professionalism
- Strong organizational and time-management skills
- Flexibility, resilience, and adaptability
- Commitment to wellbeing and ethical practice
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership & Program Development
- Provide vision and leadership for the boarding program in alignment with RLC’s Strategic Plan (ELEVATE: Rooted in Place, Learning with Purpose).
- Design, evaluate, and continuously improve boarding policies, structures, and programming.
- Establish short- and long-term goals for boarding life that support student success and institutional priorities.
- Contribute to whole-school planning and leadership discussions.
- Identify and advocate for initiatives that strengthen boarding life and the student experience.
Student Wellbeing & Pastoral Care
- Serve as the school’s leader for boarding student wellbeing and pastoral care.
- Foster a culture of safety, dignity, trust, and inclusion within the boarding community.
- Create an environment where every boarding student feels known, supported, and connected to trusted adults.
- Establish and oversee systems for monitoring student wellbeing, engagement, behaviour, and belonging.
- Lead responses to behavioural and well-being concerns using restorative, developmentally appropriate practices.
- Facilitates mentorship and guidance with the House Parents to students during transitions, challenges, and periods of growth.
- Collaborate closely with academic leadership, counselling/wellbeing services, the Health Centre, advisors, and boarding staff to ensure coordinated support.
- Serve as a senior point of contact for complex student situations and sensitive family communication.
- Participate as a core member of the RLC Wellness Team.
- Serve in loco parentis for boarding students.
Rosseau Roots & Values in Boarding Life
The Director of Boarding Life actively models and embeds the Rosseau Roots values throughout boarding life:
- Cultivate a culture grounded in respect, kindness, responsibility, and integrity
- Encourage empathy, service, and care for the natural environment
- Support independence, resilience, confidence, and healthy risk-taking
- Creates a strong sense of belonging for students from diverse backgrounds
- Reinforce mutual accountability and compassion as foundations of community life
The boarding program should reflect the same warmth, intentionality, and sense of purpose that defines RLC’s academic and co-curricular experiences.
Staffing, Supervision & Professional Development
- Recruit, onboard, train, supervise, and evaluate all boarding staff, including house parents, assistant house parents, boarding life dons, and coordinators.
- Establish clear expectations, schedules, duty rotations, and accountability structures.
- Provide coaching, mentorship, and professional development.
- Conduct formal performance evaluations and maintain documentation.
- Chair regular Boarding Life team meetings and leadership check-ins.
- Ensure adequate staffing coverage and compliance with duty-of-care requirements.
Operations & Risk Management
- Oversee daily boarding operations including routines, supervision schedules, meals check-ins, weekend programming, and transportation.
- Review nightly duty reports and follow up on concerns.
- Communicate to students and families long-weekend and holiday transportation arrangements.
- Liaise with Facilities, Operations, and Food Services to support boarding needs.
- Co-develop and maintain with appropriate staff emergency response procedures (medical, behavioural, environmental, safeguarding).
- Lead risk assessment and incident management within the boarding community.
- Ensure compliance with health, safety, child protection, and regulatory standards.
Community Building & Student Engagement
- Design and support meaningful traditions, events, and boarding programming (e.g., holiday dinners, community celebrations).
- Promote positive peer relationships and intercultural understanding.
- Support formal student leadership structures, including the Boarding Life Committee and House Representatives.
- Collaborate with Athletics and Co-Curricular leadership to integrate evening and weekend activities.
- Actively participate in whole-school events and community life.
Parent & Family Communication
- Serve as the emergency contact for boarding families.
- Communicate, in collaboration with House Parents, boarding life opportunities and student wellbeing, progress, and expectations.
- Support family transitions into and out of boarding at RLC.
- Collaborate with external agencies when appropriate.
Admissions & Advancement Support
- Partner with Admissions to support recruitment and retention of boarding students.
- On occasion, participate in campus tours, interviews, and admissions events.
- Support Advancement and alumni initiatives related to boarding life and student experience.
Teaching & Learning
- 2 out of 6 units will be allocated to a teaching assignment
Qualifications and Experience Required
- Bachelor’s degree (Education, Counselling, Psychology, Leadership, or related field preferred)
- 3–5+ years of experience in boarding or boarding education environments
- Demonstrated leadership of staff and complex student communities
- Strong understanding of adolescent development and mental health
- Excellent communication and organizational skills
- Valid Ontario G-class driver’s licence (F-class an asset)
Preferred
- Experience in CAIS or CIS Ontario schools
- Teacher training or postgraduate education
- Training in restorative practices, safeguarding, or trauma-informed care
- Experience working with international students
- First Aid / CPR certification
- Outdoor education or technical certifications
Relationships & Workplace Requirements and Conditions
- Full-time, 10-month position
- Required to live on campus
- Evening, overnight, and weekend work required
- Participation in on-call rotation and boarding duty coverage
- High visibility and engagement with students outside traditional school hours
- Occasional travel for professional development or recruitment
Qualified candidates are encouraged to apply and express their interest at careers@rosseaulakecollege.com
Rosseau Lake College is committed to providing accommodations for persons with disabilities. Please contact Michelle Archer at 705-732-4351 for further details or if you require any information in an alternate format.