House Director - Benfica Residential Academy

Job Description Summary

The inaugural House Director (there will be two) will serve as the key point of contact and live-in support for elite high-school age soccer players living in a residence hall on a college campus as part of the Benfica Residential Academy. As an integral live-on member of the Residence Life team, the House Director strives to foster a safe, collaborative, and engaging living learning community for high school age boarding students. The House Director promotes students’ academic and personal growth through intentional positive interactions, promoting student responsibility and accountability, programmatic educational initiatives, and community development. The House Director is a main point of contact for students and their families. The House Director compassionately and effectively manages a wide variety of emergency and communal living related situations. The House Director will routinely work nights, weekends, and holidays with non-working hours primarily during business hours. The House Director provides direction, supervision and leadership to Graduate Assistants and Resident Assistants.

Job Description

Duties and Tasks:

Note: The following duties are illustrative and not exhaustive.  The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar or related or a logical assignment to the position.   Management may require incumbents to perform duties other than those contained in this document.

House Director, Benfica Residential Academy

• Develop and implement policies and procedures addressing the daily living and safety requirements of high school age boarding students living in a residence hall on a college campus
• Develop and implement policies and procedures for all administrative processes including check-in/check-out; move-in/move-out; sick days; travel home; guests; visitation; curfew; conduct and emergency situations
• Develop and implement student and parent communication mechanisms
• Work closely with the Project Manager, External Business Operations; Benfica Residential Academy Director and staff; Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School administrative point person and faculty; and Saint Leo departments in providing excellence in care, safety, individual attention and development, and support of Benfica Residential Academy students
• Develop and implement policies/procedures for student activities, events, and trips including participation in university activities, supervision, safety plans, etc.
• Develop and implement policies/procedures for health and wellness
• Serve as the “house parent” for high school age students away from home, often for the first time, using compassion, strong interpersonal skills, friendliness, optimism, patience, mediation, problem solving skills and clear expectations

Student Conduct and Crisis

• Develop and deliver a diverse range of educational preventive programs
• Administer all aspects of the conduct process
• Actively demonstrate sensitivity to the concerns and developmental needs of students while helping students understand violations of policies/procedures
• Serve as a competent and professional liaison by fostering positive intentional interactions with all offices and divisions of the University, including most commonly University Safety, Student Health Services, Dining Services, and Facilities, as well as Benfica Residential Academy staff, and Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School faculty and staff
• Serve on the University’s Care Team, which is a multidisciplinary team that identifies students who may be at risk and helps them achieve success.
• Serve as essential and on-call personnel in preparing for, responding to, and addressing the recovery from student or campus-wide crisis issues and those issues related to university safety.
• Serve as on-site crisis operations team with responsibility for Benfica students before, during, and after the crisis, including as point person for the students within the hurricane shelter during storms
• Serve as an exemplary role model and representative of the Office of Residence Life to a variety of audiences including students, families, faculty, alumni, employers, local community, and vendors.
• Other duties as assigned.

Residence Life

• Assess residents’ needs and assist resident assistants in the development of engaging programs within the residence hall.
• Be responsible for all aspects of the residence hall including access, safety features, facilities liaison, front desk supervision, roommate assignments, move-in, move-out, and holiday times.

• Teach and role model the University Core Values in all aspects of the position.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES: (Please list specific requirements)

Knowledge:

• Knowledge of FERPA, Title IX, Clery Act, and Campus Save Act (including VAWA – Violence Against Women’s Act).

• Demonstrated ability to develop creative and innovative programs and services.

• Experience with high school age students, preferably in a boarding environment
• Demonstrated commitment to Catholic Benedictine values and the values of Saint Leo University

Skills:

• Commitment to developing residential learning communities and student development
• Possess strong supervisory skills and organizational skills.
• Able to coach and motivate staff and student employees
• Ability to analyze complex situations and to make sound judgments and decisions
• Excel at strategically planning and carrying out complex programs, events, and services
• Ability to perform with integrity in every situation
• Skilled at engaging diverse others- individually and in groups, directly and through writing, social media, and use of technology

Abilities:

• High energy professional that excels at conceptualizing and implementing, customer service, community building, communicating in various venues and modalities, effectively engaging students and staff
• Ability to effectively manage interpersonal communication in a team environment
• Ability to balance many tasks and responsibilities simultaneously and consistently meet or beat deadlines
• Ability to manage time and stress for self and others
• Ability to conceptualize needed improvements or new initiatives, gain buy-in and collaboration, and implement them effectively and efficiently
• Ability to address conflict in a calm, deescalating, solutions focused manner
• Ability to creatively problem solve issues with students, families, and others and work diligently until there is a fair and compassionate resolution

EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS / QUALIFICATIONS: (Please list specific credential requirements)

• Prefer: Master’s degree in Education or related field from a regionally accredited college or university
• Prefer: Direct experience in a residence life or boarding academy environment
• Required: Bachelor’s degree or actively pursuing degree plus direct, relevant experience; experience working with high school age students; ability to effectively address crisis situations involving students; highly organized; exceptional interpersonal skills; effective and efficient work ethic; alignment with Saint Leo values; role model for minors; diplomatic and professional communication and problem solving
• Required: must pass a robust background check in order to work with minors

Physical Demands: 

• Will need to be able to stand for extended periods
• Will need to be able to walk up/down multiple flights of stairs
• Will need to be able to lift up to 50 pounds

Why Work at Saint Leo?

What it’s Like to Work Here: Ask our employees and the one word they’d use to describe working at Saint Leo University is “Community.” Our team members all share the Saint Leo core values, positive attitudes, and problem-solving abilities, enabling them to provide excellent student centered service. Our mission is educating and preparing students for life and leadership in a challenging world.  Thank you for your interest in joining the Saint Leo PRIDE!

We are committed to providing our employees with the support they need. At Saint Leo, we offer an array of medical, dental, and vision packages as well as several add-on perks to make your benefits package truly customizable to you and your family needs. Available benefits based on employment status (Full Time vs Part Time).

• FREE Tuition - Employee, Spouse, and Dependents*
• Tuition Exchange Opportunity - Dependent of Employees*
• Generous Paid Leave - Sick, Vacation, and Holidays
• Comprehensive Group Health Plan (Medical, Dental, and Vision)
• Group Medical Plan includes Teledoc, Surgery Plus, Wellness Incentive Program and more!
• 100% Employer-Funded Health Reimbursement Account
• 100% Employer-Paid Short Term Disability Insurance
• 100% Employer-Funded Employee Assistance Program (healthcare and dependent options)
• Employer-provided life insurance
• Discounted On-Campus Dining Meal Plans
• Nationwide Pet Insurance
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• 403b Retirement Plan
• Wellness Center

*Eligibility based on meeting required service period

2025 ICUBA Benefits Guide_St Leo