Dean of Residential

Founded in 1824, Kents Hill School is one of the oldest independent co‑educational schools in the United States. Nestled on a sprawling 400‑acre campus in the heart of Central Maine, Kents Hill is a vibrant community of 225 boarding and day students, alongside 90 dedicated faculty and staff who support the school, its programs, and the student experience. In a community that is purposefully small, Kents Hill crafts an academic and co‑curricular experience where students are able to be their authentic selves and make meaningful connections.

The Dean of Residential Life, as a visible campus leader and a central leader in student life, oversees residential and community programs that foster belonging, growth, engagement, and student agency at Kents Hill School. Working closely with the Dean of Students, this role designs and implements initiatives that strengthen school culture, support well‑being, and promote leadership and responsibility for both boarding and day students.

Guided by Kents Hill’s core values of Courage, Care, Curiosity, Integrity, and Responsibility, the Dean of Residential Life serves as an empathetic, visible, and values‑driven presence on campus. The successful candidate will bring strategic vision, sound judgment, and a collaborative spirit to all aspects of community life—empowering students and colleagues alike to thrive. This is a residential position that requires an active campus presence, including evenings and weekends, to nurture a connected and caring school community, policy implementation, and organizational development, guided by integrity and collaboration.

Kents Hill School offers its teachers a comprehensive benefits package, on‑campus housing, meals in the Bibby & Harold Alfond Dining Commons for employees and their families while school is in session, and access to campus facilities and grounds including 400 acres with trail system, athletic facilities, and our on‑campus ski hill.

• Provide leadership, oversight, professional development, and mentorship for dorm heads and residential teams, fostering a safe and supportive environment that embodies care and responsibility.
• Design and implement a student life curriculum that promotes courage, curiosity, and integrity, supporting age‑appropriate growth and a positive peer culture for both our boarding and day students.
• Oversee training, scheduling, and supervision of dorm staff and duty teams, ensuring accountability and consistency.
• Manage housing logistics, including roommate pairings, room changes, move‑in/move‑out, and policy enforcement, upholding responsibility and fairness.
• Partner with dorm heads to address residential concerns and integrate day students into the community.
• Serve as a visible presence in dorms, mentoring students, and supporting daily residential life.

• Lead efforts to build a campus culture grounded in care and integrity, fostering inclusion, respect, and joy by developing student agency and ownership of the Kents Hill experience.
• Oversee student leadership and governance, cultivating courage, curiosity, and integrity among Student Council, proctors, and other student leaders.
• Plan and coordinate major student events and traditions (e.g., Fall Ball, Halloweek, Spring Fling, Prom, and similar), creating meaningful opportunities for community engagement.
• Develop and implement orientation schedules and programs to help students embrace community values and expectations, fostering care and connection from day one.
• Collaborate with the dorm and activities team to deliver evening and weekend programs that promote engagement, joy, and inclusivity.
• Continuously examine our practices through the lens of developing appropriate levels of student agency to improve the overall student experience and increase student engagement.
• Stay on the cutting edge of best practices in community life and student experience by developing and maintaining strong external professional networks, participating in relevant conferences and associations, and bringing new ideas and innovations back to strengthen our campus community.
• Oversee budgets for…