The Resident Director (RD) serves as Head of one of SYA's three campuses abroad in France (Rennes), Italy (Viterbo) or Spain (Zaragoza). The year-round position includes duties similar to those of a Dean of Faculty, Academic Dean and/or Upper School Head of a small independent school. They manage a faculty and staff of 10–20 and welcome 40–70 new students each year (depending on campus). Most faculty are local to the country where the school is located, with the exception of teachers of English and mathematics, who are typically hired from SYA Member Schools or other independent schools.
This position is all-encompassing. RDs are on call 24/7 during the school year and expected to respond to issues in a timely manner, no matter what the hour. The successful candidate will be comfortable working in a dynamic environment that often requires problem solving in a culturally unfamiliar environment, flexibility and a high level of understanding and ability to work with American adolescents. A dedication to place-based and experiential education is essential, as is knowledge of best practice in education abroad. Also crucial is the ability to build and maintain a faculty community based on collaboration and constant professional development and growth.
The SYA Italy Resident Director position is based in Viterbo, Italy, and reports to the President of School Year Abroad who is based in the United States. This position officially starts on July 1, 2025; it is offered by annual contract, with our goal to have RDs serve for multiple years.
REQUIREMENTS Organizational Leadership Proactively identify and mitigate school risks in line with SYA policies, with an intense focus on students' safety and well-being; Plan, implement and oversee the day-to-day operations of the school; Manage and mitigate risks for their student body with an intense focus on student safety and well-being; Serve as a model of adaptability to a foreign culture for both students and American faculty, organizing orientation for new students and providing advice and moral support throughout the year; Uphold the highest standards of student behavior; Work with the SYA President as well as other Resident Directors to identify needed changes, additions and improvements to SYA academic and co-curricular programs; Participate in frequent meetings of Resident Directors; Promote the mission of SYA in a variety of contexts. Academic, Extracurricular and Travel Programs Uphold rigorous standards of academic work and ensure that teachers and advisors file grades and student progress reports on time; Maintain, update and/or develop appropriate handbooks of policies, procedures and expectations for students, parents and host families; Meet with faculty on a regular basis to oversee and discuss both individual student progress and overall school operations; Oversee and monitor the organization of all school educational travel; Ensure that there are adequate opportunities for both extracurricular activities as well as contacts with local students; Teach, as needed, no more than one course. Student Support Review discipline policies on a regular basis with students and staff, and direct the work of the disciplinary committee according to established policies and procedures in adjudicating student discipline cases; Work with the school's College Counseling Liaison to monitor college counseling and testing, to include composition of a complete confidential report on each student for the use of home school college counselors; Direct the work of faculty advisors to ensure that all students have adequate adult support on the SYA faculty and that problems are addressed in a timely and professional manner; Manage and resolve all student host family and health concerns in collaboration with the host family coordinator and advisory staff; Oversee and guide U.S. parent relations on a timely basis, to include regular updates as well as communications on an as-needed basis for individual students; Counsel, advise, guide, and discipline students as required; Communicate with students' home school officials as necessary; Carry out other projects and duties as necessary to enhance the student experience at SYA. Administration Oversee implementation of the budget to ensure that funds are spent and accounted for properly; Work closely with the Chief Financial Officer and the SYA President in preparing budget submissions in a manner that is inclusive of school staff; Review, update and implement all emergency plans, to include regular tests and drills; Equip and maintain SYA's school buildings and apartments. Personnel Lead the hiring process for local faculty and staff and work with the SYA President to hire U.S. teaching faculty; Carry out periodic supervision and evaluation of faculty and staff; Oversee faculty members who are in charge of extracurriculars and host family placement. Representation Represent SYA's interests and build/maintain strong relations with host families, local officials, community leaders and important community and local organizations; Communicate with, advise, and reassure American parents on a timely and as-needed basis; Collaborate with SYA's home office, assisting with the student visa process and participating in events and fundraising efforts from time to time; Maintain good communication with other Resident Directors as well as students' home schools in the U.S. QUALIFICATIONS Fluency in the local language at a native or near-native level by summer 2025, along with a strong understanding of local culture; Excellent communication skills, both spoken and written, in English; Ability to function effectively in U.S. secondary independent school culture; knowledge of grading standards, reporting procedures, disciplinary process, college applications, etc.; Ability to establish rapport with and command the respect of students, host families, faculty and colleagues in the home schools; An attitude towards students which is manifestly sympathetic in ordinary circumstances, clearly supportive in times of stress, but firmly directive when necessary; Flexibility, good humor, energy, sociability, and desire to adapt to a new culture; Ability to attend to detail with thoroughness and accuracy, to meet deadlines, and to make sure that others do so as well; A taste for practical as well as intellectual challenges and a willingness to take on unfamiliar or unanticipated chores; Experience in organizing and supervision of international educational programs; Evidence of administrative ability; Experience teaching students of high school age.
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