JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Details

Role: Residential Advisor (RA)

Location: Thornwood, New York

Reports to: Deputy Head of School for Student Life

Compensation: $17 per hour

Overview

The Residential Advisor (RA) supports the social, emotional, and academic well-being of students within the boarding community. RAs serve as frontline mentors and role models, contributing to a safe, inclusive, and structured residential environment. Through consistent supervision, relationship-building, and collaboration with Dorm Parents and the Residential Life Team, RAs help promote accountability, positive decision-making, and community engagement among students.

Residential Advisors play a vital role in daily residential operations and student support, ensuring that EF Academy’s boarding values are lived and experienced by students every day.

Professional Qualifications and Qualities

• Experience working with adolescents in educational, residential, camp, or caregiving environments.
• Interest in student well-being, mentorship, and community building.
• Strong communication, organization, and interpersonal skills.
• Commitment to a positive, inclusive boarding environment and comfort working with a diverse, international student population.
• Willingness to work evenings, weekends, and overnight shifts and follow guidance from senior residential staff.
• Valid driver’s license and ability to safely operate Academy vehicles, including passenger vans, as needed

Key Role Responsibilities

Student Support & Supervision

• Supervise boarding students in assigned residence halls and support daily routines, including check-ins, study halls, curfews, and weekend coverage.
• Monitor student behavior and well-being, reporting concerns through Orah and supervising staff.
• Respond appropriately to student needs, emergencies, and medical situations as directed.
• Reinforce residential policies, expectations, and community standards consistently and professionally.

Community & Relationship Building

• Build positive, respectful relationships with students and serve as a point of contact during assigned duty hours.
• Foster an inclusive, supportive residential community and encourage positive peer interactions and healthy conflict resolution.
• Support hall meetings, residential activities, and community-building programs.
• Collaborate with Dorm Parents, faculty, and Residential Life staff to support students.

Role Modeling & Student Development

• Model professionalism, responsible behavior, and healthy boundaries.
• Encourage student leadership, independence, accountability, self-care, and community responsibility.
• Support restorative conversations and conflict resolution under the guidance of Dorm Parents.
• Assist with student orientation, arrivals, departures, and transitions while promoting cultural awareness and respect.

Working Hours & Expectations

• Full-time, hourly, 10-month, live-in residential position with accommodation provided as part of compensation.
• Requires rotating evening, weekend, and overnight duty shifts, with additional coverage for student arrivals/departures, special events, emergencies, and public holidays as needed.
• Additional responsibilities may include operating Academy vehicles, student transportation, campus rounds, and supervision of student spaces beyond residence halls.
• Flexibility and a professional, responsive approach are expected within a 24/7 boarding school environment.

About EF Education First

EF is committed to cultural immersion and international education, fostering a diverse and inclusive community. EF welcomes individuals from all backgrounds and is an equal-opportunity employer.

For more information, visit https://www.ef.com

ABOUT US

Some companies are in the business of banking. Others are in the business of shoes. Or sports. Or soft drinks. At EF, we're in a different kind of business. One that's a little less tangible, and a lot more important. Because our business, what we make, makes everything else possible. We're in the business of understanding. Between people. Between cultures.

For over half a century we’ve been the leader in international educational programs and experiences designed to foster such understanding. Through language, cultural exchange, academic studies, and educational travel, we create the kinds of immersive experiences that challenge biases, open minds, and pave the way for a more understanding world.

You’ll find our offices and schools located in some of the world’s greatest cities, and filled with smart, driven people (over 50,000 of us) who push each other to be better every day. But it’s what we do together - building greater understanding, breaking down barriers, and creating a better world - that makes all the difference.

Founded in 1965 in Sweden, EF (Education First) is a global association of education companies that share a common mission of opening the world through education. EF has been recognized on Forbes 2025 and 2024 World’s Best Employers and 2024 Top Companies for Women lists, Fast Company’s 2025 Next Big Things In Tech, and was a 2024 App Store Award winner in Cultural Impact.

ABOUT THE TEAM

EF Academy is a leading private boarding and day high school, attracting students from around the world to our campuses in Pasadena, New York, and Oxford (England). At EF Academy, we prepare students to thrive academically, personally, and socially helping them build the confidence, skills, and sense of purpose they need to lead fulfilling, successful lives. With a focus on academic excellence, personal growth, and cultural immersion, we empower students to unlock their full potential and develop the lifelong skills they need to thrive in any future they envision.

Learn more about EF Academy: https://www.efacademy.org/

At EF Education First, we believe the world is better when people try to understand one another, a belief that has driven everything we do for over 60 years. With teams across 50+ countries, we're a community of innovators, learners, and doers working toward one mission: opening the world through education. Here you'll find vibrant culture, limitless potential, and the chance to make a real impact, one meaningful experience at a time.