House Director - Prospective Candidates

HOUSE DIRECTOR

About Shawnigan Lake School

Shawnigan Lake School is a leading independent, co-educational boarding and day school (Grades 8–12) on Vancouver Island. Home to a vibrant campus where 90% of students board and over 60 staff members live on-site. Our community thrives on deep dedication and shared connection. Boarding staff play a pivotal role in the Shawnigan Journey, a transformative path that cultivates personal excellence and empowers ambitious young minds across our 10 distinct boarding houses.

The House Director is the primary adult figure in a boarder’s daily life. While among the most demanding roles in independent education, it is equally one of the most rewarding leadership opportunities available.

We are inviting exceptional leaders with strong pastoral instincts, emotional intelligence, extensive boarding experience, and professional drive to apply for future House Director positions. We invite inspiring mentors to help shape the future of boarding life at Shawnigan during an era of energy, growth, and excellence.

For more information about boarding at Shawnigan, please visit our Boarding at Shawnigan Lake School page.

About the Role: House Director

The House Director operates in loco parentis, taking primary responsibility for the safety, well-being, personal growth, and conduct of up to 50–60 boarding students. House Directors model the highest standards of personal integrity, professionalism, and empathy, serving as visible role models across campus.

The primary objective of the House Director is to foster a safe, inclusive, structured, and welcoming environment where students feel valued, supported, and empowered to thrive in all areas of school life.

Key Responsibilities

• Safeguarding & Student Welfare: Prioritize safety, emotional health, and overall well-being of all students in the House.
• Student Supervision: Serve as the primary, trusted adult figure providing daily pastoral care and holistic support in place of parents.
• Fostering House Culture: Cultivate a positive, inclusive House environment that builds character, resilience, self-advocacy, and a strong sense of belonging.
• Leading House Teams: Direct, schedule, and mentor the boarding staff, including the Assistant House Director, Housekeeper, and duty staff.
• Parental Partnership: Maintain frequent, open, and proactive communication with parents and guardians regarding student growth and pastoral concerns.
• Presence & Availability: Provide visible, reliable leadership within the house, including on-call emergency duty and maintaining a visible and reassuring presence.
• Student Accountability & Leave Tracking: Oversee daily student sign-ins, leave approvals, and record-keeping through the REACH management system.
• Discipline & Behavioral Standards: Enforce fair, consistent house discipline, uniform standards, and school policies in alignment with school leadership.
• Cross-Departmental Collaboration: Coordinate regularly with Student Advisors, the Health Centre, Wellbeing Centre, Counseling, Academics, and Education Management team.

• Operations & Facilities Safety: Ensure safety compliance (fire/earthquake drills), manage the house budget, report facility maintenance needs, and produce the annual House Handbook.

Candidate Profile

We invite applications from dynamic, empathetic, and dedicated professionals with proven boarding or pastoral experience who thrive in a fast-paced, full-boarding school culture.

Essential Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Education, Psychology, Counseling, or a related field.
• Current emergency first aid certificate.
• Demonstrated leadership experience within a boarding environment (e.g., Assistant House Director, House Director, or other senior boarding role).
• Recognized teaching credential (e.g., BC Teaching Certificate or equivalent national/international teaching qualification) is an asset.
• Deep understanding of adolescent development, mental health, and modern safeguarding best practices.
• Strong interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills across diverse audiences (students, parents, staff).

Personal Attributes

• High emotional intelligence, empathy, warmth, and resilience.
• Uncompromising personal standards and visible integrity.
• Ability to work calmly, decisively, and effectively under pressure in a 24/7 boarding context.
• Energy and enthusiasm to contribute actively to co-curricular or sports programming.

Compensation, Accommodation & Benefits

Shawnigan Lake School greatly values its employees and offers a comprehensive compensation package.

For more information, explore our Why Shawnigan page.

Application & Recruitment Process

Interested candidates are invited to submit their application package, including a cover letter addressed to

Bill Nicholas, Deputy Head of School, via the "apply for this job" button located in the top right hand corner of this page.

To ensure all applications are given equal consideration, please note that we are unable to accept submissions via email.

We welcome applications from international candidates. Please note that candidates are responsible for researching, navigating, and securing their own valid legal authorization to work in Canada prior to starting employment.

Safeguarding Statement: Shawnigan Lake School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff (and volunteers) to share this commitment. Candidates will be required to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with previous employers and a vulnerable sector criminal record check.

Equity & Diversity: Shawnigan Lake School is an equal opportunity employer committed to establishing an inclusive, equitable, and accessible environment for all. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, age, sex, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status or any other basis protected by applicable law.

Life on Vancouver Island

Situated on a stunning 270-acre lakefront campus in the Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island, Shawnigan Lake School offers an unmatched lifestyle. Surrounded by pristine wilderness, mountains, and lakes, staff enjoy world-class outdoor recreation, including rowing, hiking, mountain biking, sailing, and skiing, while remaining within easy driving distance of Victoria (45 minutes) and Nanaimo.