Boarding Lead
Eastwood Montreux - Montreux, Switzerland
Reports to: Head of School
Contract: Full-time, residential
Start Date: August 3, 2026
The Opportunity
Eastwood Montreux is a newly founded international secondary school committed to developing globally minded, entrepreneurial, and purpose-driven young people.
We are seeking a founding Boarding Lead who wants to help build a residential community from the ground up. This is not a role where systems already exist and simply need to be maintained. It is a rare opportunity to design the culture, structures, and traditions of a boarding program from the very beginning.
The Boarding Lead will play a central role in shaping the school's residential experience and student culture. This person will oversee student wellbeing, pastoral care, and the day-to-day life of the boarding community while also building the systems, routines, and traditions that will define the program for years to come.
This role requires someone who combines strategic vision with practical execution. In the early years of a startup school, leadership is both architectural and hands-on.
Key ResponsibilitiesBoarding Vision & Culture
- Design and implement the structure and culture of the Eastwood boarding program.
- Establish routines, expectations, and traditions that create a strong sense of belonging and responsibility.
- Ensure boarding life aligns closely with the school's educational mission.
Student Wellbeing & Pastoral Care
- Own the overall responsibility for the safety, welfare, and personal development of all boarding students.
- Build a pastoral care framework in which every student is known and supported by trusted adults.
- Work closely with academic staff and parents to support student wellbeing and development.
- Ensure safeguarding practices meet the highest international standards.
Boarding Operations
- Develop boarding policies, procedures, and student handbooks.
- Oversee daily residential operations, including duty rotas, room allocation, supervision, and student logistics.
- Coordinate arrivals, departures, and travel arrangements.
- Liaise with facilities, catering, and health services to ensure a safe and comfortable environment.
Team Leadership
- Train and lead the residential staff team as the school grows.
- Support house parents and boarding staff through coaching and professional development.
- Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, and care.
Student Life
- Develop a rich program of activities, trips, and weekend experiences.
- Encourage student leadership and responsibility within the boarding community.
- Work with academic colleagues to support study routines and student success.
Parent Relationships
- Serve as a key contact for boarding families.
- Build trust through open communication and strong pastoral care.
- Support admissions efforts during visits from prospective boarding families.
A Startup Environment
Eastwood Montreux is a startup school. This means the Boarding Lead will help build systems while also running them.
In the early years, this may involve responsibilities that would be delegated in larger schools. A successful candidate will be comfortable combining leadership with hands-on involvement in residential life.
Above all, this role requires someone who enjoys building something meaningful from the ground up and is energized by the challenges, uncertainties, and opportunities it brings.
What Success Looks Like
After the first academic year, the boarding program should feel structured, warm, and intentionally designed - not improvised. Students feel known, supported, and proud of their community.
Within the first 6–12 months, the Boarding Lead will have:
- Established a safe, well-run, and happy residential environment with clear routines and supervision structures.
- Built a strong sense of belonging and community among boarders.
- Created the foundational policies and systems required for a sustainable boarding program.
- Recruited, developed, and retained a committed residential staff team.
- Earned the trust and confidence of families.
Qualifications & Experience
- Significant experience working in a boarding school environment, ideally in a senior residential or leadership role.
- Strong understanding of pastoral care and adolescent development.
- Experience managing residential life programs or student life operations.
- Demonstrated ability to lead and develop teams.
- Strong communication and relationship-building skills.
- International school experience is valued.
- Fluency in English required; French is an advantage.
While experience and qualifications matter, character and alignment with the school's mission are equally, if not more, important.
Character Traits We Look For
At Eastwood Montreux, who you are matters as much as what you have done.
- Builder’s Mindset – You enjoy creating systems, culture, and community from the ground up.
- Ownership – You take responsibility for outcomes and step forward when something needs to be done.
- Student-Centered Care – You genuinely care about young people and their development.
- Warmth & Authority – You combine kindness and approachability with clear expectations.
- Resilience – You have the stamina and emotional balance that residential life requires.
- Collaborative Leadership – You work closely and constructively with colleagues across the school.
- Integrity & Judgment – Students, parents, and colleagues trust your decisions.
You can demonstrate these traits by:
- Sharing a specific example of a program, team, or initiative you built from scratch — what it looked like at the start, what it looks like now, and what you learned.
- Telling us about a student you supported through a difficult moment, and what your role looked like beyond the obvious.
- Describing a time you held a high standard with a student or colleague when it would have been easier not to.
- Showing us how you've evolved as an educator — a belief you held five years ago that you no longer hold, and why.
- Pointing to feedback you've received (from students, parents, or colleagues) that shaped how you work.
- Telling us about a colleague you've helped grow, and what your contribution actually was.
Eastwood Montreux Is Likely a Great Fit If…
- You are excited by the opportunity to build a boarding program from the ground up.
- You enjoy combining strategy with hands-on involvement in student life.
- You care deeply about helping young people grow through a residential community.
- You thrive in dynamic environments where flexibility and initiative are valued.
This Role Is Probably Not a Fit If…
- You prefer environments where systems are already fully established.
- You are looking primarily for a managerial role removed from day-to-day boarding life.
- You are uncomfortable with the ambiguity and pace of a startup school.
- You do not enjoy the evening and weekend rhythm of residential life.
Why Join Eastwood Montreux
- Help build a boarding program from the ground up
- Shape the culture and traditions of a new international school
- Be surrounded by high-energy, high-impact people who will bring the best out of you
- Join a founding team committed to building something meaningful
- Live and work in Montreux and the Lake Geneva region, one of Switzerland’s most beautiful regions
Rémunération : CHF60 000,00 à CHF70 000,00 par an
Avantages :
- Indemnité de repas
- Pension d'entreprise
- Subvention pour l'utilisation des transports publics
Lieu du poste : En présentiel
