LU Shepherd - Office of Spiritual Development

Liberty University; Lynchburg (VA); On-site; USD 45,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

Liberty University is seeking an LU Shepherd to provide spiritual guidance, mentoring, and crisis support for male students. You will oversee a large group of student leaders, offer pastoral counseling, and coordinate with campus staff to promote holistic development.

The role requires a four-year degree with experience in university settings; a Master’s degree is preferred. On-site work with an on-call schedule and involvement in convocations are expected to support the university’s mission.

Qualifications

• Four-year college degree, with previous work experience with college-aged students in a church or university setting.
• Master’s degree in related field preferred.
• Proficient English communication, both written and spoken.

Responsibilities

• Provide spiritual counseling, life-skills direction, and mentoring to male students.
• Maintain authorized access to male residence halls as needed.
• Oversee and mentor ~200 male student leaders and ~20-30 male Resident Shepherds.
• Meet with male students one-on-one for pastoral counseling.
• Engage and interact with male students daily as mentor/discipler.
• Assist in Memorial Services planning and review incident reports per FERPA.
• Contact parents when warranted and provide information to prospective students.
• Participate in convocations and Bible studies; work as a team member to support LU’s mission.

Skills

Public speaking

Written communication

English proficiency

Organizational skills

Computer skills

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree

Job description

An LU Shepherd provides accountability, biblical guidance, mentoring, discipleship, life-skills training, and pastoral care to Liberty University students. The LU Shepherd reports to and assists the Associate Director of LU Shepherd and Director(s) of LU Shepherd in fulfilling the university’s mission of spiritual formation and student support. LU Shepherds are responsible for providing direction and support during crisis, emergency medical, and chaplaincy situations and participate in a rotating 24-hour on-call schedule as assigned. Additionally, LU Shepherds maintain accurate electronic records of student situations and contribute to the development, planning, and implementation of educational programs that promote holistic spiritual development across the student population.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide appropriate spiritual counseling, life-skills direction, and mentoring to male students, referring them for professional counseling as necessary. Maintain authorized access to male residence halls as needed to ensure effective student care.
• Be direct point of contact for approximately 20-30 male Resident Shepherds and pour into these individuals.
• Oversee a group of approximately 200 male student leaders and provide, mentoring, discipleship and spiritual support to them as they provide peer-to-peer support to students that live in their halls.
• Meet with male students one-on-one, providing pastoral counseling and other spiritual support.
• Engage and interact with male students on a daily basis, serving as mentor/discipler through events, meetings, activities, or groups.
• Assist in facilitating and planning Memorial Services for students who have passed away, as requested by Director.
• Review and follow-up on Incident Reports and Liberty Emergency Services Reports for matters requiring immediate attention (hospitalization, suicidal language, sickness, family emergency, death, assault, spiritual warfare, etc.).
• Contact and correspond with parents when warranted (physical, social, psychological, spiritual, academic, or discipline related issues), while following FERPA guidelines.
• Provide information and assistance to prospective students and visitors.
• Assist administration with student-related issues/resolutions (Chancellor, President, Student Advocate, International Student Office, etc.).
• Collect, monitor, and review assessment related data and report documents.
• Act as liaison to faculty, staff and administration in regard to student related problems.
• Attend all convocations/Campus Community — Fill role of counselors for students who respond to altar calls.
• Hospital visitation for student population.
• Works effectively as a team member, embracing and fostering LU’s mission.
• Assist Executive Director and Director with other various duties and functions as deemed appropriate.
• Serve as pastoral support for weekly university convocations and Bible studies.
• Provide premarital and marital counseling for students and staff.

REQUIRED & PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS AND CREDENTIALS

Education and Experience

Four-year college degree, with previous work experience with college-aged students in a church or university setting. A working knowledge of student issues and educational trends, as they relate to higher education, is necessary.

Preferred Experience

Master’s degree in related field.

ABILITIES AND COMPETENCIES ESSENTIAL TO THE FUNCTION OF THE JOB

Communication and Comprehension

• Ability to effectively communicate both verbally and in writing to convey clear, well-articulated information.
• Ability to understand, speak, and write English in order to convey messages and correspond in an articulate and professional manner.
• Possess public communication skills that allow professional representation of Liberty University to a variety of business and community customers and associates.
• Strong organizational skills.
• Excellent computer skills.

Problem Solving

• Intuitively able to reason, analyze information and events, and apply judgment in order to solve problems of both a routine and complex nature.

Physical and Sensory Abilities

• Occasionally required to travel.
• Frequently required to sit for extended periods to perform desk work or type on a keyboard.
• Regularly required to hear and speak in order to effectively communicate orally.
• Occasionally required to stand, walk, and climb stairs to move about the building.
• Handle materials, reach overhead, kneel or stoop in order to conduct business.
• Regularly lift 10 or fewer pounds.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Work Environment

The working environment in which one will typically perform the essential functions of this position is a climate-controlled office setting. It is well lighted and the noise level is moderate.

Driving Requirements

Use of one’s personal vehicle (or LU vehicles) is required for travel in the performance of the essential functions of this position. Proof of a valid Virginia driver’s license, an acceptable DMV record, and liability insurance is required.

Time Type

Full time

Location

Onsite - Remote Capable

Pay Range

Compensation is determined based on factors such as qualifications, experience, education, skills, and certifications, along with University needs and external market conditions. Market benchmarks may be used, as appropriate, in combination with internal equity to ensure pay is fair and aligned with the broader compensation structure.

The position may also be eligible for comprehensive benefits, including health insurance, retirement plans, and tuition assistance.

$45,000.00 - $55,000.00

The University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We believe itis our moral and legal obligation to meet the responsibility offensuring that all management practices regarding employees areconducted in a nondiscriminatory manner. In compliance with TitleVII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, and other applicable federal andstate statutes, all recruiting, hiring, training, and promoting forall job classifications will be administered without regard torace, color, ancestry, age, sex, national origin, pregnancy orchildbirth, disability, military veteran status or other applicablestatus protected by law, including state of employment protectedclasses. It is, therefore, our policy and intention to evaluate allemployees and prospective employees strictly according to therequirements of the job. All personnel related activities such ascompensation, benefits, transfers, job classification, assignments,working conditions, educational assistance,termations, layoffs,and return from layoffs, and all other terms, conditions andprivileges of employment will be administered without regard torace, color, ancestry, age, sex, national origin, pregnancy orchildbirth, disability, military veteran status or other applicablestatus protected by law, including all applicable state ofemployment protected classes. The University is a Christianreligious-affiliated organization; and as such, is not subject toreligious discrimination requirements. The University’s hiringpractices and EEO discrimination practices are in full compliancewith both federal and state law. Federal law creates an exceptionto the “religion” component of the employment discrimination lawsfor religious organizations (including educational institutions),and permits them to give employment practice preference to membersof their own religious beliefs.