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. 

• Oversees a group of approximately 200 male student leaders and provides, mentoring, discipleship and spiritual support to them as they provide peer-to-peer support to students that live in their halls. 

• Meets 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 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.

• Serves as pastoral support for weekly university convocations and Bible studies.

• Provides 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 deskwork 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 it is our moral and legal obligation to meet the responsibility of ensuring that all management practices regarding employees are conducted in a nondiscriminatory manner. In compliance with Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, and other applicable federal and state statutes, all recruiting, hiring, training, and promoting for all job classifications will be administered without regard to race, color, ancestry, age, sex, national origin, pregnancy or childbirth, disability, military veteran status or other applicable status protected by law, including state of employment protected classes. It is, therefore, our policy and intention to evaluate all employees and prospective employees strictly according to the requirements of the job. All personnel related activities such as compensation, benefits, transfers, job classification, assignments, working conditions, educational assistance, terminations, layoffs, and return from layoffs, and all other terms, conditions and privileges of employment will be administered without regard to race, color, ancestry, age, sex, national origin, pregnancy or childbirth, disability, military veteran status or other applicable status protected by law, including all applicable state of employment protected classes. The University is a Christian religious-affiliated organization; and as such, is not subject to religious discrimination requirements. The University’s hiring practices and EEO discrimination practices are in full compliance with both federal and state law. Federal law creates an exception to the “religion” component of the employment discrimination laws for religious organizations (including educational institutions), and permits them to give employment practice preference to members of their own religious beliefs.