LU Shepherd

Job Description Summary

An LU Shepherd provides accountability and biblical guidance to Liberty University students through life-skills training, mentoring, discipleship, and visitation. A Shepherd is directly responsible to and assists the Director of LU Shepherd and/or the Office of Spiritual Development in whatever areas deemed necessary. Furthermore, it is the responsibility of the LU Shepherd office to provide direction and support for any crisis/emergency medical and chaplaincy situations. These situations require each staff member to be on call 24 hours a day for one continuous week, typically three weeks per semester. While on-call, LU Shepherd personnel can engage in normal activities outside of working hours, but cannot leave the greater Lynchburg area. The on-call schedule is published at the beginning of each semester. LU Shepherd personnel are also responsible for updating electronic files and keeping complete and accurate record of student situations. A Shepherd is also involved in originating, planning, coordinating, and implementing educational programs and opportunities for holistic spiritual development for the student population.

Essential Functions And Responsibilities

• Provide appropriate spiritual counseling, life-skills direction and mentoring to students; referring students for professional counseling as necessary.
• Engage and Interact with 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.
• Be direct point of contact for approximately 25-35 Resident Shepherds and pour into these individuals.
• 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.
• Oversees a group of approximately 200 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.
• Serves as pastoral support for weekly university convocations and Bible studies.
• Meets with students one-on-one, providing pastoral counseling and other spiritual support.
• Provides premarital and marital counseling for students and staff and performs.
  
  
  

Qualifications, Credentials, And Competencies

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. A master's degree in a related field is preferred. Effective communication both verbally and in writing. Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite. Ability to intuitively reason, analyze information and events, and apply judgment in order to solve problems of both a routine and complex nature. Excellent computer and organizational skills. Regularly lift 10 or fewer pounds. Proof of a valid Virginia driver’s license, an acceptable DMV record, and liability insurance is required.

Disclaimer Liberty University’s hiring practices and EEO Statement are fully in 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 preference to members of their own religion. Liberty University is in that category.