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

• Serve as the primary point of contact for approximately 25-35 Resident Shepherds, providing intentional mentoring, discipleship, and spiritual leadership.
• Oversee and support a group of approximately 200 student leaders by providing mentoring, discipleship, and spiritual guidance as they provide peer-to-peer support to students that live in the residence halls.
• 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.).
• Provide appropriate spiritual counseling, life-skills direction and mentoring to students, making referrals to Liberty Pastoral Counseling & Care staff or professional counseling as necessary.
• Engage and interact with students on a daily basis, serving as mentor/discipler through events, meetings, activities, or groups.
• Contact and correspond with parents when warranted (physical, social, psychological, spiritual, academic, or discipline related issues), while following FERPA guidelines.
• Serves as pastoral support for Convocations as well as Campus Community.
• Serves as a pastoral and administrative leader within the university, providing mentoring, biblical guidance, and support to students while liaising with university stakeholders (e.g., Chancellor, President, Student Advocate Office, International Student Office, etc.) as needed.
• Assist with hospital visitation and crisis support for student leaders, as needed.
• Provide premarital and marital counseling for students, as needed.
• Provide information and assistance to prospective students and visitors.
• Collect, monitor, and review assessment related data report documents.
• Assist Executive Director and Director with other various duties and functions as deemed appropriate.
• Strictly adheres to Liberty University policies, representing the University in an exemplary manner.
• Works effectively as a team member, embracing and fostering LU’s Christian model and Mission – Training Champions for Christ.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES  

None.

QUALIFICATIONS AND CREDENTIALS

Education and Experience

• Four-year college degree
• 1-2 years+ 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.

To obtain LU-approved driver certification, individuals must be 21 years of age or older, possess a valid driver’s license with a minimum of five (5) years of documented driving history, and maintain a clean driving record.

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.
• Strong organizational skills.
• 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 to local and campus locations.

• Regularly required to sit to perform deskwork or type on a keyboard.
• Regularly required to hear and speak in order to effectively communicate orally.
• Regularly required to stand, walk, and climb stairs to move about the campus.
• 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 setting. It is well lighted, and the noise level is moderate.  Working environment may include facilitation of events outdoors occasionally.

Driving Requirements

Use of one’s personal vehicle (or LU vehicles) may be 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

 

 

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.