"LU Shepherd - Office of Spiritual Development"

LU Shepherd - Office of Spiritual Development

Company:
Liberty University

Job Location:
Lynchburg, Virginia

Category:
Religious and Spiritual Life

Type:
Full-Time

Job Number: R0009942

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 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
Lynchburg - In Office

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