Working independently and exercising sound judgment and discretion, the Residential and Online Pastoral Care Coordinator engages directly with Liberty residential and online students through various channels. As it relates to residential students, this individual is on the frontlines of hospital visitation/chaplaincy in the event of medical situations. This person follows up with students when they return to campus to assist with/organize post-hospitalization care as needed. As it relates to online students, this role provides support such as phone, email, and online chat addressing their spiritual needs. This role assumes personal responsibility for offering prayer support, extending additional resources, and guiding students to relevant university departments and/or local churches and organizations based on their needs. The position plays a crucial role as a first line of response for concerns or red flags raised by faculty or staff related to spiritual matters involving students.  Additionally, the Online Pastoral Care Coordinator provides direct support to the LPCC Executive Director and Associate Director for Residential and Online Pastoral Care, maintaining meticulous records to ensure comprehensive and accurate documentation of student situations.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Chaplaincy Support: Hospital visitation, prayer, follow-up for residential students. Help students/families connect with on-campus departments for post-hospital accommodations and support.
• Spiritual Support: Offer prayer support, active listening, and empathetic guidance to students facing spiritual challenges.
• Resource Guidance: Help students connect with relevant LU departments and services based on their specific needs.
• Communication: Effectively communicate and collaborate with faculty and staff members to address student spiritual concerns, ensuring timely and appropriate responses.
• Documentation: Record interactions, actions taken, and outcomes, maintaining confidentiality and professionalism in all record-keeping.
• Collaboration: Assist in coordinating pastoral care efforts, sharing insights, and contributing to the overall spiritual well-being of online students.
• Independent Decision-Making: Handle student cases with sensitivity, applying appropriate interventions, and making decisions that align with the university's mission and values.
• Confidentiality: Maintain strict confidentiality regarding student information and matters of a personal or sensitive nature. Uphold ethical standards in handling student privacy and information sharing.
• Crisis Response: Be prepared to provide support during crises or emergencies, offering spiritual guidance, resources, and support to students, and collaborating with university departments as needed to ensure student well-being.
• Student Advocacy: Serve as an advocate for online students, fostering a positive environment where students feel valued, supported, and empowered in their spiritual journey and overall academic experience.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES  

There are no supervisory responsibilities with this position.

QUALIFICATIONS AND CREDENTIALS

Education and Experience

A preferred bachelor’s degree with concentration in counseling, biblical studies, communications, or 3-5 years of experience in related field. Well-developed communication and organizational skills.

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

• 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.
• Regularly required to travel to local, domestic, and international locations.

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

If the employee is required to travel in performing the duties and responsibilities of the position, the use of one’s personal vehicle (or LU vehicles) may be required for travel.  Proof of a valid driver’s license, an acceptable DMV record, LU Driving Approval, and liability insurance is required when driving in the performance of the employee’s position.  

Time Type

Location

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.