Job Posting: Chevron, England

Chevron’s Global Office of Ombuds is hiring an Ombuds Manager based in London. The full-time position reports to the Global Principal Ombuds Manager, Sana Manjeshwar and provides Ombuds services to Chevron's employees in Europe, Eurasia, Africa, Middle East. Chevron’s Ombuds program practices to IOA standards. Expatriates will not be considered for the position and travel is expected (about 30-40% time).

Chevron Selects a Regional Ombuds in London

Derrick Okonji has been hired as an Ombuds Manager in Chevron’s Global Office of Ombuds. Reporting to Sana Manjeshwar, Chevron's Global Principal Ombuds Manager, Okonji will serve employees in Europe, the Middle East, Eurasia, and Africa from his office in London. 

Job Posting: Chevron, Northern California

Chevron’s Global Office of Ombuds is hiring an Ombuds Manager based at its headquarters in San Ramon. The full-time position reports to the Global Principal Ombuds Manager, Sana Manjeshwar. It's been a dynamic year for Chevron's Ombuds program; in addition to Manjeshwar's promotion, the service has been expanded to Angola, Nigeria, Indonesia, Philippines, and Australia.

Chevron Expands Ombuds Program With New Hire in Australia

Janet Vantriet has joined Chevron’s Global Office of Ombuds as an Ombuds Manager—the multinational company’s first Ombuds role outside the U.S. Vantriet is based in Perth and will report to the Global Principal Ombuds Manager, Sana Manjeshwar.

JFF Interviews Chevron’s Ombuds

Jobs for the Future, a national nonprofit that drives change in the American workforce and education systems to achieve economic advancement for all, recently interviewed Chevron’s Principal Ombuds Manager, Sana Manjeshwar. In addition to exploring how Manjeshwar makes an impact on Chevron, the interview also traces her personal history and path to the Ombuds profession.

Job Posting: Chevron, Australia

The multinational energy company is hiring an Ombuds Manager. The full-time position is based in Perth, Western Australia and reports to Chevron's Principal Ombuds Manager, Sana Manjeshwar. The office practices to IOA standards

IOA Posts Details of 2021 Virtual Conference

The International Ombudsman Association has announced the agenda for its 16th annual conference. "Bridging the Distance: Paving the Way for Equity and Justice" (#IOA2021). The conference will offer a fully virtual program over three days, March 22-24, 2021. Registration is now open and a discount is available until the early bird deadline on February 22, 2021.

IOA Releases Detailed Agenda for 2022 Virtual Conference

For the second year in a row, the International Ombudsman Association will hold its annual conference virtually. IOA's 17th annual meeting will take place April 4 through 6, 2022. Social events will use Gather.town, a virtual world with video features. Registration has been open for a few weeks and now the detailed agenda has been posted.

Chevron Ombuds to Speak at International Ombud Expo 2024 in Botswana

Sana Manjeshwar, the Global Ombuds Manager for Chevron, will be a featured speaker at the International Ombud Expo 2024 this week in Botswana. She present virtually with Ombuds from other sectors on “Advancing the Role and Impact of the Organizational Ombuds in Africa.” Also, the International Ombuds Association has stepped up as a sponsor for the conference. (LinkedIn; International Ombud Expo.)

Chevron Ombuds Mischaracterized in Press

A federal jury in San Francisco has found Chevron Corporation liable for retaliation and wrongful termination and awarded $5.5 million to a former employee. Unfortunately, in recounting the history of the employee's case, most media reports mischaracterize the role and involvement of Chevron's ombuds:

According to her complaint, in 2001 Pande [the employee] began to suffer harassment and discrimination at the hand of Mitchell [her manager]. By March 2002 Pande complained to Mitchell's supervisor, James Johnson, about Mitchell's conduct. Johnson did not investigate, according to the complaint; rather, Pande was given three choices: leave the company, leave the group, or stay for up to 18 months and get along with Mitchell. Later she filed a formal complaint against Mitchell with a company ombudsman. (Sacramento Business Journal [emphasis added].)

In fact, Chevron's ombuds practices to IOA Standards and would not have formally received such a complaint. The misinformation appears to have originated in a written decision by the appeallate court months before the matter proceeded to trial. (Pande v. Chevron Corp., 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 3247 [subscription only].) At that point, it's hard to unring the bell.

Chevron Promotes Ombuds to Lead Office

Sana Manjeshwar has been tapped as the Principal Ombuds Manager for the multinational energy company's Global Office of Ombuds.  She succeeds Jackie Osborne and will lead a geographically dispersed team of Ombuds Managers. Manjeshwar has been an Ombuds Manager Since August 2014, when she moved from a similar position at AllianceBernstein.

Chevron's Ombuds Goes Independent

Sana Manjeshwar, Chevron's Global Principal Ombuds Manager, has left the company and formed her own Ombuds consulting firm. She was with Chevron's Ombuds program for a dozen years, with six years as the leader. Prior to that, Manjeshwar was the Ombuds for AllianceBernstein. She is a frequent speaker and advocate for Ombuds, and served on the IOA Board of Directors. (LinkedIn.)

Job Posting: Chevron, Angola

AirSwift, a multinational staffing company, is hiring an Ombuds to work with Chevron's Angola-based employees, retirees, and contractors with workplace questions and concerns. The job requires travel to and within Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo on a 28x28 schedule (28 days on, 28 days off).

American Institute of Chemical Engineers Honors New Chevron Ombuds

Earlier this month, the Fuels and Petrochemicals Division of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) presented its annual outstanding achievement award to S. Shariq Yosufzai, Chevron Corporation's new Vice President of Global Diversity, Ombuds, and University Affairs. 

Job Posting: Chevron

The multinational energy company is accepting applications for the position of Ombuds Manager, located in Houston, Texas. The position manages the Office of the Ombuds by providing employees with a safe, confidential resource and counseling Officers, Presidents, and line management.  Travel of about 30% is required.

Court Dismisses Lawsuit Against Chevron, Ombuds and Others

Last week, a U.S. Federal District Court judge in San Francisco dismissed a case filed against Chevron Corp., subsidiary companies and several employees, including the corporate Ombuds. In his complaint, Samuel Johnson alleged that discrimination and retaliation lead to his suspension and firing in 2006. Before filing the lawsuit, Johnson had consulted with Chevron's Ombuds and attempted an informal resolution with his supervisors, who were eventually named as individual defendants. The court dismissed the case on a procedural motion after determining that the plaintiff's case was factually insufficient. The case is an unpublished decision available only from subscription services. (Johnson v. Chevron Corp., 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 42422 (N.D. Cal. May 19, 2009).)

Podcast: Sana Manjeshwar on Global Ombuds Leadership

Sana Manjeshwar is the latest guest on a podcast by composer and pianist Leonardo Le San, "Modus Operandi." Manjeshwar talked about building and leading Ombuds programs for global organizations across six continents, drawing on her background in organizational psychology, employment litigation, human resources, coaching, mediation, and Ombuds practice. Manjeshwar is also a singer and the episode features one her first songs.

Another New Ombuds Podcast: Spoken in Confidence

Sana Manjeshwar, who served as the Ombuds at Chevron and AllianceBernstein and now consults as the principal of OmbudSana International, has launched her own podcast: "Spoken in Confidence." Manjeshwar plans a series of monthly interviews with leaders "who chose to handle conflict differently, sharing real-world scenarios, hard conversations, and practical tools. The target audience are executives, compliance leaders, managers, and employees. (YouTube.)

Podcast: Ombuds as Chief Vibe Officer

Sana Manjeshwar is the latest guest on Vibecast, a podcast by HR consultant, Kristi Skutvik. Manjeshwar explained how the Ombuds is distinct from HR, EAP, and therapy, and its value in surfacing concerns before they escalate. Majeshwar describes Ombuds as a “canary in the coal mine,” offering real-time cultural insight and a trusted space—often used by leaders themselves—while emphasizing that empathy, conflict awareness, and intentional leadership remain essential in ways AI cannot replicate. (YouTube.)

Catalyst Webinar to Focus on Ombuds as Supportive Resource for Women

On May 7, 2020, Catalyst will offer a one-hour webinar on "How Ombuds Programs Empower Women and Support Inclusion in the Workforce." Speakers will include: Lee Jourdan, Chief Diversity Officer, Chevron; Sana Manjeshwar, Global Ombuds Manager, Chevron; Sue Diviney, Global Ombuds Manager, Pfizer; and Charles Howard, Executive Director, International Ombudsman Association. Catalyst is a nonprofit organization that involves CEO's and leading companies to improve workplaces for women.