Job Posting: Charles University

Univerzita Karlova, the large and historic university in Prague, is seeking its next University Ombuds. The search will fill a position held by the inaugural Ombuds, Kateřina Šámalová, who is completing a three-year term (and who has been a leader in promoting the role of Ombuds in Eastern Europe). The half-time position serves students, employees, and others connected to the university, and coordinates the work of nearly two dozen Ombuds embedded with faculties and other campus units. The appointment is expected to begin in October 2026 following consultation with the faculty's Academic Senate. 

Job Posting: tEQuitable

The Oakland-based startup that provides external Ombuds services through a technology-enabled platform, is hiring a part-time contract Organizational Ombuds. The fully remote position will provide assistance to employees of client organizations, offering conflict coaching and consultation while identifying systemic workplace issues and trends. Off-hours work is permitted. 

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Names Next Ombuds

Agriculture et Agroalimentaire Canada has appointed Jessica Norup as its new Workplace Wellness Ombuds. She succeeds Elianne Hall and joins Associate Ombuds Mireille Aubrey in the office, which provides services to employees of the federal agency that regulates agriculture in Canada. 

2026 International Ombudsman Seminar to Include Two Organizational Ombuds

Hans Kohler and Mary Rowe are among the speakers for Seminário Internacional de Ouvidorias - 2026 taking place next week. The online event is aimed at Classical Ombuds and features 14 senior public servants, Ombuds, and auditors from Brazilian federal and local ministries. Kohler, a Regional Ombuds with the International Organization for Migration in Kenya and Associate Editor of the Journal of IOA, and Rowe, the former inaugural Ombuds for MIT, will join a panel on the topic of "Effective Ombudsman Offices: Challenges and Pathways to Strengthen Structure, Processes, and Culture." 

IOA Seeks Feedback on Final Draft of Standards of Practice

The International Ombuds Association has released the final draft of its revised Standards of Practice and a new accompanying Compendium for member review and comment by July 16, 2026. The revisions conclude a clarification review that began in 2025 and included recommendations from a Board-appointed task force, guided review sessions, and extensive member feedback. According to the IOA, the new Compendium is intended to provide additional guidance on interpreting and applying the Standards (meanwhile, while the review of the Code of Ethics has been paused until the Standards are finalized). This is likely to be the final opportunity for members to comment before the revised Standards are presented to the Board for adoption.

IOA and ABA Form Joint Taskforce for Ombuds Model Act

The International Ombuds Association and the American Bar Association Section of Dispute Resolution's Ombuds Committee have created a joint taskforce to coordinate future work on the proposed Organizational Ombuds Practices Act. The model legislation is intended to serve as a template that individual states may adopt, establishing a statutory framework for Ombuds offices and, if enacted by state legislatures, providing legal protections consistent with the IOA's Standards of Practice. The new taskforce will develop recommendations regarding next steps for advancing the proposal. 

Internship: Pan American Health Organization

The Office of the Ombudsman for the Pan American Health Organization is accepting applications for a part-time internship based in Washington, DC. The intern will assist the PAHO Ombuds, Fernando Navarro Sánchez, with communications, research, training materials, surveys, and other office projects. The position is intended for students interested in multilateral organizations, organizational culture, learning design, and workplace well-being.

New Service Offers Data Analytics Support for University Ombuds

Isabel Brooke has launched Insight Ombuds Analytics, a niche service that provides data management and reporting support for university Ombuds offices. The venture offers assistance with case tracking, data analysis, and annual reporting, with the goal of reducing administrative burdens and allowing Ombuds to devote more time to assisting visitors. 

Job Posting: Harvard University

The private research university in Cambridge is hiring an Ombuds I to join an office headed by Melissa Brodrick that currently includes Adam Barak Kleinberger, and three consulting Ombuds. The full-time, hybrid eligible position is based in Cambridge.

University of California Ombuds Update Systemwide Statement of Best Practices

The University of California Ombuds Offices have released a revised Declaration of Best Practices, replacing the prior version adopted in 2017. The updated guidance applies to Ombuds Offices at all UC campuses and the UC Office of the President. While reaffirming the core principles of independence, confidentiality, impartiality, and informality, the revision adds extensive guidance on Ombuds office structure, reporting relationships, staffing, selection of Ombuds, and conflicts of interest. The document also updates terminology to align with current IOA standards, replacing references to “neutrality” with “impartiality” and reflecting the association's current name. 

Berkeley Ombuds to Retire

Marcia Gee Riley, who has served as Student Ombuds for the University of California, Berkeley since August 2008, retires this month. Current Assistant Ombuds, Zackary Hull, will step up as Interim Student Ombuds while the campus makes plans for a search. 

ENOHE Elects 2026 Board

The European Network of Ombuds in Higher Education has announced its new leadership elected during its its 21st annual conference at AGH University of Kraków this week. 

The new officers and board members are:

JAMS Pathways Adds Ombuds Services

JAMS Pathways, a division of the large ADR provider JAMS that launched in 2023, has added Ombuds services to its portfolio. JAMS Pathways now offers outsourced Ombuds services alongside workplace assessments, conflict coaching, mediation, facilitation, and training. According to the company, its Ombuds provide confidential, independent, impartial, and informal assistance to employees and other stakeholders while helping organizations identify systemic issues and emerging trends. JAMS does not explicitly reference IOA standards in its materials.

Job Posting: University of California, Davis

The public research university near Sacramento is hiring an Associate Ombuds. The position will join an office led by Director Lauren Bloom and including Associate Ombuds Jenny Vaccari and Casey Woods and Assistant Ombuds Katie Ranney, that serves about 75,000 faculty, staff, and students. The hybrid position, based in Davis with some work in Sacramento, will fill a vacancy left by Lindsey Ensor. 

Meet the Inaugural Faculty Ombuds at Missouri S&T

Missouri University of Science and Technology appointed Sahra Sedigh Sarvestani as its first Faculty Ombuds in June 2023. (The webpage for her office went live this week.) The public research university in Rolla, Missouri established the part-time position to serve its 400 faculty members with workplace concerns and resolving conflicts.