The international non-governmental organization that works on wilderness preservation is seeking its first Ombudsperson. The position is open-ended and based in Switzerland. At this point, WWF has not defined an Organizational Ombuds role, as have most of the other major NGOs/IGOs. Major duties and responsibilities for the position include:
In an interview with The Daily Beast, Whitney Cummings explained the inspiration for her new Amazon series, "Good People" The show is co-produced and co-written by Lee Daniels. Lisa Kudrow will also star and be a co-executive produce. According to IMDB, the show is now in post-production.
An article in today's Chronicle of Higher Education surveys the work of University Ombuds. "Meet Your Campus Troubleshooter" focuses on faculty members who become Ombuds, but it also considers the field more broadly. The reporter quotes several Ombuds, including:
Last week, Chris LaHatte made submissions to a New Zealand Parliamentary select committee on the use of the word 'ombudsman' and the more appropriate gender free term 'ombuds.' His submission also outlined how his work as an Organizational Ombuds differs from the original Parliamentary Ombudsman scheme in New Zealand.
The public school just south of Seattle, Washington, is hiring its first District Ombudsman. Highline Schools enrolls around 18,000 students in grades K-12 and employs more than 2,000 across 332 schools. The new, full-time position will provide "independent confidential and informal assistance to visitors to the Ombudsman’s Office including students, parents and community members." Inexplicably, the position description also states: "Acts as the district’s various compliance officers (HIB, Civil Rights, Title IX)."
After the resignation of its superintendent (the third to hold the post in less than five years), the CMS board has promoted its Ombudsman, Earnest Winston, to serve as Interim Superintendent. Winston was named the first CMS Ombudsman in August 2018. This spring, the district had conducted a search for an Ombudsman Resolution Specialist, but it is not clear whether that position had been filled or how recent developments will affect the nascent Ombuds program. Meanwhile, the website for the CMS Ombuds Office redirects to the district's homepage. (Charlotte Observer.)
The largest public university in New England is hiring an Associate Ombuds. The position reports to Carol Booth, the University Ombudsperson, and serves faculty, staff, and students.
The American Bar Association Section on Dispute Resolution convenes its 22nd Annual Spring Conference April 22-25, 2020 in New Orleans–three weeks after the IOA conference. The conference theme is "Innovation, Improvisation, and Inspiration." Organizers are inviting proposals for 75-minute sessions that highlight both proven and cutting-edge approaches to resolving and preventing conflict and address how to develop and manage dispute resolution practices
TRADOC, which oversees training of Army forces and the development of operational doctrine, is hiring an Ombudsman. The position is located in the Chief of Staff's Office located in Monterey, California. This is a new position, so the incumbent will be responsible to develop the range of Ombuds programs. Occasional travel may be required (TRADOC operates 37 schools and centers at 27 different locations, and is headquartered at Fort Eustis, Virginia).
The International Ombudsman Association will offer two training program in October 2019 at the Kimpton Hotel Monaco. IOA's signature course, "Foundations," provides the primary training for new Organizational Ombuds. A two-day course offers advanced mediation training.
The Ombuds Office at Los Alamos National Laboratory is seeking a conflict resolution & interpersonal communication intern for a Graduate Student Assistant position starting on or after October 1, 2019. Tasks will include completing Ombuds or mediation training, representing the Ombuds office, and data collection and analysis.
Yesterday, the International Ombudsman Association released a video that explains and promotes the work of professional Ombuds. The two-minute video is posted on YouTube and IOA hopes that Ombuds will repost it with external audiences. The video is an update of an earlier version that was part of IOA's "Modern Ombuds Toolkit" -- a collection of resources for Ombuds to help with outreach to clients, prospects, colleagues, and stakeholders.
The United Nations Ombudsman and Mediation Services is hiring a temporary Conflict Resolution Officer to be based in Entebbe. The position provides informal conflict resolution services to UN staff in Entebbe, as well as offices and missions in the region. The appointment will run through at least March 31, 2020, with the possibility of an extension, and reports to the Regional Ombudsman, Youssoupha Niang.
The large, public university in Rotterdam has named Edith Weijnen as its first Ombudsman, effective June 1, 2019. She will serve about 30,000 students and about 3,500 staff. According to an announcement from the university, the new Ombuds role is "part of a series of measures to ensure a safe work and study environment [and] for managing work pressure." The university will evaluate the results after a one-year pilot period.
The public university in Edmonton is hiring its next Ombuds for a one-year contract, with the possibility of an extension. The Office of the Ombudsman at NAIT provides guidance to students and staff on academic, interpersonal, and discipline-related issues. The Institute enrolls about 29,000 students (8,400 are full-time) and has 1,200 academic staff. The office was established by Chris Fukushima in the spring of 2015,
The United Nations Regional Ombudsman Office is
seeking an intern for the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean in Santiago, Chile. The full-time, unpaid internship will last four to six months and offers the opportunity to support the office's mediation training, outreach, and advocacy. The position reports to Francisco Espejo Elgueta.
The Association for Conflict Resolution will hold its annual conference in Tucson, Arizona, September 18-21, 2019. The theme of the 19th annual meeting is "Heal the Divide: A Focus on the Role of ADR Practitioners in a Divided Society." ACR has an Ombuds Section and Ombuds are frequent presenters and attendees. This year, researchers from Nova Southeastern University in Florida will present the only session about Ombuds:
Sabrina Nail, the first FCPS Ombuds who started in April, already has a new website. The resources include two slick and effective videos. The first provides an overview of her office. The second describes the guiding principles and what the Ombuds can do. Both are exemplary. (FCPS Ombuds.)
The International Ombudsman Association (IOA) and the Ombuds office team of the University of Los Andes are sponsoring an International Course on Labor Dispute Resolution based on IOA’s Foundations of Organizational Ombudsman Practice course. The course will take place in Cartagena de Indias on October 21-23, 2019. This is the first-ever IOA course offered in Colombia.
The leading cancer treatment and research institution in New York City has appointed physician and researcher George J. Bosl as its first Ombudsperson. “The creation of the position of ombudsperson represents an important milestone in MSK’s ongoing effort to balance the need to collaborate with outside industry to further scientific research with our institution’s commitment to preserving the objectivity and integrity of our work, as well as our commitment to transparency,” said Senior VP and Chief Risk Officer Debra Berns.
The student union for public university in St. Catharines, Ontario, selected Tricia Gazarek as its Interim Ombuds in March 2019. She will serve a student body of 19,000 and follows Carole Moss, who held the position since July 2006. She has worked in conflict resolution since 2010, most recently as a mediator and consultant in private practice.
Judi Martin, CO-OP, has served as the Organizational Ombuds for the large, urban school district in Oregon since September 2014. Last week, the district announced it was "phasing out the Ombudsman position" after a year-long evaluation. According to a statement, "PPS ... will continue to serve as a resource, provide information about district policies and procedures, and, when appropriate, conduct informal interventions and mediations."
The Department of the Interior's Office of Collaborative Action and Dispute Resolution (CADR) is
hiring an Organizational Ombudsman for a full-time, two-year appointment. Based in Arlington, Virginia, the position "works with other CADR staff to support the full range of conflict management and dispute resolution services and to identify opportunities and strategies to expand access to ombudsman services and improve the design and/or operation of the Department’s integrated conflict management system and further CADR’s mission."
For the first time, the annual meeting of the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, American Elasmobranch Society, Herpetologist's League, and Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles will have an Ombuds. It will not, however, be a familiar model for any of the university scientists.
The UC People Management Conference in early August will explore the importance of building a culture of collaboration and trust, and two Ombuds will lead sessions. Andrew Larratt-Smith, the Campus Ombuds at UC Riverside, will speak on operational fairness, and Kathleen Canul, Director of Ombuds Services at UCLA, will talk about managing workplace conflicts.
At its 15th annual meeting last week, the European Network of Ombudsmen in Higher Education held its first official General Assembly. Having been approved by the Austrian authorities as a formal association, ENOHE conducted its first official elections for officers and board members.
The ICRC is hiring a Regional Ombuds for the Middle East and North Africa Region. The full-time, three-year position based in Beruit requires significant travel and reports to the ICRC Ombuds, John W. Zinsser, in Geneva. This seems to be a repeat of a search last summer.
