Job Posting(s): Harvard University

The private research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts is hiring two full-time Ombuds. The search will reopen and expand the Ombuds Office headed by Lydia Cummings for 17 years before her retirement in January 2020. Harvard will hire an Ombuds I, a more junior position, and Ombuds II, who will supervise the Ombuds I and an administrative staff person. Together the two Ombuds will provide services to faculty, staff, students, trainees, and appointees for all of the Harvard-affiliated institutions with the exception of the schools of medicine, dentistry, and public health.

Applicants for the Ombuds I position must have a Bachelor's degree and at least five years experience in ombudsing, conflict resolution, mediation, and/or negotiation or related field, and experience in designing and conducting training. Preferred qualifications include an advanced degree in a related field, previous Ombuds experience and prior experience in an academic/higher education environment, and basic mediation training or IOA Foundations course. (Harvard Posting.)

Applicants for the Ombuds II position must have a Bachelor's degree and at least ten years experience in ombudsing, conflict resolution, mediation, and/or negotiation or related field, experience in designing and conducting training, and basic mediation training or IOA Foundations course. Preferred qualifications include an advanced degree in a related field, and experience in an academic/higher education environment. (Harvard Posting.)

No salaries or closing dates indicated.

Updated 7/12/21: Details of Cummings' work at Harvard were updated. Although she worked at the university for four decades, only the last 17 were as the Ombuds.

Updated 8/5/21: Melissa Broderick has provided additional details indicating that the job posting for the Ombuds II has been amended to include additional duties in the areas of:

Policy Analysis

... Review and report patterns of concern brought to the Ombuds Office, including critical analysis of the systemic need for improvement, and provide options to reduce or eliminate recurring problems.  Work in collaboration with Boston-based office regarding University-wide review and reporting." ...

Office Management

... Formulate, manage and monitor the overall goals and activities of the Cambridge-based office, working in tandem with the Boston-based office when appropriate.

Related post: Harvard Crimson [Mistakenly] Faults Ombuds for Silence; Issue Raised With Ombuds Leads to Departure of Harvard Professor; Interview Features Both Harvard Med School Ombuds; Long-time Harvard Ombuds Retires.