August 20, 2024

Job Posting: University of Massachusetts Amherst

The flagship campus of the University of Massachusetts system seeks its next permanent University Ombuds. The search will take over a program that has been managed by MWI since July, following the departure of Interim University Ombuds, Lea Occhialini, at the end of 2023. The position reports to the chancellor's office and and supervises an Associate Ombuds (currently vacant) and an office manager. The UMass Ombuds serves over 38,000 faculty, staff, and students, and is expected to practice to IOA standards. The anticipated start date is January 2025.

Applicants must have Master’s degree and eight years of experience in conflict resolution, mediation, negotiation, or a related field. The executive recruiting firm of Spelman Johnson is handling the search. The position is advertised to pay $120,000 to $150,000 per year and applications should be submitted by September 23, 2024, for priority consideration. (Spelman Johnson Posting.)

7 comments:

  1. It is refreshing to see a reasonable starting salary range posted by a university.

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  2. Even at the top-end hiring salary of $150,000 and assuming 35% benefits expense to the university, hiring a full-time, resident ombuds is a screaming deal for the taxpayers of Massachusetts. It appears that UMass is currently paying just about $400/hour for contract ombuds services--about $800,000 for a 1.0 FTE position working 2080 hours per year. Even just for two academic semesters for a 1.0 FTE employee it would come to about $500,000 per year. This is NOT to say that these are the actual amounts charged for whatever services are being provided, which I recall was well less than full-time service. That said, FTE comparison is a standard method of costing out HR- related costs.

    Those ombuds providing full-time service to organizations as embedded employees provide great value to their organizations. As with much government outsourcing, outsiders are not necessarily better or more cost effective.

    There may well be a place for contract ombuds services, especially for small organizations that would otherwise not be in a position to carry the expense of such a position. Flagship state universities, land-grant universities, and other similarity sized and resourced institutions certainly do not fit the mold of a small organization that is best served by an outsourced ombuds as a replacement for in-house employees.

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    Replies
    1. It looks like MWI is providing the contract ombuds to UMA. Might he clarify whether $400/hour is accurate?

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    2. We have a unique model that provides value for our clients. How we bill takes a number of factors into account and does not translate into a simple hourly rate that can be compared with an in-house model.

      I welcome a conversation with Anonymous and my ombuds colleagues. If you’d like to talk, feel free to reach out to cdoran@mwi.org

      Thanks!

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    3. Chuck Doran offered helpful insight when Berkeley announced their contract with Chuck and MWI. Perhaps he will be willing to throw some light onto the numbers cited by one of the earlier posters.

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  3. There is no way any school is paying $400 per hour for an ombuds. If this is true we are ALL underpaid.

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