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.)
Related posts: University of Massachusetts Amherst Selects Ombuds; University of Massachusetts Amherst Hires an Assistant Ombuds; Ombuds Cases Rise Slightly at University of Massachusetts Amherst in 2022; University of Massachusetts Boston Selects Inaugural Ombuds; University of Massachusetts Amherst Appoints Interim Ombuds; University of Massachusetts Amherst Hires MWI to Bridge Ombuds Office.
It is refreshing to see a reasonable starting salary range posted by a university.
ReplyDeleteEven 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.
ReplyDeleteThose 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.
It looks like MWI is providing the contract ombuds to UMA. Might he clarify whether $400/hour is accurate?
DeleteWe 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.
DeleteI 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!
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.
DeleteThere is no way any school is paying $400 per hour for an ombuds. If this is true we are ALL underpaid.
ReplyDeleteBoth can be true.
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