Asian Development Bank Hires Experienced Ombuds

Wayne Blair has been named the Ombudsperson for the regional development bank based in Manila.  He will serve a three-year term starting in early 2018. For the past decade, Blair has been the Ombuds for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill -- a program that he established.  He succeeds Nick Diehl, who moved to MIT.

Internship: UNICEF

The Office of the United Nations Ombudsman and Mediation Services is seeking an intern for UNICEF (as well as UNDP, UNFPA, UNOPS, and UN Women) in New York City.  The full-time, paid internship will last six months and offers the opportunity to support the office's mediation training, outreach, and advocacy.

History of Science Society Appoints First Ombuds

The professional society for the academic study of the history of science has named Sally Gregory Kohlstedt as its first Ombudsperson. HSS adopted a Respectful Behavior Policy in June of this year to address discrimination and harassment at society meetings and events. The new Ombuds is designated by the policy as a resource for anyone with concerns and complaints. 

Ombuds to Speak at Texas Mediators Conference

Two Ombuds will be featured at the 2018 Texas Association of Mediators Professional Development Conference in San Antonio February 23-24, 2018. Anamaris Cousins Price (Organizational Ombudsman at Halliburton) and Sean Banks (Corporate Ombuds for the Shell Oil Company) will be presenting "The Role of Mediation in Organizational Ombuds" on February 23.

U.S. Geological Survey Creates Ombuds Program

The government agency that studies the country's biology, geography, geology, and hydrology has appointed J. Fernando Caetano as its first Organizational Ombuds. Caetano serves 9,000 USGS employees and is part of the agency's Collaborative Action and Dispute Resolution Office. He is part of the team that provides ADR services to the Department of the Interior, of which USGS is part.

UC Davis Hires an Ombuds

The Office of the Ombuds at the University of California Davis has hired Dana Hinojosa as an Associate Ombuds 3. Hinojosa has worked in higher education for the last seven years and brings experience in training, mediation, and workplace dispute resolution to her new role.  She will work primarily with visitors from the main campus and report to the Campus Ombuds, Katherine Greenwood. 

German Crowdsourcing Firms Create Ombuds Program

Lead by Testbirds, eight German internet companies have signed a joint agreement to protect workers and volunteers that contribute to their products.  The "Crowdsourcing Code of Conduct" also establishes and funds an Ombuds Office for conflict resolution.  According to the document, "The Ombuds Office mediates disputes that arise between workers and platforms that are signatories to the Code of Conduct. The Ombuds Office will mediate a dispute only after the parties have attempted to resolve the situation on their own (outside of the legal system)."

Job Re-Posting: Metropolitan State University

The public university in downtown Denver has re-opened its search for an Ombuds Officer.  The description and requirements are relatively unchanged. The position reports administratively to the Associate to the President for Diversity and practices to IOA standards. The MSU Ombuds serves faculty, staff, administrators, student-employees, and external stakeholders. 

Norfolk State University Appoints First Ombuds

The public, liberal arts HBCU in Virginia has named Clementine Cone as its first University Ombudsman.  Practicing to IOA standards, Cone serves NSU's faculty, staff, and students--a population of about 7,000. For the past four years, Cone has also served as the Executive Assistant to the President for University Compliance.

University of Massachusetts Amherst Hires an Assistant Ombuds

Derek Doughty has joined the Ombuds Office at UMass Amherst as an Assistant Ombuds. He moves into the position from the dean of students office, where he was a case manager and liaison to athletics. Doughty reports to University Ombuds Carol Booth works with Associate Ombuds Martha Patrick.

University of Oregon Expands Ombuds Program

UO has increased the size of its Ombuds Program with the appointment of Jennifer Hudson as Assistant Ombuds and Director of Conflict Resolution Services. Under the direction of University Ombuds, Brett Harris, Hudson will provide Ombuds services, primarily to students, and direct the campus conflict resolution program. 

Job Posting: ICRC Kuwait

The International Committee of the Red Cross is seeking an Ombuds to be based in Kuwait.  The position would support the global work of the ICRC Ombuds (John W. Zinsser is the Chief Ombudsman for the international humanitarian organization) and especially North Africa and the Middle East.  Travel up to 50% is expected.  The job will start "asap."

Internship: United Nations Chile

The Office of the United Nations Ombudsman and Mediation Services is seeking a full-time intern for its office in Santiago.  The unpaid internship will last three to six months and offers the opportunity to support outreach and advocacy, prepare data and reports, and conduct research.

Video Introduces UC Santa Barbara Ombuds

Three of the members of the UCSB Ombuds Office (Campus Ombuds Caroline Adams, Associate Ombuds Michael Steinberg, and Assistant Ombuds Shauna Shea) left their office to ask students: "What is an Ombuds?"  The answers are sometimes amusing and give the Ombuds a chance to explain their role.

Job Posting: Georgian College

The college of applied arts and technology in Ontario is hiring a part-time Conflict Resolution Coordinator. The position is equivalent to that of other Canadian higher-ed Ombuds and serves as the first point of contact for students with conflicts and complaints. (The school enrolls about 11,0000 students.) The position is part-time and is contracted for a one-year period through November 8, 2018.