Job Posting: United Nations, New York

The Office of the United Nations Ombudsman and Mediation Services is seeking a Conflict Resolution Officer for its New York headquarters. The position will report directly to the Senior Conflict Resolution Officer, Lara Khalife Dagher, under the general supervision of the Chief of Office.

Ask a Manager Interviews Ombuds

Alison Green, author of the "Ask a Manager" blog and a book with the same name, recently interviewed Roy Baroff, CO-OP, the Faculty and Staff Ombuds at North Carolina State University. (Green's blog alone draws over 3.5 million visitors a month.) Baroff, who also just completed three years on the IOA Board of Directors, is a great spokesperson for Ombuds and IOA. Green's questions were extensive and thoughtful, giving Baroff the change to talk about the standards and provide examples from his practice. (Ask a Manager.) 

City of Gainesville Considering Ombuds

Commissioners for the city in northern Florida (which is home to the University of Florida) are looking into creating an Ombuds program. A proposal to create a new city department came before the the Gainesville City Commission this week. The backup material do not specify who the Ombuds would serve or how much it would cost. 

Job Posting: Kaiser Permanente School of Medicine

The new private medical school in Pasadena, California has re-opened a search for its first Ombuds Officer. One year ago, KPSOM sought a full-time, in-person Ombuds. The revised search seeks a part-time, hybrid Ombuds to establish an office and provide services to all stakeholders following IOA standards. Kaiser Permanente has a large network of HealthCare Ombuds/Mediator which provide early dispute resolution services for patient complaints, but this new Ombuds is not connected to that program. 

Call for Proposals: FCO-ACCUO 2022 Biennial Conference

The Forum of Canadian Ombudsman and the Association of Canadian College and University Ombudspersons are seeking speaker proposals for their biennial conference on October 17-18, 2022 in Ottawa. Presentation proposals should relate to the conference theme, "Together Again: Strengthening Ombuds Practice through Connectedness and Inclusion."

Job Posting: Florida Gulf Coast University

The public university in Fort Myers has opened a search for its next University Ombuds. Monique McKay has held the position since 2016. In 2020, the FGCU Ombuds office expanded with the addition of an Assistant Ombuds, Charlotte Bingham. The FGCU University Ombuds serves as a resource for all FGCU all stakeholders, a population of nearly 20,000.

University of Texas Austin Names Next Faculty Ombuds

Lynn Katz has been selected as the next UT Austin Faculty Ombuds, effective May 2, 2022. Katz will replace Caroline Bartel, who is completing her term, and join Chris McCarthy, who continues as the other Faculty Ombuds. This is a part-time role for Katz, who is a Professor of Civil Engineering. (UT Provost Announcement.)

Murray State Employee Union Demands an Ombuds

The union representing faculty, staff, student, and contingent workers at the public university in Murray, Kentucky, has adopted a platform with three goals: living wages and affordable healthcare; support for parents and caregivers; and respect and safety for all campus workers. Included in the specific demands, the Murray State University Chapter of the United Campus Workers of Kentucky is calling for an Ombuds. 

IOA to Resume In-Person Foundations Training in July 2022

The International Ombuds Association's signature, in-person training course will be offered in Chicago at the Renaissance Hotel on July 25 through 27, 2021. IOA's "Foundations," which provides the primary training for new Organizational Ombuds, has been available only virtually since October 2020. There has not been an in-person IOA event in two and a half years. 

Journal of IOA Article Unearths Roots of University Ombuds

The Journal of the International Ombuds Association has published original research by Ryan Smith, Michigan State University's Assistant Ombudsperson. Smith looked at the first-ever conferences focused on the work of university Ombuds over half a century ago. The profession envisioned at the time has evolved considerably.

Internship: Department of the Interior

The Office of Collaborative Action and Dispute Resolution for the U.S. Department of the Interior seeks a graduate summer intern to join their workplace team. The position is a hybrid and reports to the office in Arlington, Virginia three days a week, with a telework option. CADR is looking for someone with prior experience in dispute resolution work. The position is unpaid, but is intended to provide professional benefits such as eligibility for public interest funding from the intern's graduate school.

Kansas State University Opens Search for Faculty/Staff Ombuds

K-State has opened an internal search for an Ombudsperson for faculty and unclassified staff. Kansas State University has three Ombuds for employee concerns. The search will replace Drew Smith; Tara Coleman and Anne K. Phillips continue in the role. (Assistant Dean of Diversity, Recruitment, and Retention Kimathi Choma provides Ombuds services to students.) The current vacancy will be filled by a "professional staff member." (K-State Today.)

Job Posting: University of Kansas

KU is seeking its next University Ombuds. Currently, Ada Emmett is the Acting University Ombuds and Mike Rozinsky serves as the part-time Associate Ombuds. Emmett has been serving as Acting Ombuds since December 2020, following the appointment of then-University Ombuds DA Graham to the role of Interim Vice Provost for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging at KU. Prior to that, Ada had been the part-time Faculty Ombuds since the Summer of 2019, and has been a member of the faculty since 2002, achieving full-professor equivalent at KU. The KU Ombuds reports to the provost and practices to IOA standards.

Job Posting: International Monetary Fund

The international financial aid organization is hiring a Projects Officer for its Ombuds Office for a three-year appointment. The position will report to IMF Ombudsperson, Thomas Zgambo, and provide a range of support including: research and information gathering; preparation of marketing and training materials; data managment and analysis, and preparation of an annual report; and interfacing with visitors. The job is based at the IMF headquarters in Washington, DC.

IOA Elects 2022 Board Officers

At its annual business meeting last week, the International Ombuds Association Board of Directors elected officers for 2022-2023. Two of the officers are new to the board, three of the officers ending their terms are off the board, and two officer positions are vacant. As a result, only two of six officers have prior Board leadership experience.