Job Posting: BP America

British Petroleum America is hiring an Ombudsman Program Case Manager. According to the job posting, the position "supports the administration of all BP employee concerns programs in BP America including the Office of the Ombudsman and other BP Group programs."

Corporate Compliance Insights: "The Whistleblower Paradigm: How Companies Can Get in Front of a Crisis"

An article in the latest issue of the online magazine for compliance and ethics professionals recommends Ombuds as a resource for responding to and mitigating whistleblowing. David Martin, a Principal with Berkeley Research Group, cites IOA research to explain why “employees would rather report directly to somebody they know than to a hotline.”

Mediterranean Ombudsmen Convene in Amman

The Association of Mediterranean Ombudsmen holds its seventh annual meeting in Jordan today and tomorrow, June 10-11.  Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour opened the meeting and remarked, "There is an increasing conviction at the international level of the need to enhance good governance that is based on transparency, justice, equality, the rule of law and accountability." (Jordan News Agency.)

Job Posting: Gallaudet University

The federally chartered university for the education of the deaf and hard of hearing in Washington, D.C. has opened a search for its next Ombuds. Reporting directly to the president, the University Ombuds provides confidential and informal assistance to students, staff, faculty and/or administrators.

ACCUO Chronicles Three Decades of Ombuds in Higher Education

The Association of Canadian College and University Ombudspersons has published a timeline of its "activities, encounters and some landmarks in the development of ombuds in higher education in Canada and many parts of the world" over the past 30 years. The document, which begins in the 1960's, marks the establishment of Canadian higher education Ombuds offices, ACCUO landmarks and other Ombuds landmark events.

UConn Appoints First Ombuds

After several years of work and an extended national search, Connecticut's flagship public university has named Jim Wohl as the first University Ombuds.  The new program at UConn (which was the only Public Ivy without an Ombuds) was established with a Charter that follows IOA Standards of Practice. In an introductory letter to the UConn community, University President Susan Herbst said that Wohl will report directly to her.

Simon Fraser University Ombuds Posts 2012 Report

Jay Solomon, the SFU Ombudsperson, says that his office was consulted by 364 students in 2012 (January 3 to December 20), nearly a 10% increase from the prior year. The report provides demographic details and examples that illustrate the range of issue that come to the SFU Office of the Ombudsperson. These case studies also frame feedback from the Ombuds about systemic concerns.

Job Posting: Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN

FAO, the specialized United Nations agency that leads international efforts to defeat hunger, is hiring an Ombudsman. The two-year position provides confidential, impa rtial and independent advice on conflicts and problems to FAO staff at the Rome Headquarters and in decentralized offices. In addition, the Ombuds will coordinate and manage FAO’s mediation program.

ENOHE Newsletter Marks Decennial

The latest publication from the European Network of Ombudsmen in Higher Education looks back at its first decade and anticipates a fruitful future.  In addition to articles that trace the beginnings of the growing group, a recent survey provides a snapshot of of academic Ombuds in Europe.

Forum of Canadian Ombudsman Offers Certificate Program

FCO has partnered with Osgoode Hall Law School to offer "a comprehensive certificate program which explores the theory and practice of the Ombudsman/person role in an in-depth manner." The first certificate program will be offered September 16–20, 2013 at Osgoode Professional Development in downtown Toronto.

Reminder: Last Day to Enter IOA Writing Competition

Today Saturday, June 1 is the last day to submit manuscripts for the International Ombudsman Association's 2013 writing competition.  In addition to the IOA information page, applicants may contact the contest administrator, Andrew Larratt-Smith, at writing.competition@ombudsassociation.org. (IOA Writing Competition Info.)

Job Posting: Baker Hughes Canada

The oilfield services company is seeking a Canada-based Ombuds to join its newly-formed Organizational Ombuds Office (o3). Among other duties, the position will provide explanation/interpretation of policies and procedures especially being aware of differences between Canadian and U.S. requirements and laws, and assist in identifying and communicating systemic patterns to Canadian leadership.

Job Posting: Department of Defense

The U.S. Defense Department is hiring an Ombudsman for its Washington Headquarters Services. Reporting directly to the Director/Deputy Director, the position serves as an Ombuds and senior-level advisor with responsibility for the ADR Program, functioning as the practitioner for this program. 

American Institute of Chemical Engineers Honors New Chevron Ombuds

Earlier this month, the Fuels and Petrochemicals Division of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) presented its annual outstanding achievement award to S. Shariq Yosufzai, Chevron Corporation's new Vice President of Global Diversity, Ombuds, and University Affairs. 

Job Posting: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

The U.S. Department of Energy National Laboratory in Richland, Washington is hiring an Employee Concerns Program Manager. The hourly, part-time, on-call position responds to employe concerns by prompt identification, reporting, and resolution of issues; independent and objective evaluation; supplementing existing processes for reporting concerns; and providing alternative dispute techniques.  

Ombuds at the 2013 ACR Conference

The Association for Conflict Resolution's Annual Conference on October 9-11, 2013 in Minneapolis, Minnesota will feature two presentations about Ombuds work.

IOA Offers Ombuds Training in Phoenix

The International Ombudsman Association presents several training sessions for new and experienced Ombuds in Phoenix, Arizona on July 8 through 12, 2013. The programs include "Foundations of Organizational Ombudsman Practice," "The Next Step for New or Growing Programs," and "Ethical Dilemmas Facing Organizational Ombuds."

Job Posting: Beacon Health Strategies

The managed behavioral health organization is hiring an Ombudsperson to provide confidential, neutral assistance to members in Woburn, MA. "The Ombudsperson advocates for fairness, serves as a source of information and support, acts as a liaison among stakeholders, and supports risk management for BHS." The duties are primarily those of an Organizational Ombuds, but also incorporate some duties that are similar to those of a Classical Healthcare Ombuds. 

Update on May Meeting of Arizona Ombuds

On Thursday, May 16, 2013, twenty-four Ombudsman throughout the State of Arizona gathered for a “brown bag” lunch meeting hosted by Apollo Group’s Office of Ombuds Services.  The meeting agenda included networking, IOA highlights, information about USOA’s upcoming Fall conference, an overview of Apollo Group’s Office of Ombuds Services, and brainstorming potential topics for discussion or presentations for the Arizona Ombuds’s summer conference.  

Job Posting: University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado's flagship public research university is hiring an Associate Ombuds. The position serves as a designated neutral dispute resolution practitioner for students, staff, faculty, and administrators. CU-Boulder employs four Ombuds and follows IOA best practices. The salary range for this position is $62,000-$76,0000, commensurate with skills and experience.