Journal of IOA Call for Papers: Ombuds and DEI

The Journal of the International Ombuds Association has issued a call for submissions for a special issue on: "The Ombud’s Office and Diversity, Inclusion, Equity and Belonging." Papers should be submitted by May 1, 2023. Here are more details from the editors, Jennifer Swann (Ombuds at Lehigh University) and Shannon Lynn Burton (Ombuds at Michigan State University):

Job Posting: Arizona College of Nursing

The for-profit college that offers BSN programs at 11 campuses across 8 states is hiring an Ombudsman. The full-time, remote job will serve students and report to the Senior Vice President for Student Affairs. The work is described as confidential and impartial. Applicants must have a Bachelor's degree and higher education experience. An MBA or relevant graduate degree preferred is preferred. No salary or application deadline indicated. (Arizona College Posting.)

New Ombuds Takes On Duties at University of Utah Health Sciences

Maureen A. Murtaugh has been named an Ombuds for the academic health care system based in Salt Lake City. She joins Casi A. Morales and follows Joan Sheetz in the position. Murtaugh and Morales serve more than 14,000 faculty and staff as part-time Ombuds. Murtaugh a Professor of Internal Medicine in Epidemiology and a researcher with the Huntsman Cancer Institute. She graduated from Syracuse University, and earned her PhD at the University of Connecticut. (University of Utah Health Ombuds.)

Job Posting: UC Santa Cruz

The University of California Santa Cruz has opened a search for an Ombuds. The full-time position restore a program that was shuttered in 2012, leaving UCSC as the only one of ten University of California campus without an Ombuds program. The Campus Ombuds will serve faculty, staff, and students, report to the campus chancellor, and operate to IOA standards. The posting indicates that eventually there will be other staff to supervise.

Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research Hires Expert Ombuds

Anu Rao has been named the inaugural Ombudsperson for CGIAR, the international partnership that coordinates organizations engaged in research about food security. As an external consultant, Rao will serve an initial six-month trial period, which may be extended. She will serve CGIAR's staff and consultants in Montpellier, France, Washington, DC, and globally, following IOA standards.

Job Re-Posting: University of Cape Town

South Africa's flagship public research university has reopened its search for a permanent Ombud. The search will fill a position established by Zetu Makamandela-Mguqulwa, CO-OP, and held on an interim basis by Ihron Rensburg for about a year. Meanwhile, UCT has hired Rashieda Khan as Assistant Ombud. The full-time position serves all members of the campus and will be appointed for an initial five-year term, with the possibility of renewal for a second term. The office practices to IOA standards.

Internship: United Nations, Switzerland

The Office of the UN Ombudsman and Mediation Services is accepting applications for an unpaid internship in its Geneva headquarters. The temporary position is full-time and will last at least three to six months. The intern will assist with outreach activities, data and report preparation, and research for training development.

Georgetown University Expands Ombuds Service to Graduate Students

A new website reveals that Georgetown's Ombuds, Daniela Brancaforte, is now assisting graduate students on the main campus at the private university. Brancaforte initially served only undergraduates when she established the Office of the Student Ombuds in April 2021. (Georgetown Grad Student Ombuds.)

Job Posting: York University

The large,  public research university in Toronto, Ontario, has opened a search for its next University Ombudsperson. The search will fill a position vacated by John D. McCamus, who served as Ombuds at York for over a decade and retired in November 2020. (Maureen Armstrong, York's former University Secretary and General Counsel, has been filling in as the Interim University Ombudsperson.) Reporting to the University President, the York Ombuds will serve faculty, staff', and students—over 62,000 stakeholders—as an independent, impartial, and confidential resource.

Job Posting: United Nations, Uganda

The United Nations Ombudsman and Mediation Services is hiring a Conflict Resolution Officer to be based in its Entebbe Regional Office. The position provides informal conflict resolution services to UN staff in Entebbe, as well as offices and missions in the region, and reports to the Regional Ombudsman, Selome Yifru.

Call for Proposals: IOA Ombuds Training

The International Ombuds Association is seeking proposals for two new, core course offerings: "Coaching with Emotional Intelligence" and "Cultural Understandings for Ombuds." Both courses will be presented virtually over three days in four-hour blocks for a total of 12 hours. IOA wants a developer will create each course, test teach it once, and make revisions based on feedback. Then the contract will be complete and IOA will own the course. 

Job Posting: Swedish Health Services

Seattle's largest nonprofit health provider, which operates five hospital campuses and a network of clinics in northwestern Washington state, is hiring a Patient Ombudsperson (Senior Patient Relations Coordinator). Ordinarily, Patient Ombuds are Classical Ombuds, but this fully-remote position is not. "Under the guidance of the Swedish Chief Compliance & Privacy Officer, the Patient Ombudsperson is a designated neutral conflict resolution professional who provides informal assistance to patients on a variety of issues and concerns" and "will adhere to the International Ombudsman Association's Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice." The duties are a curious mix of Organizational and Classical. 

Technical University of Munich Appoints Science Ombuds

Cristina Reiss and Wolfgang Domcke have been elected the new Ombudspersons for good scientific practice at Technische Universität München in Germany for three-year terms. They succeed Heiner Bub and Petra Marzin. Reiss, formerly full professor for Mathematics, and Domcke, former full professor for Theoretical Chemistry, are both TUM Emeriti of Excellence. In mutual agreement with the Employee Council, TUM also appointed Petra Marzin as additional ombudsperson for the TUM employees working under the tariff agreement of the German States (TV-L).

Job Posting: University of Alabama at Birmingham

The public university in Birmingham is hiring its next University Ombudsperson. The full-time professional will serve neutral and impartial dispute resolution practitioner at UAB for nearly 24,000 stakeholders, including faculty, staff, mentored graduate students, and postdoctoral fellows (but not the UAB medical campus). The Ombuds reports jointly to the Provost and CHRO. The search will fill a position recently vacated by the first University Ombuds, Alicia Booker.

Job Posting: United Nations, New York

The Office of the United Nations Ombudsman and Mediation Services is seeking an expert facilitator for Dialogues on Racism in the UN Workplace. The on-call and remote position facilitate and co-facilitate virtual dialogues in English and Spanish for UN stakeholders in different time zones. The work is expected to begin September 1, 2022 and last through the end of the calendar year, subject to the availability of funds.

Loyola Marymount University Designates VP of DEI as Ombuds

The private university in Los Angeles, California, has delegated Ombuds duties to its Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Emelyn A. dela Peña. In August 2020, LMU's Black Faculty and Staff Association presented a list of demands that included the creation of an Ombuds "external of Human Resources that focuses on protecting the labor rights of Black and people of color" at the university. Dela Pena was appointed the VP for DEI in December 2021 and the website for her office was updated recently to indicate that "she also serves as the university ombudsperson." 

Job Posting: UN Funds and Programmes, Senegal

The United Nations' global development network (which comprises UNDP / UNFPA / UNICEF/ UNOPS / UN Women) has an opening for an Ombudsman Specialist based in Dakar. The position reports to the Deputy Ombudsman for UN Funds and Programmes, Kentaro Kanyomozi. Frequent travel to UNDP field offices throughout Africa is required. The initial contract will be for two years, with the possibility of an extension.

UN Appoints Regional Ombuds for Latin America and Caribbean

Maria Montiel has joined the United Nations Ombudsman and Mediation Services as the Regional Ombudsman based in Santiago, Chile. She provides informal conflict resolution services to all UN Secretariat personnel in the Latin American and Caribbean Region and follows Francisco Espejo Elgueta in the role. Montiel provides services in Spanish, English and French. A UN announcement also notes that she has more than 25 years of experience in informal conflict resolution. (UN Delegate.)

University of Würzburg Designates Science Ombuds

The Julius Maximilian University of Würzburg (Universität Würzburg), one of the oldest universities in Germany, has appointed seven professors to serve as Ombudspersons. The new program complies with the German Research Foundation's Proposals for Safeguarding Good Scientific Practice, which requires Ombuds for all institutions that seeking funding. The new University of Würzburg Ombuds are: Kristina Lorenz (Professor and Chair of Pharmacology and Toxicology); Christoph Maack (Professor and Chair of Translational Research); Thomas Haaf (Professor and Chair of Human Genetics); Petra Högger (Professor of Clinical Pharmacy and Chair of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry); Robert Hock (Faculty of Biology); Catrin Gersdorf (Chair of American Studies); and Andreas Göbel (Chair of Sociology). (Uni Wurtzburg Good Scientific Practice.)

Job Posting: United Nations, Democratic Republic of Congo

The United Nations Ombudsman and Mediation Services ("UNOMS") is hiring a Conflict Resolution Officer based in Goma. The current Regional Ombudsman is Tjitske de Jong, the former World Food Programme Ombudsman.