Associate Ombuds - 24523BR
Associate Ombuds
Associate Ombuds
Department:
University Ombuds
Location/Division:
University of Kansas Lawrence Campus
Work Location Assignment:
Hybrid
Reg/Temp:
Regular
Employee Class:
U-Unclassified Professional Staff
Position Overview
About the Associate Ombuds Role
The University of Kansas Ombuds Office seeks a full-time Associate Ombuds to join our team to promote an environment that embodies the University’s mission and values in alignment with its strategic objectives. The ideal candidate will have a strong understanding of organizational, group, and individual dynamics to enhance our efforts to foster a culture of trust, respect, and belonging. This person will have demonstrated capacities to maintain confidentiality, handle sensitive information, and work to build and maintain positive work relationships with colleagues and the people they have served. A critical aspect of this position will be designing and offering facilitations for groups in conflict, and training sessions on conflict management strategies, as offered by the Ombuds Office.
The Associate Ombuds will contribute collaboratively to the shaping and execution of the Ombuds Office’s work based on its Charter. Alongside the University Ombuds this position acts as a neutral, independent, informal, and confidential resource for university faculty, staff, students, and administrators who are seeking assistance to resolve questions and concerns affecting their relations with peers or the institution.
The successful incumbent will have the role of designing and delivering training sessions for KU groups on various conflict resolution and communication topics. This position will serve as a co-facilitator and co-designer of informal circle or restorative practices for larger groups in various forms of conflict, or where harm has occurred within a group or community at KU.
The KU Ombuds Office and its ombuds practice to the standards of the International Ombuds Association’s (pdf) four pillars of practice, confidentiality, independence, informality, and impartiality, and understand the meanings and practical applications of those. The person in this position works as a member of the close-knit Ombuds Office team which includes the university ombuds, administrative associate, and other staff that may have a designated assignment with the Ombuds Office.
About the Ombuds Office at the University of Kansas
The Office of the University Ombuds is located organizationally in the Office of the Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor. The position will report to the University Ombuds. This position will be designated hybrid: there will be significant in-person components to the work, and there will be flexibility for some remote work each week. The person in this position will need to be within commuting distance of the Lawrence Kansas campus.
The University of Kansas has had an Ombuds Office since 1977, with a full-time designated University Ombuds since 2007. This will be the first full-time Associate Ombuds position sought, indicating the strong support for the work of the Ombuds Office from senior administration and from University Governance.
At the University of Kansas, diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging are an important part of our culture and university strategic plan. Applications from members of underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged, noting the value that differences bring to our organization, students, staff, faculty, and community. The Jayhawks Rising Strategic Plan was developed around three Institutional Priorities: creating a clear and ambitious direction to fulfill our mission to educate leaders, build healthy communities, and make discoveries that change the world. The Ombuds Office’s work supports these priorities and the individuals that make up the KU community who all contribute to these priorities.
The application materials should address directly how the candidate meets the required qualifications and which of the preferred qualifications. The successful candidate must be eligible to work in the U.S. prior to the start of the position.
The University of Kansas Ombuds Office seeks a full-time Associate Ombuds to join our team to promote an environment that embodies the University’s mission and values in alignment with its strategic objectives. The ideal candidate will have a strong understanding of organizational, group, and individual dynamics to enhance our efforts to foster a culture of trust, respect, and belonging. This person will have demonstrated capacities to maintain confidentiality, handle sensitive information, and work to build and maintain positive work relationships with colleagues and the people they have served. A critical aspect of this position will be designing and offering facilitations for groups in conflict, and training sessions on conflict management strategies, as offered by the Ombuds Office.
The Associate Ombuds will contribute collaboratively to the shaping and execution of the Ombuds Office’s work based on its Charter. Alongside the University Ombuds this position acts as a neutral, independent, informal, and confidential resource for university faculty, staff, students, and administrators who are seeking assistance to resolve questions and concerns affecting their relations with peers or the institution.
The successful incumbent will have the role of designing and delivering training sessions for KU groups on various conflict resolution and communication topics. This position will serve as a co-facilitator and co-designer of informal circle or restorative practices for larger groups in various forms of conflict, or where harm has occurred within a group or community at KU.
The KU Ombuds Office and its ombuds practice to the standards of the International Ombuds Association’s (pdf) four pillars of practice, confidentiality, independence, informality, and impartiality, and understand the meanings and practical applications of those. The person in this position works as a member of the close-knit Ombuds Office team which includes the university ombuds, administrative associate, and other staff that may have a designated assignment with the Ombuds Office.
About the Ombuds Office at the University of Kansas
The Office of the University Ombuds is located organizationally in the Office of the Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor. The position will report to the University Ombuds. This position will be designated hybrid: there will be significant in-person components to the work, and there will be flexibility for some remote work each week. The person in this position will need to be within commuting distance of the Lawrence Kansas campus.
The University of Kansas has had an Ombuds Office since 1977, with a full-time designated University Ombuds since 2007. This will be the first full-time Associate Ombuds position sought, indicating the strong support for the work of the Ombuds Office from senior administration and from University Governance.
At the University of Kansas, diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging are an important part of our culture and university strategic plan. Applications from members of underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged, noting the value that differences bring to our organization, students, staff, faculty, and community. The Jayhawks Rising Strategic Plan was developed around three Institutional Priorities: creating a clear and ambitious direction to fulfill our mission to educate leaders, build healthy communities, and make discoveries that change the world. The Ombuds Office’s work supports these priorities and the individuals that make up the KU community who all contribute to these priorities.
The application materials should address directly how the candidate meets the required qualifications and which of the preferred qualifications. The successful candidate must be eligible to work in the U.S. prior to the start of the position.
Job Description
About the University of Kansas and the Lawrence Kansas Community:
The University of Kansas is situated in the beautiful, historic, and culturally vibrant city of Lawrence, a thriving community 40 minutes from the Kansas City metropolitan area and home to Haskell Indian Nations University. Founded in 1865, The University of Kansas is a major comprehensive research and teaching university that serves as a center for learning, scholarship, and creative endeavor. The University of Kansas is the only state university in Kansas to hold membership in the prestigious Association of American Universities (AAU), a select group of 62 public and private research universities that represent excellence in graduate and professional education and the highest achievements in research internationally. The University enrolls more than 28,000 students, offers 5,000 courses, more than 400 degree and certificate programs and employs 1,5000 faculty members, many of them at the top of their fields. In KU’s dynamic, cross-disciplinary research and learning environment, students exchange ideas, discover new ways of processing the world, and address society’s grand challenges. The Ombuds Office serves students, staff, and faculty, close to 35,000 members of the Lawrence and Edwards campuses.
The University of Kansas offers a competitive salary and benefits package including health insurance, a generous leave program, retirement options and tuition assistance for qualifying employees. To review our benefit programs and perks visit https://newhires.ku.edu/.
Job Duties:
Dispute Resolution, Consultation and Referral - 50%
The University of Kansas is situated in the beautiful, historic, and culturally vibrant city of Lawrence, a thriving community 40 minutes from the Kansas City metropolitan area and home to Haskell Indian Nations University. Founded in 1865, The University of Kansas is a major comprehensive research and teaching university that serves as a center for learning, scholarship, and creative endeavor. The University of Kansas is the only state university in Kansas to hold membership in the prestigious Association of American Universities (AAU), a select group of 62 public and private research universities that represent excellence in graduate and professional education and the highest achievements in research internationally. The University enrolls more than 28,000 students, offers 5,000 courses, more than 400 degree and certificate programs and employs 1,5000 faculty members, many of them at the top of their fields. In KU’s dynamic, cross-disciplinary research and learning environment, students exchange ideas, discover new ways of processing the world, and address society’s grand challenges. The Ombuds Office serves students, staff, and faculty, close to 35,000 members of the Lawrence and Edwards campuses.
The University of Kansas offers a competitive salary and benefits package including health insurance, a generous leave program, retirement options and tuition assistance for qualifying employees. To review our benefit programs and perks visit https://newhires.ku.edu/.
Job Duties:
Dispute Resolution, Consultation and Referral - 50%
- Provides professional ombuds support as a designated campus resource for individuals and groups engaged in addressing workplace conflict, issues or concerns informally. Meets with members of the KU community whose issues involve their time at KU.
- Listens to Ombuds Office visitors, assesses situations and empowers visitors to manage, engage, and resolve conflict for themselves and/or between themselves and others through impartial, informal, and confidential processes such as conflict resolution coaching, informal problem-solving, and/or facilitated dialogues or conversations.
- Assists visitors in interpreting university policies and procedures. Provides assistance in navigating equity systems as well as assisting individuals to raise and consider options for self-empowered resolution.
- Designs or co-designs and then facilitates group dialogues/circles for groups that may be in conflict.
- Participates in deliberations as a team on topics and issues facing the Office, its staff, and visitors. These team deliberations may also include debriefing cases, so that the Ombuds team is aware of emerging trends and can support each other in their professional development and learning.
- Participates in local, regional, or national trainings for continuing education and professional development and is offered professional development funds to cover a portion of those.
- Designs and conducts training sessions for the campus community that may include conflict engagement, dispute resolution, negotiation skills and theory, compassionate communication, collaborative problem solving, and related topics.
- Makes informed recommendations regarding improving program effectiveness.
- Regularly updates case and training tracking processes.
- Provides support for project management of a variety of data/reporting projects and data collection and management.
- Contributes to the completion of the Ombuds Office’s annual report, through data collection and visualization and supporting the team’s effort.
- Attends weekly and other Ombuds Office staff meetings to discuss work, ongoing training, and marketing efforts.
- Other duties as assigned.
Position Requirements
This position will be designated hybrid: there will be significant in-person components to the work, and there will be flexibility for some remote work each week. The person in this position will need to be within commuting distance of the Lawrence Kansas campus.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree and two years of work experience as an organizational ombuds or comparable/related experience.
- One year of demonstrated experience in facilitating conflict conversation between parties/groups, conflict coaching, restorative practices, and/or conflict mediation.
- One year of demonstrated experience in designing and delivering training in the areas of dispute resolution (e.g., collaboration, communication, etc.).
- Previous experience that required excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to communicate effectively in a culturally sensitive manner with individuals from diverse backgrounds, as evidenced by application materials, interview, and references.
- Previous work experience demonstrating capacity to maintain confidentiality for Ombuds Office visitors, clients, colleagues, patients, or other persons with whom they have worked.
Preferred Qualifications
- Master’s degree or above in conflict management, counseling, social work, alternate dispute resolution, that might include certification in coaching.
- Demonstrated experience and/or education in diversity, inclusion, cultural competency and intersectionality.
- Experience in a university setting.
- Completion of ombuds training programs and/or workshops.
- A thorough understanding of the nature of conflict and methods for resolution, as demonstrated by relevant coursework.
- One or more years’ experience with one or more of the following:
- Leveraging dispute resolution tools and techniques such as mediation, facilitation, conflict coaching and providing options of resolution to involved parties.
- Collaborating with staff, supervisors/managers, executives, and other supporting resource programs to resolve complex and sensitive workplace conflicts.
- Identifying and providing options to university constituents or colleagues in order to address systemic issues affecting organizations.
Additional Candidate Instructions
To apply online, go to https://employment.ku.edu/staff/24523BR. Only complete online applications will be accepted. An application packet will include the following items: 1) A cover letter describing how you meet the required and preferred qualifications; 2) a complete resume/CV; and 3) a list of 3 professional references. References will be contacted for finalists only.
Initial review of applications will begin March 20, 2023 and will continue to be reviewed until the position closes for applications on April 10, 2023.
Initial review of applications will begin March 20, 2023 and will continue to be reviewed until the position closes for applications on April 10, 2023.
Contact Information to Applicants
Advertised Salary Range
Starts at $80,000
Application Review Begins
20-Mar-2023
Anticipated Start Date
10-Jul-2023