Associate Ombudsperson

Johns Hopkins University•Baltimore, MD

11d•$102,295 - $179,375•Remote

About The Position

The Associate Ombudsperson serves as a confidential, impartial, independent and informal resource for staff, graduate and postdoctoral students, fellows and programs, consistent with the International Ombuds Association Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics. The Associate Ombuds provides confidential advice, informal conflict resolution, communication facilitation, support navigating the university system, and coaching on a variety of issues. These issues might relate to university policies and practices, conflicts with supervisors, colleagues, mentors, authorship disputes, concerns with educational climate, bullying or harassment issues, or any other university-related matter that is of concern to the visitor to the Ombuds Office. The Associate Ombuds will adhere to the principle of “informality”, meaning that they will not take part in any formal investigative or adjudication processes, nor will they purport to make any binding decisions or policy.

Requirements

PhD, JD, or equivalent advanced degree in Conflict Resolution, Organizational Development, or a related field.
Three years of relevant experience.
Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills; ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, with individuals at all levels of the organization.
High degree of integrity, discretion, and sense of professionalism.
Strong organizational skills.
Ability to display a firm commitment to fairness and respect in the workplace, a genuine desire to promote a supportive climate for Johns Hopkins University affiliates.
Commitment to contributing to a safe, inclusive, and non-discriminatory educational and work environment.
Ability to manage difficult conversations with skill, integrity, empathy and respect.
Demonstrated skills and experience in facilitation, mediation and/or conflict resolution.
Mature judgment and a thorough appreciation of and sensitivity to the academic and research environment of the university.

Nice To Haves

Advanced certificate in mediation recommended.
Knowledge of higher education and research environments strongly preferred.
Certification in mediation, and/or completed Ombuds Foundations Training, given by the International Ombudsman Association. In some cases, this training may be completed upon hiring.

Responsibilities

Serve as a confidential, neutral, impartial, and informal resource to staff, graduate and postdoctoral students, fellows and programs, and assist in resolving concerns as appropriate.
Manage a portion of the Ombuds Office caseload by listening to and discussing the questions, complaints, and concerns raised by members of the university community; provide answers to questions when possible, support visitors to the office in developing their options, and help to identify the relevant policies, offices, or individuals who may be resources to further assist with the issue.
Work closely with the University Ombudsperson to develop an approach to responding consistently and appropriately to complex and challenging visitor concerns.
Coach visitors to the Ombuds Office in having difficult conversations with others including supervisors, colleagues, mentors, other students/fellows, or other JHU affiliates.
When desired by the involved parties and when appropriate to the situation, facilitate constructive conversations and/or mediate conflicts between individuals or groups.
For situations involving concerns of discrimination and harassment, assist visitors in understanding their options and connecting them with available resources, including formal complaint processes when desired.
Provide a safe venue for surfacing and discussing concerns so that affiliates have an informal mechanism to explore opportunities for resolution; consulting with the Ombuds Office can serve as an alternative or prelude to other formal grievance or investigation processes and may be utilized in parallel to those processes.
Help to bring the appropriate people together to develop options and creative systemic solutions to concerns.
Track the activities of the office and maintain data in a de-identified way, to support the preparation of annual reports that summarize the work of the office, highlight systemic issues, and recommend actions to promote an ethical, equitable, safe and respectful university community, consistent with university policies.
Identify gaps in services or policy and recurring issues brought to the Ombuds Office and discuss these with the University Ombudsperson.
Adhere to the Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice of the International Ombudsman Association.
Work alongside the University Ombudsperson to assist in the development and delivery of workshops, trainings, and educational programs to build capacity in conflict resolution, communication, and collaborative problem-solving.
Attend regular meetings with the University Ombudsperson to discuss cases and to engage in reflective practice, with a commitment to continuous improvement of the Office’s services.
Engage in professional development activities to stay current with best practices, professional standards, and legal developments related to higher education and ombuds practice.
Other duties as assigned.