Ombuds

University of Denver • Denver, CO

23h • Hybrid

About The Position

The University Ombuds serves as a confidential, impartial, and independent resource for members of the campus community—students, faculty, and staff—providing informal conflict resolution, coaching, assessment, and systemic issue identification to promote collaboration and constructive resolution of concerns. The Ombuds helps individuals and groups navigate complex situations, clarify issues, identify options, and improve communication, while tracking patterns that may highlight institutional concerns. Services are provided in accordance with the Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics of the International Ombuds Association, and are voluntary, informal, neutral, and off-the-record. This position has a joint reporting structure to attend to the Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics anchored by the International Ombuds Association (IOA). The Ombuds, to maintain Independence, Impartiality, Confidentiality, and Informality will report to the Vice Chancellor of Community Support & Engagement and the University Chief of Staff.

Requirements

• Advanced degree (Master’s, Ph.D., or equivalent) in Psychology, Conflict Resolution, Organizational Development, or a closely related field.
• At least 15 years of progressive professional experience working with individuals, groups, organizations, and complex systems, including counseling, conflict management, facilitation, or related areas.
• Demonstrated expertise in conflict resolution practices, coaching, mediation, and informal dispute systems.
• Experience with assessment of systemic issues, data analysis, and preparing institutional recommendations.
• Strong knowledge of university policies, procedures, and academic cultures preferred.
• Exceptional interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Commitment to confidentiality, impartiality, equity, and ethical practice.
• Certification or formal training in mediation, organizational ombuds practice, or advanced conflict resolution methodologies.
• Prior experience in higher education or large complex institutions.
• Prior experience with public speaking
• Ability to earn the trust of constituencies and preserve the integrity of the process
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Ability to work with students, faculty, and staff
• Knowledge of/or working experience with university policies and procedures
• Ability to provide input and evaluate system-wide operating structures, processes, policies, and procedures
• Experience, knowledge, and ability in dealing with confidential communications
• Ability to collaborate and work cooperatively with community members, individuals, groups, and university offices
• Has the ability to create a safe space for off-the-record conversations with individuals to identify and evaluate options or potential referrals, including to other offices or relevant conflict mediation.

Responsibilities

• Provide a safe, confidential, and impartial environment for individuals and groups (students, staff, faculty) to share concerns, clarify issues, and explore resolution options.
• Listen actively to concerns, identify underlying issues, and help visitors understand relevant policies, procedures, and university processes.
• Offer conflict coaching, conflict assessment, communication strategies, negotiation support, and rehearsal to help individuals address concerns effectively.
• Facilitate or mediate informal dispute resolution processes when appropriate and with consent of all parties.
• Facilitate dialogue processes with teams and/or groups as tied to conflict management.
• Monitor and assess recurring concerns or patterns affecting campus climate and organizational health.
• Provide aggregated, non-identifying trend analyses and insights to university leadership to support informed policy, process, and practice improvements.
• Develop and deliver educational programming, workshops, and presentations on conflict prevention, conflict resolution, communication skills, equity, and related topics.
• Engage proactively with campus units to raise awareness of Ombuds services and promote constructive conflict management across the institution.
• Provide campus community with sustainable solutions to peacebuilding, equipping them with skills to navigate or prevent conflict in a constructive way.
• Create, train, and support the Peer Conflict Navigators program. This program trains a group of faculty members in working cross-divisional to support other faculty and/or faculty groups in navigating conflicts in and among faculty in the workplace, as well as training faculty in interest-based negotiations.
• Work in partnership with Community Support and Engagement in creating and implementing a sustained dialogue program for differing groups (e.g., students, faculty, and staff). This program will work toward creating spaces of supportive engagement toward active listening across difference, pluralism, and developing habits of constructive dialogue.
• Create, collaborate on, and Implement trainings to departments/divisions in de-escalation and conflict management in attendance to university policy requiring some employees to respond to concerning situations and events.
• Provide information and referrals to other campus offices and resources when formal processes or specialized services are more appropriate.
• Coach visitors on how to engage with other university systems while preserving confidentiality and autonomy.
• Works with policy-making committees such as the Faculty Senate, Staff Advisory Council, Dean’s Council, Chancellor’s Cabinet, including DEI, and other departments to make recommendations for changes in policies, procedures, or operating structures, as appropriate.
• Prepares to address perceived irregularities with academic policies and practices, concerns about fairness or equity, disrespectful or inappropriate behavior, interpersonal disputes, or conflicts, among others.
• Remains keenly aware of university policies and procedures governing conflict resolution, HR practices, academic integrity, student rights and responsibilities and claims of discrimination or harassment.
• Serves as an information clearing house with respect to university policies and procedures and makes referrals, as necessary.
• Maintain non-identifying data for assessing trends and preparing institutional climate insights.
• Contribute to periodic reporting on Ombuds Office activities, trends, and recommendations to senior leadership consistent with confidentiality standards.
• Uphold the International Ombuds Association’s Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics, ensuring independence, neutrality, confidentiality, and informality in all interactions.

Benefits

• medical
• dental
• retirement
• paid time off
• tuition benefit
• ECO pass

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior