Ombuds

Loudoun County Public Schools • Ashburn, VA

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The Ombuds serves as a designated neutral resource for families, employees and community members, advocating for fairness, equity and consistency to assist in the resolution of education, student and employee-related concerns, problems, complaints and issues. The position provides resources for information and referral; fosters positive working relationships among stakeholders; and facilitates conflict resolution and mediation.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in education, psychology, sociology, conflict resolution, human resources, public administration, or related field
• Six (6) years of ombuds or professional mediation conflict resolution experience
• Knowledge of the procedures and practices of K-12 school administration
• Knowledge of the principles, practices, methods, and trends of fact finding, conflict resolution, mediation, and cultural competency
• Knowledge of school division and community resources, demography and diversity
• Ability to establish and maintain collaborative working relationships and build trust with school personnel, public entities, families and citizens
• Ability to deal with controversy, and handle sensitive or confidential information with tact and discretion
• Proficiency in the use of personal computer and related hardware and software
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing
• Ability to understand, interpret, apply and explain complex rules, regulations, policies, legislation and court decisions
• Ability to analyze processes and problems, identify opportunities for improvement and implement changes
• Ability to communicate and interact effectively with individuals of diverse backgrounds
• Ability to represent the division in a variety of public settings

Responsibilities

• Acts as a neutral and confidential resource for families, employees and the school community to communicate and inquire about education and employee-related concerns.
• Provides information and assistance regarding the Division rules, regulations, and procedures.
• Assists stakeholders in identifying office or official to which an issue should be addressed.
• Promotes positive working relationships among employees and between the division and the school community.
• Assists families in effectively advocating for their students.
• Researches and identifies best practices to proactively address and prevent conflict.
• Recommends and develops conflict avoidance and resolution strategies and fair and equitable processes.
• Seeks to ensure resolution of problems and concerns in a prompt and fair manner that is satisfactory to all parties involved through counseling, mediation, and conflict resolution services.
• Participates in development of policy to ensure fair and equitable delivery of Division services and advises on the strategic impact of policy implementation.
• Drafts final resolutions of complaints and responses to inquiries.
• Provides consultative services to division administration and staff.
• Oversees the design, coordination, and delivery of proactive professional learning for school and division staff in efforts related to informal conflict resolution.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees