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University Ombudsperson

Employer
California State University, Monterey Bay
Location
California, United States
Salary
Salary Not specified
Date posted
Nov 17, 2022


University Ombudsperson

Job no: 521277
Work type: Management (MPP)
Location: Monterey Bay
Categories: MPP, Administrative, At-Will, Full Time

Classification: Administrator II
Anticipated Hiring Salary: Commensurate with experience
CSU Salary Schedule
Hours: Full-time / 40 hours per week
FLSA: Exempt

Priority Screening Date: January 8, 2023
Recruitment Status: Open Until Filled

ABOUT CSUMB

Powered by an inspiring Founding Vision Statement, California State University, Monterey Bay (CSUMB) is a mid-sized comprehensive baccalaureate and masters granting university whose staff and faculty help transform student lives with a focus on student success and engagement through experiential learning, service learning in its regional community, and the promotion of multicultural and global perspectives on and beyond campus. With a vibrant, diverse student body of over 7,400 students. CSUMB is both a Minority Serving Institution (MSI) and a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI).

The university's Strategic Plan prioritizes inclusive excellence through recruiting and investing in the development of a diverse body of faculty, staff, and administrators. CSUMB's sustainability initiative is to be carbon neutral by 2030. The university's faculty and staff, many of whom live in the East Campus housing development, appreciate living and working so close to the shores of the beautiful Monterey Bay. As one of the 23 campuses in the California State University (CSU) system, CSUMB offers excellent benefits, including access to below-market-rate campus housing and competitive salaries for faculty and staff.

PURPOSE:

Under the general supervision of the Associate Vice President for University Personnel, the University Ombudsperson is a hands-on administrator to serve as an impartial party to receive student, faculty and staff complaints, provide information, facilitate communication, and offer conflict resolution between students and members of the university community (faculty, staff, and administrators) in a confidential environment. The University Ombudsperson also makes referrals to other offices, depending on the nature of the case. The nature of the work performed by the University Ombudsperson is highly sensitive and requires interpretation of CSU and university policy and procedures.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include, but are not limited to, the following:
  1. Ombuds Program
  • Serve as the inaugural University Ombuds. Develop and implement a neutral, independent, informal, and confidential Ombuds program for faculty and staff.
  • Serve as the initial and sometimes sole contact for faculty, staff and students seeking assistance from the Office of the Ombuds. Serve in an independent capacity to avoid conflicts of interest and any appearances of being compromised.
  • Seek to resolve concerns and disputes informally. Where issues cannot be resolved informally, help the faculty, staff or student to understand and access existing options for formal dispute resolution.
  • Develop and update manuals, guides, forms, web content, surveys, trainings and presentations.
  • Adhere to the International Ombudsman Association's Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice.
  • Conflict Management
    • Assess visitors' situations or needs and either prepare visitors for an appointment or triage the visitors to a more appropriate resource. Independently work with individuals to present a range of options to resolve conflict.
    • Understand, identify, and explain relevant University policies and procedures.
    • Provide conflict coaching, human relations, communication, and conflict management training and consultation designed to help individuals or groups achieve healthier conflict management.
    • Recognize issues that pose potential legal liability and triage those matters to the appropriate resource.
    • Advocate for a fair, impartial conflict management system and support changes to achieve these goals.
  • Dispute Resolution
    • Assist faculty and staff in dispute resolution through informal means, including consultation and mediation.
    • Engage in informal information gathering in order to better understand an issue from all perspectives.
    • Help individuals to weigh the pros and cons of alternative courses of action.
    • With visitor's permission, facilitate communication between individuals, promote intergroup dialogue, conduct shuttle diplomacy, and serve as a designated impartial process observer.
    • Mediate conflicts informally and where appropriate if all parties agree to informal mediation or refer visitors to other outside professional mediation, as needed.
  • Analysis and Reporting
    • Keep records regarding cases and workload.
    • Analyze complex conflict issues and concerns brought to the Ombuds Office and provide feedback to the University or department regarding activities, trends, and campus systemic issues.
    • Compile, analyze, and report statistical data annually, and collaborate with the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion to make systemic recommendations to the University on areas of process and climate improvement.
  • Justice, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging
    • Embrace justice, equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging and be able to work with individuals from a broad variety of backgrounds, cultures, and experiences.
    • Support and collaborate on campus-wide efforts of creating a culture of belonging that encourages, celebrates, and supports employees.

    Other Functions:

    Perform other job-related duties and special projects as assigned.

    KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
    • To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The items below are representative of the knowledge, skills, abilities, education, and experience required or preferred. This position requires the ability to effectively establish and maintain cooperative working relationships within a diverse multicultural environment.
    • Ability to maintain confidentiality and appropriately handle sensitive communications with students, employees and external agencies; mediate conflicts and provide dispute resolution in a fair and objective manner; interpret technical procedures and regulations as well as CSU and university policies and procedures. Ability to establish positive working relationships with students, faculty, administrators and staff; perform accurately in a detail-oriented environment; handle multiple work priorities, organize and plan work and projects; analyze data and synthesize information into a summary report; function well independently and within a team & advise student individually and in groups on routine and sensitive topics.
    • Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, faculty, students, and the general public; define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions; research, understand and apply a variety of state, federal, CSU policies and procedures; write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals.
    • Thorough knowledge of methods, procedures and practices of English grammar, business writing, punctuation and spelling. Excellent written and oral communication skills.
    • Excellent customer service and public relations skills.

    MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
    • Master's., Ph.D., JD, or advanced certificate in mediation, conflict or dispute resolution, organizational psychology, higher education, counseling or related fields, and five years of relevant professional experience or training.
    • Certified Organizational Ombudsman Practitioner or CO-OP credential or eligibility to be certified within two years of hire.
    • Completed IOA training 101, 202 or equivalent or within 12 months of hire.
    • Certification by International Ombuds Association (IOA) or within 12 months of hire. (Note: CSU will provide support for highly qualified candidates to obtain Ombuds certification during the initial twelve months of employment).

    PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS/DESIRABLE EXPERIENCE:
    • Six years in related field, higher education preferred; with demonstrated skills in problem solving, analysis, and dispute resolution/mediation including the courage to address the highest levels of the institution.
    • Demonstrated experience and/or education in diversity, inclusion, cultural competency and intersectionality.
    • Experience in a unionized environment.

    SPECIAL CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT AND POSITION DESIGNATIONS:
    • All offers of employment are contingent upon the successful completion of a background check (including a criminal records check).
    • The person holding this position is considered a “mandated reporter” under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment.
    • This position will have a duty to report to the Campus Title IX Officer information pertaining to victims of sex discrimination, sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, dating/domestic violence, and stalking as required by CSU Executive Order 1095.
    • This position is designated as a Campus Security Authority (CSA). The position is required to participate in training at the direction of the Clery Director and must also promptly report allegations of reportable crimes according to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, its accompanying regulations; the California State Education Code, Chapter 15.5, of the Donahoe Higher Education Act, Section 67380; and the California State University system-wide policy, Code EO 1107.
    • This position has been designated as a sensitive position with responsibility for the care, safety and security of people (including children and minors), animals and CSU property; access to and responsibility for detailed personally identifiable Level 1 confidential information about students, faculty, staff or alumni that is protected, personal or sensitive as defined in the CSU Information Security Data Classification Standards.
    • This position is required to comply with confidentiality requirements outlined in the Department of Education's Family Educational Rights and Privacy and California's Educational Code Chapter 13 regarding sensitive student issues.
    • This position is designated as a Campus Security Authority, will be required to participate in annual training, and to immediately forward to the Clery Compliance Officer all reports of Clery Act crimes brought to their attention.
    • May require occasional evenings and/or weekend work.

    PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT:

    Office environment with standard equipment and tasks. Position requires working at a computer and desk for extended periods of time.

    The health and safety of our students, faculty, and staff remain our highest priority. While on campus, students, faculty, staff, and the community will be expected to follow all campus safety mandates.

    Per the CSU COVID-19 Vaccination Interim Policy, all students and employees are required to submit their vaccination status to the Otter Vaccination Registry and are encouraged to be vaccinated.

    BENEFITS/PERKS:

    Commensurate with qualifications and experience. This is a management-level position with an attractive benefits package, which includes: a vacation accrual rate of 16 hours per month; an excellent choice of medical, dental and vision insurance; long term disability coverage; life insurance; educational incentives; membership in the California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS); and 14 paid holidays a year. For more information, visit CSU System Benefits. Additionally, as a perk, the University Corporation at CSU Monterey Bay provides access to affordable campus housing based on availability; visit Schoonover Employee Housing for more information.

    APPLICATION PROCEDURE:

    For full consideration, applicants must complete the required online application prior to the priority screen date found at Careers at CSUMB. Application submissions received after the application screening date will be reviewed at the discretion of the University. Materials submitted become the property of CSUMB and will not be returned.

    CSUMB is not a sponsoring agency for staff or management positions.

    Reasonable accommodations will be provided for qualified applicants with disabilities who self-disclose by contacting University Personnel at (831) 582-3389 or email universitypersonnel@csumb.edu. All employees must be eligible for employment in the U.S.

    GENERAL INFORMATION:

    CSUMB hires only individuals lawfully authorized to work in the United States and is an E-Verify employer. In compliance with federal crime awareness and campus security legislation, including the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics, you can view the notice of availability and access the Cal State University, Monterey Bay annual security and fire safety reports at https://csumb.edu/clery/asr-and-fsr-notices-availability/.

    CSUMB is a smoke and tobacco-free campus.

    AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER:

    CSUMB is an Equal Opportunity Affirmative Action employer seeking to recruit and support a broadly diverse community of faculty and staff. We value and celebrate diversity in all its forms and strive to foster an inclusive culture built on respect that affirms inter-group relations and builds cohesion. We consider qualified applicants for employment for their anticipated contributions and without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, medical condition, pregnancy, marital status, veteran status, or disability.



    To apply, visit https://careers.csumb.edu/en-us/job/521277/university-ombudsperson



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