UVA Health Ombuds

About the University of Virginia:

As one of the nation’s leading public universities, the University of Virginia (UVA) is committed to excellence in teaching, research, and service. UVA is known for its nationally ranked schools and programs, distinguished faculty, and research university status and strives to create a vibrant learning environment that fosters collaboration and innovation among its students, faculty, and staff.

Job Profile Summary:

The UVA Health Ombuds is one of two organizational ombuds for UVA, acting as an independent, confidential, informal and impartial resource to current faculty, staff and students. As a designated dispute resolution practitioner, the UVA Health Ombuds also serves as the primary facilitator and trainer for the University Ombuds Office. The UVA Health Ombuds supplements but does not replace UVA’s existing resources for formal conflict resolution.

Reporting to the University Ombuds, the UVA Health Ombuds is available to faculty, staff, residents, postdocs, graduate, professional and undergraduate students within the School of Medicine and School of Nursing at the Charlottesville, Wise and Fairfax Inova campuses, as well as to all of UVA Health staff members statewide, which is approximately 13,000 constituents. Operating within the principles of the International Ombuds Association (IOA) and the University of Virginia Ombuds Charter, the UVA Health Ombuds listens to concerns and issues, helps individuals navigate challenges, explore options, and facilitate conflicts through alternative dispute resolution methods that align with university policies and values. Services provided include individual consultation, conflict management coaching, one-on-one and small group facilitation, referrals, explanations of policies and procedures, review of available informal and formal resolution options, conflict management training and other services as appropriate. The University Ombuds Office operates independently of other administrative structures to maintain impartiality and to better ensure confidentiality when collaborating across the university.

Job Description:

Consultation and Facilitation - 50%

• Actively listen to visitor concerns during confidential consultations and employ a wide variety of problem-solving techniques to assist visitors, including helping to clarify problems, identifying and evaluating options, referrals to other resources as necessary, conflict management coaching, facilitation, shuttle diplomacy and informal mediation.
• Apply essential knowledge of, and experience with, current university policies, procedures, personnel, state policies and applicable employment laws in managing concerns.
• Engage in informal information gathering when appropriate and only with the visitor’s permission before proceeding, if necessary.
• Serve as the primary facilitator for in-person and virtual informal mediation/facilitated dialogues, shuttle diplomacy and small group facilitation requests by facilitating constructive communication and assist visitor(s) in finding mutually acceptable resolutions. Conduct formal mediation intake as requested.

Outreach, Education & Training - 25%

• Serve as the primary designated ombuds office trainer for all university constituents. Design and conduct in-person and virtual workshops or training sessions on conflict management, effective communication, civility and related topics.
• Participate in ongoing outreach and communication to the university community to increase awareness about the University Ombuds Office as an available resource.
• Conduct periodic outreach and engagement with key stakeholders, including Human Resources, Student Affairs, Provost Office, Faculty Guides, Faculty Senate, General Faculty Council, Staff Senate, Faculty and Employee Assistance Program, University Counsel, and Office for Equal Opportunity and Civil Rights to educate, collaborate and ensure alignment with institutional resources and goals.

Data Analysis and Feedback - 15%

• Regularly update non-identifying visitor statistics and general statistics and keep secure records in accordance with office protocols and the recommendations of the IOA.
• Review, identify and examine patterns of conflict, systemic issues or themes emerging and provide constructive feedback to appropriate stakeholders.
• Analyze quantitative and qualitative data and generate statistical and narrative periodic office reports through data collection, analysis, and visualization.
• Use discretion and maintain no permanent records of personally identifiable information pursuant to UVA’s record retention schedule.

Professionalism & Integrity of the University Ombuds Office - 10%

• Maintain active membership and participate with the IOA and other relevant professional associations such as the Mid-Atlantic Ombuds Network.
• Take all steps to ensure that the integrity of the University Ombuds Office is always maintained, including upholding its standards regarding confidentiality, impartiality, independence and informality, while treating individuals with dignity and respect.
• In addition to the above job responsibilities, other duties may be assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Education: An advanced degree, such as a master’s degree, JD or PhD, in conflict resolution, mediation, organizational behavior, or a related field. Equivalent education and/or experience may substitute for all minimum qualifications.
• Experience: A minimum of four years of relevant experience utilizing alternative dispute resolution practices and skills. Understanding of the Standards of Practice as outlined by the IOA and ability to adhere to those standards, including a strong understanding of ethical and legal issues related to confidentiality and impartiality.
• Licensure: Membership in the International Ombuds Association, including completion of at least the beginner-level training for ombuds or commitment to obtain membership and complete training as soon as practicable.
• Exceptional communication and presentation skills, both verbal and written, and the ability to facilitate group processes and effectively engage with diverse individuals.
• The ability to maintain strict confidentiality, use discretion and discernment in highly sensitive situations, and to respond to all individuals with care and concern.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Licensure: IOA CO-OP (Certified Organizational Ombuds Practitioner) certification, OCP-Certified Organizational Ombuds certification or foundational training from IOA (e.g., Foundations of Organizational Ombuds Practice).
• Conflict management coach and a certified administrator of the Conflict Dynamics Profile and/or the EQ-i/EQ360 assessments.
• Previous experience as an ombuds or in a conflict resolution role, ideally within a School of Medicine, School of Nursing and/or a higher educational health system.
• Knowledge of UVA policies, higher education structures, and applicable legal frameworks.

Salary and Benefits:

• Salary range: $126,000 - $145,000, commensurate with experience.
• Comprehensive benefits package, including health, retirement, and professional development opportunities. For more information on the benefits at UVA, visit https://hr.virginia.edu/benefits .

Work Arrangement:

• This position is based in Charlottesville, VA, with eligibility for hybrid or flexible scheduling. Work arrangement options will be discussed during the hiring process.
• This is primarily a sedentary job involving extensive use of desktop computers. The job does occasionally require traveling some distance to conduct in-person facilitated dialogues/informal mediations and in-person workshops/trainings as well as to attend professional development opportunities.

Stat date is flexible but ideally will be early summer 2025. The University will perform background checks on all new hires prior to employment. This is a full-time, Exempt-level, benefited position.

To Apply:
Please apply through UVA job board and search for R0071804. Internal applicants must apply through their UVA Workday profile by searching 'Find Jobs'. Complete an application online with the following documents:

• CV
• Cover letter

Upload all materials into the resume submission field, multiple documents can be submitted into this one field. Alternatively, merge all documents into one PDF for submission. Applications that do not contain all required documents will not receive full consideration.

For questions about the application process, please contact Jessica Russo, Senior Recruiter, at sxv9zv@virginia.edu .

For more information about UVA and the Charlottesville community please see http://www.virginia.edu/life/charlottesville and https://embarkcva.com/.

The University of Virginia, i ncluding the UVA Health System which represents the UVA Medical Center, Schools of Medicine and Nursing, UVA Physicians Group and the Claude Moore Health Sciences Library, are fundamentally committed to the diversity of our faculty and staff. We believe diversity is excellence expressing itself through every person's perspectives and lived experience. We are equal opportunity employers. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, marital status, national or ethnic origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, veteran or military status, and family medical or genetic information.