Associate Ombuds
Requisition Number:
65158
Location:
Boulder, Colorado
City
Boulder
State
Colorado
Employment Type:
University Staff
Schedule:
Full-Time
Posting Close Date:
24-Jun-2025
Date Posted:
11-Jun-2025
Job Summary
The Ombuds Office at CU Boulder welcomes applications for an Associate Ombuds. The Associate Ombuds is a designated neutral dispute resolution practitioner who provides confidential and informal assistance to students, staff, faculty, and administrators at the University of Colorado Boulder. The Associate Ombuds assists individuals in understanding and considering their options, answers questions, facilitates communication, and provides information and referrals. They have no administrative or decision-making authority on behalf of the University.
The Associate Ombuds follows the Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice of the International Ombuds Association. In consultation with the Director, the Associate Ombuds conducts outreach to assigned campus units.
CU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. We are committed to creating a workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.
Who We Are
Our office serves as a good place to surface, voice, discuss and clarify university-related concerns. We listen without judgment, help people untangle issues, develop options and strategize. We provide an impartial perspective and maintain what is shared with us in the strictest confidence. Visitors to our office choose their path of resolution.
What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be
- Confer with individuals experiencing conflict (e.g., interpersonal disputes, complaints about perceived unfair treatment). Assist these individuals in identifying issues and reviewing possible options to manage or resolve their concerns.
- Provides conflict-related workshops, training and outreach for members of the university community, including on social media.
- Facilitates or mediates conversations involving conflicting individuals or groups to assist them in improving mutual understanding and/or communication and identifying strategies to resolve work-related conflicts.
- Assists constituents in gathering information to help them in understanding and effectively navigating university bureaucracy (e.g., formal and informal rules, fair process concerns, procedures, etc.).
- Provides updates and commentary on policy and legal changes to the Ombuds Office staff as needed.
- Communicates, as appropriate, with members of the university community to facilitate referrals, and to learn about significant trends, initiatives, and activities across the campus. Supports the Ombuds Office with additional duties as assigned.
What You Should Know
- Occasional evening and weekend outreach events.
What We Can Offer
- Salary: $108,000 - $120,000.
Benefits
The University of Colorado offers excellent benefits, including medical, dental, retirement, paid time off, tuition benefit and ECO Pass. The University of Colorado Boulder is one of the largest employers in Boulder County and offers an inspiring higher education environment. Learn more about the University of Colorado Boulder.
Be Statements
Be dynamic. Be excited. Be Boulder.
What We Require
- Five (5) plus years full-time experience in an Ombuds office (or demonstrably equivalent job responsibilities in law, conflict management, negotiation and dispute resolution, mediation, or labor relations).
- JD from an accredited law school.
- Must become an OCP (formerly CO-OP) - Certified Ombuds Practitioner as soon as eligible.
What You Will Need
- Clear understanding of the nature of interpersonal and organizational conflict and effective skills to facilitate its management or resolution.
- Highly developed oral and written communication skills to communicate effectively with individuals at all levels of the university, as well as with people from diverse cultures and life experiences.
- Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Commitment to an environment where all can thrive.
- Demonstrated ability to work effectively as a member of a highly collaborative team.
What We Would Like You to Have
- Training in mediation or alternative dispute resolution.
- Demonstrated experience with systematic and structural change.
- Expertise with social media outreach.
- Familiarity with higher education and current issues in higher education.
Special Instructions
To apply, please submit the following materials:
- A current resume.
- A cover letter that specifically tells us how your background and experience align with the requirements, qualifications, and responsibilities of the position.
We may request references at a later time.
Please apply by June 24, 2025 for consideration.
Note: Application materials will not be accepted via email. For consideration, please apply through CU Boulder Jobs.
In compliance with the Colorado Job Application Fairness Act, in any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information such as age, date of birth, or dates of school attendance or graduation. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information.
Posting Contact Information
Posting Contact Name: Boulder Campus Human Resources
Posting Contact Email: Recruiting@colorado.edu