Careers at Virginia Tech

The Associate Ombuds will listen and help empower individuals, teams and leaders by providing a space where people can identify their issues & interests, discuss their concerns and explore options that may help manage their conflict. Reporting to the Director & University Ombuds the Associate Ombuds will ensure that they practice and provides Ombuds services in keeping with the International Ombuds Association's principles of independence, impartiality, confidentiality, and informality.

The role will serve faculty, staff, students, and any other members of the Virginia Tech community. The focus is on informally assisting members of the Virginia Tech community in managing difficulties that they may encounter, facilitating communication between individuals and/or teams, advocating for systemic fairness and ultimately helping create a campus climate that manages conflict in reflection of the ideals and objectives of the university. Members of the Virginia Tech community include the primary campus at Blacksburg but also Virginia Tech community members located in the greater Virginia region. Accordingly, job duties may require occasional travel to Virginia Tech members located in the greater Virginia region.

The Associate Ombuds will collaborate closely with other campus professionals providing resources and services to faculty, staff, and students including, but not limited to, the office of the provost, college and division leadership, the research division, the faculty senate, human resources, the graduate school, the Graduate School Office of the Ombudsperson, the dean of students office, and the division of student affairs.

This position is not a remote position and is eligible for a telework/hybrid schedule.

Strong leadership & collaboration skills; including the ability to work effectively with a broad and diverse range of people in a complex, multi-layered university.

Master’s degree in related area or Bachelor’s degree with experience and training in conflict resolution, mediation, team dynamics, negotiation, and conflict coaching

Strong problem-solving skills, including skills in determining root causes of problems and skills in offering options for managing conflict.

Strong interpersonal communication skills, including the ability to effectively listen and be non-judgmental.

Master’s degree in a related area.

Experience as a university or non-profit Ombuds.

Training via the International Ombuds Association (e.g. Foundations of the Organizational Ombuds) and/or current and active Certified Organizational Ombuds Practitioner (CO-OP) designation.

Thorough knowledge of a typical higher education campus, its resources, infrastructure, policies and procedures.

Knowledge of applicable laws, rules, regulations and/or policies and procedures that impact higher education.

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Regular

75,000- 80,000

8/11/24

The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.

Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands-on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem-solvers. A comprehensive land-grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world, Virginia Tech is an inclusive community dedicated to knowledge, discovery, and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in eight undergraduate colleges, a school of medicine, a veterinary medicine college, Graduate School, and Honors College. The university has a significant presence across Virginia, including the Innovation Campus in Northern Virginia; the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke; sites in Newport News and Richmond; and numerous Extension offices and research centers. A leading global research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $500 million in research annually.