UNIVERSITY PARK – Penn State has begun a national search for the inaugural director of the University Ombuds Office. The successful candidate will be responsible for establishing a new office that serves as a confidential, independent and impartial resource for Penn State faculty, staff, and postdoctoral scholars to resolve conflicts, disputes or concerns.
The director of this office will directly report to Josh Davis, senior vice provost and chief of staff.
“As part of Penn State’s broader efforts to support its employees and provide resources, this new role and office will furnish faculty, staff and postdoctoral scholars with neutral and informal consultation, conflict management, restorative dialogue facilitation and assistance in resolving workplace and interpersonal concerns,” Davis said. “The ideal individual in this role is not just a skilled mediator, but also a dedicated leader who can coordinate and lead ombuds in units across the University.”
The search committee, led by Peter Hopsicker, associate vice provost for faculty affairs, includes representatives from Faculty Senate, University Staff Advisory Council (USAC), Post Doctoral Affairs, Faculty Affairs, Human Resources, Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost, and the University Faculty Senate Ombudsperson, with the goal of hiring the director by summer. Interested candidates should apply through Penn State’s careers website.
The recommendation to establish a University Ombuds Office initially came from the Standing Joint Committee on Faculty Safety, a University committee with Faculty Senate representation, as well as from USAC. The new office will be in addition to, not in place of, the Faculty Senate’s existing ombuds structure.
The ideal candidate to lead this office will be experienced in conflict resolution, mediation or higher education administration.
The director of the University Ombuds Office will be a strategic mediator who can provide neutral and informal consultation to individual faculty, staff, and postdocs, as well as lead the development of protocols and training for ombuds in units across the University and integrate the existing Faculty Senate Ombuds program.
The University Ombuds Office will serve as the central point of contact for unit-level ombuds for questions, guidance and coordination. Penn State ombuds serve as a neutral resource to support members of the University’s community across all colleges and campuses, helping to clarify misunderstandings, advise employees on available courses of action, and assist in the informal resolution of issues.
“I am grateful for the input from both our faculty and staff governing leaders, making the recommendation to establish an ombuds office that serves faculty, staff and postdoctoral scholars,” Davis said. “Hiring a director to get this office up and running is an important step in making sure all employees feel protected and that their concerns are taken seriously.”