(Non-Unit) Ombudsperson and Chief Culture Officer

Holyoke Community College

Holyoke, MA

Full-time

About Holyoke Community College:

Holyoke Community College: the opportunities you want; the future you're looking for.

For over 65 years, Holyoke Community College has been a gateway to quality education and career advancement. Seeking to realize their dreams and aspirations, more than 100,000 students have come through the open doors of the College. HCC offers over 100 different academic options.

The Commonwealth's oldest community college, Holyoke Community College serves more than 12,500 students annually in credit and noncredit programs and courses. The college has the highest transfer rate of any community college statewide, holding articulation agreements with more than 27 colleges and universities. Recognized for its Honors Program, distance learning curriculum, learning communities, and service to students, HCC also offers business development opportunities through the Kittredge Center for Business and Workforce Development.

Job Description:

Holyoke Community College seeks our first College Ombudsperson and Chief Culture Officer. We are seeking an individual with a strong understanding of organizational, group, and individual employee dynamics to join our team and enhance our efforts to promote an environment that embodies the College's foundation values of kindness, inclusion, and trust.

The ideal candidate will lead the College's campus-wide efforts of creating a culture of civility and belonging that encourages, celebrates, and supports employees, resulting in an exceptional student experience. This position will provide individual conflict coaching, human relations, communication, and conflict management training, and consultation designed to help individuals or groups prevent or better manage their own disputes. The incumbent will compile, analyze, and report statistical data annually, and make systemic recommendations to the College on areas of process and climate improvement.

Reporting to the President, this position will promote a safe, respectful, and productive working and learning environment by serving as a designated impartial, neutral, and confidential employee who: assists faculty and staff in dispute resolution through informal and formal means, including consulting and mediation; advocates for a fair conflict management system and supports changes to achieve these goals; and serves in an independent capacity to avoid conflicts of interest and any appearances of being compromised. To that end, this position will facilitate communication between individuals and larger groups, mediate disputes, and serve as a designated impartial process observer.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS: Master's degree or higher in Organizational Psychology, Higher Education, Counseling or related fields. Advanced certifications in mediation, conflict or dispute resolution; Minimum five years professional experience directly related to the duties and responsibilities of the position including mediation, conflict and dispute resolutions, data analysis, campus climate initiatives; Experience designing and conducting training programs in conflict resolution, negotiation skills and theory, civility, or other related topics; Demonstrated knowledge of professional Ombuds standards, codes of ethics, procedures, and principles and techniques for informal inquiries; Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to communicate effectively and respectfully with individuals from diverse backgrounds and with diverse groups of individuals throughout the College community, and the ability to make effective written and oral presentations; Demonstrated ability to exercise independent judgment and prudence in dealing with sensitive, confidential matters and remain non-judgmental; Demonstrated ability to obtain the trust and confidence of individuals at all organizational levels.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: Six years in higher education with demonstrated skills in problem solving, analysis, and dispute resolution/mediation including the courage to address the highest levels of the institution; Certified Organizational Ombudsman Practitioner or CO-OP® credential or eligibility to be certified within two years of appointment; Experience in a unionized environment; Demonstrated experience and/or education in diversity, inclusion, cultural competency and intersectionality.

SALARY RANGE: $84,000-$92,000/year, plus a comprehensive State benefits package

HOURS: 37.5 hrs./week

FUNDING SOURCE: Trust

START DATE: January, 2019

EQUIVALENCY STATEMENT: Applicants who do not meet the minimum requirements are encouraged to put in writing precisely how their background and experience have prepared them for the responsibilities of this position.

Additional Information:

Holyoke Community College is committed to excellence and opportunity through diversity in education and employment. Holyoke Community College is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, religion, color, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, genetic information, maternity leave, and national origin, in its education programs or employment.

- All candidates must have legal authorization to work in the United States. HCC is not sponsoring H1B Visa.

- Pre-Employment Background check, including Criminal History will be conducted for all positions.

Application Instructions:

Applicants interested in applying MUST submit the following documents to: www.hcc.edu

• Resume/CV


• Letter of Interest (Cover Letter) - When preparing your cover letter, please refer to the minimum and preferred qualifications as pertaining to this position and, if applicable, include an equivalency statement


• List of references with names, email addresses, & telephone numbers of three professional references (two supervisory references and one professional reference)

DEADLINE: October 5, 2018. Additional applications may be considered until position is filled.

Returning applicants - https://hcc.interviewexchange.com/login.jsp to check completed application.

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