Position Openings

2026 Ombuds Vacancies

Interim Provost John Zumbrunnen and the UW Ombuds Office announce the search for two ombuds. The new ombuds will begin June 1 and December 1, 2026. Based on the current priorities of the ombuds team, we are seeking UW-Madison retired academic staff and retired university staff. To ensure consideration, applications should be submitted by Monday March 16, 2026.

The Ombuds Office was created to provide a resource for all UW–Madison employees (faculty, academic staff, university staff, limited appointees, graduate assistants, post-docs, and student staff members) seeking assistance with work-related issues.

The seven University of Wisconsin-Madison ombuds are retired UW employees representing faculty, academic staff, and university staff who have developed their expertise from decades of service on this campus in different disciplines and different roles. Ombuds provide an informal, safe, confidential opportunity for employees to be heard; explore concerns; and consider resources, options, and strategies for next steps to address workplace problems. Ombuds are impartial and work independently from university administrative offices, advocating for fairness and equity in the workplace rather than representing any side in a dispute. Essential skills routinely used by an ombuds include engaged listening, issue reframing, and development of options including referring visitors to other offices on campus and helping people help themselves.

Ombuds are selected from interested retired faculty, academic staff, university staff, and retired employees who had limited appointments to achieve the greatest breadth and depth for the program, and a balance among these categories of employees is desired to maintain representation from all employee categories.

This spring we are specifically seeking retired university staff and academic staff with broad campus experience in administrative processes and human resources to fill the open positions. Ombuds generally serve a single term of 37 months (3 years plus 1 month in training with an ombuds who is completing their term) and are appointed part-time, receiving compensation for approximately 10 hours of work per week.

The University of Wisconsin is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer. For more information, see the Ombuds website.

To Apply

To ensure consideration, interested individuals should send the following materials, preferably via email, to ombudssearch@provost.wisc.edu or to Office of the Provost UW–Madison, Room 150 Bascom Hall, 500 Lincoln Drive, Madison, WI 53706, no later than Monday March 16, 2026:

1. A letter of no more than two pages stating your qualifications for and interest in the position. Provide information about your experiences with the essential skills used by ombuds as described above.
2. A brief resume (no more than three pages).
3. The names and contact information of three references who can speak to your skills and abilities. References will not be contacted until candidates have been notified.

If you have questions about the position, contact one of the current ombuds, or call (608) 265-9992.
• Jane Dymond jane.dymond@wisc.edu
• Beth Dawson beth.dawson@wisc.edu
• Robin Kurtz rskurtz@wisc.edu
• Susan Ellis Weismer susan.ellisweismer@wisc.edu
• Don Schutt don.schutt@wisc.edu
• Amy Fruchtman amy.fruchtman@wisc.edu
• Regina Murphy regina.murphy@wisc.edu

About the Ombuds Office

The Ombuds Office was created to provide an alternative resource for all UW–Madison and UW-Extension employees (faculty, academic staff, university staff, graduate assistants, post-docs, and student staff members) seeking assistance with work related issues.

The Ombuds Office is comprised of retired UW employees representing faculty, academic staff and university staff who have developed their expertise from having served decades on this campus and in different disciplines. Ombuds provide an informal, safe, confidential opportunity to be heard, explore concerns, and consider resources, options and strategies for next steps to address workplace problems. Ombuds are impartial and work independently from university administrative offices, advocating for fairness and equity in the workplace, rather than representing any side in a dispute. Essential skills routinely used by an ombuds include engaged listening, reframing issues and developing options, and helping people help themselves.

Ombuds are selected from among interested retired faculty, academic staff, and university staff to achieve the greatest breadth and depth for the program, and a balance among these three categories is desired. Ombuds generally serve a term of three years; however, the appointment length is negotiable.