Washington, DC*
Appointment*International Hire*Job Posted*25-Jun-2010*Closing Date*
29-Jul-2010*Language Requirements*English [Essential]*Appointment Type**
Background / General description
The World Bank Group (WBG) is recruiting an individual with extensive
successful experience in conflict resolution to fill a position of
Ombudsman. The President of the WBG appoints the Ombudsman, after
consultation with the representative members of the staff selected by the
WBG’s Staff Association. This is an internationally recruited, five-year
term appointment. The appointment may be renewed for one additional
five-year term. After serving as Ombudsman, an individual shall be
ineligible for any other appointment in the WBG, for a period of two years,
except for short-term consultant appointments limited to the Offices of the
Ombuds Services or Mediation Services. The WBG currently has two Ombudsman
positions. One is filled by an internally selected staff member with a deep
knowledge of the WBG. The second position is filled through the recruitment
of an external candidate with strong professional expertise. The two
Ombudsman work as a team. This position will add a third Ombudsman to the
Office of Ombuds Services for the first time and will require close
coordination with the other two Ombudsman. The third Ombudsman position is
open to both internal and external candidates. The Ombudsman position is
currently assigned to WBG’s headquarters in Washington, D.C., U.S.A. Because
the WBG is a globally decentralized organization, each Ombudsman is expected
to make international trips totaling a minimum of two months per year,
primarily to visit and interact with staff in our WBG offices outside of
Washington, D.C. One Ombudsman position may be decentralized to a country
office outside of Washington, D.C., but not before the Ombudsman has served
at least one year at headquarters. The WBG’s Ombudsman Function The Ombuds
Services Office generally operates in accord with the Standards of Practice
and Code of Ethics of the International Ombudsman Association. The WBG’s
administrative regulations provide for the Ombudsman to be independent of
any group or official of the WBG. The Office has a broad mandate to look
into staff-related issues, to consider conflicts of any nature related to
employment by the WBG, and to assist in their informal resolution. Except
for medical records, documents covered by attorney-client privilege or
records of on-going investigations, the Ombudsman has access to records
concerning staff. The Ombudsman may consult with anyone relevant to a
matter, and give whatever advice and opinion is deemed to be appropriate.
The Ombudsman have direct access to the President of the WBG as needed for
the performance of their duties. The WBG’s Ombuds Services Office performs
three principal functions: (i) provide assistance in the informal resolution
of conflicts and other issues brought to the attention of the Office; (ii)
monitor trends and emerging issues, and provide views and advice on ways to
improve the workplace environment in the WBG; and (iii) manage the
Respectful Workplace Advisors (RWA) Program. The WBG has several other units
and services which provide advice and assistance in resolving conflicts,
grievances and ethical issues (including Human Resources, Mediation
Services, Peer Review Services, the Administrative Tribunal, Ethics and
Business Conduct, Diversity Programs, Personal and Work Stress Counseling,
and the Staff Association). The Ombuds Services Office collaborates with
these units, as appropriate, while maintaining the confidentiality of
specific matters. . Note: If the selected candidate is a current Bank Group
staff member with a Regular or Open-Ended appointment, s/he will retain
his/her Regular or Open-Ended appointment. All others will be offered a 5
year renewable term appointment.
*

*Duties and Accountabilities*
The three Ombudsman perform their duties as a team. In efforts to help
resolve conflicts, depending on the circumstances, an Ombudsman may help a
visitor (individual calling upon Ombuds Services for assistance) analyze the
situation brought to his or her attention, advise the visitor of the policy
or procedural context of the situation, advise the visitor of options and
different avenues open to him or her, and make suggestions about how to
exercise options or pursue avenues. If requested by a visitor, an Ombudsman
may contact other parties to facilitate resolution, using conciliation or
any other appropriate means to resolve a conflict informally. In carrying
out their responsibilities, the Ombudsman hold periodic meetings with the
President of the WBG and other senior managers, issue periodic reports, and
may be consulted on policies where their views and experience may be
helpful. The three Ombudsman are also responsible for: • Formulating,
implementing, managing, and monitoring the plans, goals, budget, and
programs of the Ombuds Services office • Maintaining a data collection,
analysis, and reporting process that protects confidentiality, and making
regular reports based on anonymous aggregate data • Developing and executing
a communication plan to promote awareness and understanding of Ombuds
Services and the RWA Program, standards of practice, role and
responsibilities • Monitoring of the Office’s practices and the manner of
service delivery, in order to remain confidential, independent, impartial,
informal, and consistent • Managing and promoting the Respectful Workplace
Advisor (RWA) program • Managing, developing and supporting Ombuds Services
staff. • Maintaining a network of working associations with relevant
conflict resolution-related resources within WBG including other offices of
the Internal Justice System (IJS) • Staying current in Ombudsman practices
through participation in the International Ombudsman Association (IOA) and
UNARIO learning programs and conferences
Selection Criteria
Professional Qualifications: • At least ten years of successful professional
experience – including a minimum of five years in workplace conflict
resolution in public organizations and/or private practice, preferably as an
Ombudsman, in any organization is highly desirable • A thorough
understanding of the nature of conflict, the causes of conflict, and methods
for conflict resolution • Experience dealing with discrimination and sexual
harassment • Demonstrated problem-solving, negotiation and mediation skills
• Demonstrated success in organizational change management • Demonstrated
competency in building and maintaining internal and external networks with
allied functions • Experience designing and facilitating applied skills
training, preferably in conflict resolution or negotiation • Demonstrated
success in working collaboratively • Excellent presentation and written
communication skills in English; fluency in other working languages of the
WBG, particularly French, is highly desirable Personal Qualities • Ability
to maintain confidentiality and inspire trust, and recognized integrity and
judgment • Respect and compassion for individuals • Respect for the mission
and objectives of the World Bank Group • Commitment to diversity, equality
and inclusion, and sensitivity to cross-cultural factors in communications
and interpersonal relations • Ability to listen patiently and empathetically
without forming hasty judgments and to deal with multiple open-ended issues
and undetermined periods of closure • Demonstrated ability to work
effectively in teams • Not be risk-averse and should have the willingness
and ability to challenge even the highest levels of the Organization in an
effort to foster fair and just employment practices • Desire and ability to
serve in an exclusively advisory position with no implied power and minimal
need for public acknowledgement In selecting an Ombudsman, the WBG seeks to
achieve diversity in terms of gender, nationality/culture, educational
background, race and language skills. Individuals with disabilities are
equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated in the
strictest confidence.


Selection Criteria
Professional Qualifications: • At least ten years of successful professional
experience – including a minimum of five years in workplace conflict
resolution in public organizations and/or private practice, preferably as an
Ombudsman, in any organization is highly desirable • A thorough
understanding of the nature of conflict, the causes of conflict, and methods
for conflict resolution • Experience dealing with discrimination and sexual
harassment • Demonstrated problem-solving, negotiation and mediation skills
• Demonstrated success in organizational change management • Demonstrated
competency in building and maintaining internal and external networks with
allied functions • Experience designing and facilitating applied skills
training, preferably in conflict resolution or negotiation • Demonstrated
success in working collaboratively • Excellent presentation and written
communication skills in English; fluency in other working languages of the
WBG, particularly French, is highly desirable Personal Qualities • Ability
to maintain confidentiality and inspire trust, and recognized integrity and
judgment • Respect and compassion for individuals • Respect for the mission
and objectives of the World Bank Group • Commitment to diversity, equality
and inclusion, and sensitivity to cross-cultural factors in communications
and interpersonal relations • Ability to listen patiently and empathetically
without forming hasty judgments and to deal with multiple open-ended issues
and undetermined periods of closure • Demonstrated ability to work
effectively in teams • Not be risk-averse and should have the willingness
and ability to challenge even the highest levels of the Organization in an
effort to foster fair and just employment practices • Desire and ability to
serve in an exclusively advisory position with no implied power and minimal
need for public acknowledgement In selecting an Ombudsman, the WBG seeks to
achieve diversity in terms of gender, nationality/culture, educational
background, race and language skills. Individuals with disabilities are
equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated in the
strictest confidence.