The Ombudspersons are there to help and support members or groups of members when problems arise between members and the association by referring them to the right entities, advising members and conducting effective investigations. They also handle questions as well as complaints, and conduct further investigations if necessary. They have a signalling role and can also investigate possible structural problems within the association on their own initiative. The Ombudspersons act fully independent.
Role description
Volt Europa should at least have two Ombudspersons. Therefore, we are looking for at least one more member. Ideally, the goal will be to explore the possibility of bringing together a pool of Ombudspersons from different chapters and backgrounds to facilitate the processing of cases.
The Ombudspersons shall have the following competences:
To investigate complaints, incidents and reports of (groups of) members, which includes:
Identifying and tracking systemic issues within the organisation;
Advising the Board on substantiated complaints and systemic issues;
Suggestion organisation changes.
To mediate conflicts between (groups of) members as well as bodies or individuals in a formal function or the association as a whole.
Practical information
Term length: Ombudspersons are appointed by the Board for a term of three years, with the possibility of reappointment.
Availability: Our estimation for now is less than 5 hours per week.
Remuneration: This is an unpaid position.
More information about the Ombudspersons can be found in the Integrity Syllabus.
What we look for
Suitable candidates:
Are empathetic and have active listening skills;
Are independent;
Have integrity and the ability to maintain confidentiality at all times;
Have awareness of and sensitivity to the multicultural and diverse environment in which Volt Europa operates;
English proficiency, and additional languages are preferred;
Professional training is appreciated (think of mediation, legal background, psychology);
Have knowledge of the working of the organisation;
Have experience with supporting others in challenging work situations - not a requirement but highly regarded.
As an Ombudsperson, it is imperative that you are free of conflict of interest so that you can exercise your role independently and impartially. In order to avoid potential conflicts of interests, this position can therefore not be combined with leadership positions in the organisation. Please disclose if you hold any other positions within the organisation; this may be relevant for the evaluation of your application in this context.
Application Process
Please send the documents and information below to [email protected], [email protected] and [email protected]:
CV
One reference within Volt and one reference outside of Volt
Motivation letter (max 500 words) or motivation video (max 2 minutes) where you answer the following questions (they can be answered individually or combined):
Why do you want to be one of our Confidant Persons?
Do you have any sort of experience? Explain if you held a similar position in the past or describe a situation in which you had to take on a confidant role (this is not a requirement but a good asset).
Which skills or knowledge do you possess that can be useful for the position?
Do you have the flexibility to dedicate time to fulfill the responsibilities of this role? As mentioned above, we currently cannot tell the amount of hours per week this will take, although experience from similar positions indicates that it tends to be <5h.
Please note: We encourage everyone to apply, even if all the criteria or application requirements are not met.
There is no application deadline, applications are reviewed on a rolling basis
The European Board and GSO will evaluate your application if your profile seems to fit with the position, you will be invited to an interview. The Board will ultimately decide who will be appointed.