TYLER SCOTT SMITH
Summary
Organizational ombuds and conflict management professional with 14+ years of experience supporting employees, leaders, scientists, and research professionals in complex organizational environments. Extensive experience providing ombuds services within a large biomedical research institution, helping individuals and groups navigate workplace, laboratory, and research-related concerns through conflict resolution, facilitation, coaching, mediation, and systems-level consultation. Recognized for balancing the complexities of human dynamics with strategic problem-solving to strengthen relationships, improve organizational effectiveness, and foster healthy workplace environments.
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Associate Ombuds
Guidehouse, Inc. (National Institutes of Health)
Remote
09.2021 - Current
- Serve as a dispute resolution practitioner for administrative, scientific, and research professionals within a leading biomedical research institution, utilizing ombuds principles and practices, alternative dispute resolution, facilitation, conflict coaching, and interest-based problem-solving.
- Manage individual and group ombuds matters by helping visitors identify concerns, clarify issues, explore options, navigate conflict, and access appropriate resources and referrals.
- Conduct case management and assess potential outcomes, organizational risks, and intervention strategies related to workplace, laboratory, and research-related concerns.
- Design and facilitate group processes, including leadership consultation, stakeholder interviews, identification of themes, and implementation of interventions to address organizational challenges and strengthen workplace effectiveness.
- Facilitate difficult conversations, mediations, and conflict resolution processes among employees, managers, scientists, and leaders to improve communication, working relationships, and organizational culture.
- Develop and deliver trainings, workshops, and presentations on communication, conflict management, collaboration, feedback, and related workplace effectiveness topics.
- Consult with employees and leadership regarding workplace concerns, organizational dynamics, policies, processes, and systemic issues, providing insights and recommendations to support organizational effectiveness and employee engagement.
University Ombuds
Northeastern Illinois University
Chicago
07.2019 - 12.2021
- Served as the designated ombuds for faculty, staff, and students, providing confidential conflict management, problem-solving, and dispute resolution services.
- Assisted visitors in identifying concerns, evaluating options, navigating university systems, and addressing interpersonal, academic, and organizational conflicts.
- Facilitated difficult conversations and mediations involving faculty, staff, students, and administrators.
- Conducted conflict coaching and consultation sessions to help individuals develop communication strategies and address workplace and academic challenges.
- Collaborated with university leadership to identify organizational concerns, improve processes, and strengthen campus climate.
- Developed and delivered workshops, trainings, and presentations related to communication, conflict management, feedback, and collaborative problem solving.
- Identified systemic issues and emerging trends and communicated observations to university leadership to support institutional effectiveness.
- Promoted awareness of ombuds services and conflict management resources throughout the university community.
Associate Ombuds
National Institutes of Health
Bethesda
07.2014 - 07.2019
- Provided confidential ombuds services to scientists, researchers, laboratory personnel, administrative staff, and managers across NIH Institutes and Centers.
- Managed a high-volume caseload of workplace and research-related concerns involving communication challenges, supervisory issues, team conflict, workplace climate concerns, and organizational change.
- Facilitated conflict resolution processes using mediation, facilitation, shuttle diplomacy, conflict coaching, and interest-based problem solving.
- Conducted organizational assessments and group interventions to identify concerns, uncover themes, and support constructive dialogue among employees and leadership.
- Collaborated with scientific and administrative leaders to address workplace concerns while preserving confidentiality, neutrality, independence, and informality.
- Designed and facilitated workshops and presentations on conflict management, communication, difficult conversations, and collaborative problem solving.
- Assisted employees and managers in understanding organizational policies, procedures, and available resources while helping them evaluate options for addressing concerns.
- Identified systemic issues and trends affecting workplace effectiveness and provided recommendations for organizational improvement.
- Supported efforts to strengthen employee engagement, morale, collaboration, and organizational culture across diverse scientific and administrative environments.
Graduate Assistant
Bosserman Center for Conflict Resolution
Salisbury
08.2012 - 05.2014
- Mediated interpersonal, group, and organizational disputes involving students, faculty, staff, and community members.
- Facilitated curriculum development, workshops, and program administration to boost student engagement in conflict resolution activities.
- Developed and delivered academic and community-based conflict resolution programs and initiatives to enhance participant engagement.
- Conducted research and supported educational programming related to conflict analysis, dispute resolution, mediation, and facilitation.
- Mentored students and promoted conflict resolution skills, fostering a collaborative environment in academic and community settings.
Education
Master of Arts - Conflict Analysis & Dispute Resolution
Salisbury University
Bachelor of Arts - Conflict Analysis & Dispute Resolution
Salisbury University
Skills
- Organizational Ombudsing
- Mediation
- Training & Workshop Development
- Group Facilitation
- Coaching
- Case management
Certification
- Certified Inclusive Mediator, Community Mediation Maryland, Performance-Based Evaluation
Timeline
Associate Ombuds
Guidehouse, Inc. (National Institutes of Health)
09.2021 - Current
University Ombuds
Northeastern Illinois University
07.2019 - 12.2021
Associate Ombuds
National Institutes of Health
07.2014 - 07.2019
Graduate Assistant
Bosserman Center for Conflict Resolution
08.2012 - 05.2014
Master of Arts - Conflict Analysis & Dispute Resolution
Salisbury University
Bachelor of Arts - Conflict Analysis & Dispute Resolution
Salisbury University