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MSD Mediation Service - Building better workplace relationships - Call for Mediators 2026

Summary

The MSD Mediation Service is looking for 1-2 new mediators to join its team. 

 

MSD Mediation Service Objectives: 

  • Provide a confidential space for MSD staff and graduate students to address conflict informally, at an early stage.
  • Offer resources, webinars, and workshops to equip managers, staff, and students with practical conflict management skills.
  • Build a culture of constructive conflict management.
  • Reduce organisational costs and risks.

 

Since September 2024, the MSD Mediation Service has:

  • Consolidated a team of 16 MSD workplace mediators
  • Implemented a communications strategy, including a webpage, awareness campaign, and training of HR and other key referrers.
  • Managed and closed 20 mediation requests from September 2024 to September 2025, supporting 36 MSD staff/graduate students in their workplace conflicts.

Call

The MSD Mediation Service is seeking 1-2 MSD staff to be trained as professional workplace mediators to join our team and co-mediate (ie mediate in pairs), once trained, a number of cases between MSD staff/students. Our service uses Consensio, an external, expert training provider.

This project is led by Maria Granell-Moreno (maria.granellmoreno@ndorms.ox.ac.uk ) from NDORMS (MSD). Please do get in touch with her if you wish further information.

The Role of the Mediators

  • We are seeking 1-2 volunteers (the future mediators) who are interested in providing support for staff and students in conflict, whilst also widening their professional skills. Following the Workplace Mediation Training the new mediators will prepare and co-mediate with one of our existing mediators. We always mediate in pairs (co-mediate) and always outside our departments.
  • Preparation, mediation cases, mediators’ meetings, and the option to deliver trainings/events, will take up to 5% of their FTE (underwritten by their own departments (or by MSD with approval)).
  • The future mediators will be required to attend the online Accredited Workplace Mediation training. The format is: 9 half days course online over 2 weeks, ending with an assessment on the 10th day.  There is also a requirement to submit a written assignment after the training.  

The dates are: 8-12 and 22-26 June 2026

 This course is accredited by the Open College Network (OCN) and focuses on the principles, process and practice of mediation. The course provides delegates with the practical tools and the necessary accreditation to work as in-house mediators.

  • Continuing support for mediators will be available from the lead, coordinators and mediators of the Service. The mediators team meet regularly for an hour, online, every month. We reflect on practice, share experiences and refresh the training learnings as required. 
  • Mediators are required to commit to 5% FTE up to end of August 2027.

Applicants

Applicants will need existing communication and inter-personal skills, but are not expected to have any previous mediation qualifications or experience. However, experienced and trained mediators are also welcome to apply.

We welcome applications from:

  • Staff in MSD departments (especially from those departments underrepresented within the team)
  • People working in a wide range of roles within MSD
  • Individuals who identify as male or non-binary and from underrepresented groups in higher education to address underrepresentation in the MSD Mediation Service
  • Those in part-time roles
  • Those on fixed-term contracts, where their contract has an end-date of August 2027 or later: we will not be able to consider applications from those whose contract expires before that date because of the considerable investment in mediators and the hopefully long-term nature of the project.

Selection Criteria

  • Demonstrates an existing commitment to build an inclusive, supportive and diverse staff and student body and is willing to commit long-term to this project.
  • Willing to acquire a good working knowledge of mediation, and to develop that knowledge.
  • Able to create a positive and non-judgemental environment.
  • Handles challenge and conflict with confidence and empathy.
  • Willing to learn and able to give and receive feedback.
  • Empathic and non-judgemental communicators.
  • Excellent interpersonal and listening skills with the ability to relate well to staff at all levels.
  • Able to build relationships which engender trust and confidence and enable collaborative working.
  • A willingness to reflect on and enhance your own practice over time.

The mediators will be carrying out the mediation role at 0.05 FTE of their normal role, so it is vital to have line manager or equivalent support.

What will be the benefits for the mediators? 

The role will bring personal and professional benefits.

At the training, new mediators will:

  • Understand the key principles of mediation and the benefits of this approach in the workplace.
  • Practice key skills and essential strategies of effective mediators by using various case studies and role play scenarios. All case studies and role plays will be practiced in a safe learning environment with constructive feedback from the trainer.
  • Be given a structured process with which to resolve a variety of workplace conflicts.
  • Discuss best practice and how to apply this to mediation sessions.
  • Develop the confidence to work as an in-house mediator.

 

After the training, the new mediators will:

  • Develop and enhance communication skills.
  • Increase their understanding and knowledge of workplace mediation within the MSD context.
  • Be part of the MSD Mediation Service project that empowers staff/students to manage their
    conflicts in a positive and healthy way.
  • Contribute to the development of the MSD Mediation Service.

How will mediators be selected? 

  • The Service aims to recruit 1-2 mediators by the end of May 2026.
  • We recommend an informal conversation with one the Mediation Service Coordinators (Maria Granell-Moreno, Louise Cotterell, or Polly Kerr) before applying. Please email mediation@ndorms.ox.ac.uk to arrange this.
  • Applicants should provide a short statement (up to 500 words max) and fill in the Expression of Interest (EOI) form– Thursday by 30 April 2026:
  1. Outlining why they wish to become a mediator.
  2. Demonstrating how they meet each of the selection criteria outlined above.
  3. Showing that they have the support of their HAF and line manager, supervisor or equivalent.
  • We will not be able to consider applications from those who do not have their HAF and line manager support, because of the time commitment required.
  • We cannot accept applications from those who are not available for the entirety of the training dates (8-12 and 22-26 June 2026).
  • We will hold short semi-structured informal interviews with shortlisted applicants to explore their application and the role.
  • Final decisions on the selection of mediators will be made by the Service Coordinators, taking account of the need to select a diverse group of mediators from across the MSD. We aim to have our final decision by the end of May 2026.
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