Regional Ombudsman

Overview

This role serves as a Regional Ombudsman for long-term care consumers in Eau Claire, Chippewa, Pierce, Dunn, and St. Croix counties under close supervision of the Ombudsman Services Supervisor.

All employees are expected to live and work in Wisconsin. The position requires regular travel within the assigned county or geographic area and may require travel statewide. Work is performed from home, with the employee’s home designated as the headquarters city when travel is not needed. The work schedule is Monday–Friday.

Responsibilities

Core responsibilities include:

• Conduct professional investigations of complaints pursuant to the Federal Older Americans Act (OAA), Section 712, related to the care and treatment of individuals residing in long-term care facilities, including:
  • Nursing homes
  • Community-based residential facilities
  • Residential care apartment complexes
  • Adult family homes
• Conduct professional investigations of complaints related to services provided to older adults under the Family Care/PACE/Partnership/IRIS Medicaid waiver programs.
• Participate in Title XVIII and Title XIX certification surveys, as specified by federal law.
• Provide representation of residents and consumers at hearings and appeals of long-term care services before the Office of Administrative Hearings and before other appropriate bodies.
• Provide education, information, outreach, and technical assistance to adults age 60 and older, their families/significant others, and providers.

Job Details / Employment Conditions

• Due to conflict of interest requirements, persons hired for this position may not perform any paid or voluntary work for any long-term care, managed care, or acute care provider.
• Background checks will be conducted prior to selection.
• This employer does not sponsor work visas and is not an eligible OPT (Optional Practical Training) employer for F-1 international students.
• All persons hired must verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and complete the required employment eligibility form.
• Regular and frequent travel is required.
• If using a personal vehicle for work, evidence of auto insurance must be obtained prior to the selected candidate’s start date.
• The incumbent must possess a valid Wisconsin driver license that meets the State’s Risk Management requirements to use fleet vehicles.

Qualifications

Qualified applicants will have experience with at least three of the following:

• Long-term care, aging, disability, health, or human service systems.
• Working with older adults, people with disabilities, or other diverse populations, including supporting individuals in complex and sensitive situations.
• Knowledge of or experience with Wisconsin long-term care programs, including Family Care, PACE, Partnership, and IRIS.
• Individual advocacy, ombudsman services, case management, regulatory work, client rights, or a related field.
• Providing training, education, technical assistance, or information on aging, disability, or long-term care issues (e.g., self-direction, individual rights, confidentiality, abuse, or related topics).

Education

In addition to the above, well-qualified applicants will have education, training, or experience with at least one or more of the following:

• Conducting complaint investigations, including interviewing involved parties, conducting on-site visits, reviewing records or other documentation, and researching relevant requirements.
• Preparing for or representing/assisting individuals in hearings, appeals, grievances, or other formal complaint or dispute-resolution processes.
• Interpreting and applying statutes, regulations, policies, contracts, or program requirements in long-term care, health, human services, or a related setting.

Compensation & Benefits

• Starting hourly rate for this position (Ombudsman Services Specialist-Entry): $20.23–$28.72 per hour, plus excellent benefits.
• This classification is assigned to pay schedule/range 12-64.
• This position is non-exempt.
• A 12-month probationary period will be required.
• Pay for current state employees will be set in accordance with the Wisconsin State Compensation Plan.

Location

• Regional coverage: Eau Claire, Chippewa, Pierce, Dunn, and St. Croix counties
• Work-from-home with designated headquarters city when travel is not needed
• Regular travel within assigned area and may include statewide travel

Application Details

• Applicant materials are due by 11:59pm CST on Sunday, September 27, 2026.
• A letter of qualifications and resume are important parts of the application and will be used during evaluation.
• Cover letter limit: maximum of two (2) typed pages, single-spaced, no smaller than 10-point font, with 1-inch margins.
• Resume limit: maximum of two (2) pages.
• Pages beyond the specified limits may not be evaluated.

Additional Information

• Accommodations: Applicants and employees with a disability may request reasonable accommodations.
• Veteran preference: A special program is available for qualified veterans with a 30% or greater service-connected disability.
• The organization is committed to equal opportunities for applicants from all backgrounds and considers qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements.