What new career or job could I move to?

[TwirlyCurlyWhirly]

I'm an IT programme manager in public sector on the verge of burn out. I need a change. I could cope with a pay cut but it has to come with less stress, less travel, and autonomy over working hours.

I've worked in private sector and various industries; I hate being in the spot light, so don't want any more leadership roles; can't be bothered with the egos and the politics, the governance, and pages of waffly reports. However I am very good at setting a vision, simplifying complex situations through visuals, and I love tinkering with excel and dashboards. I hate being tied to a desk all day.

Where/how could I use my skill set?

Data scientist?

As in, specialise in that and leave the programme management to others. A couple of friends of mine have retrained in data science after being technical architects and have found it less stressful. Shouldn’t be too much of a pay cut either.

How long did it take them to move across, how did they go about it? I imagine it's easier if you are already considered techie. I'm not techie, and my attention to detail isn't great, I have to really focus hard.

Business Analyst?

I have done some BA work in the past but it's quite stressful - lots of stakeholder management, leading workshops with people that don't like change, having to take the flack when the delivered solution doesn't live up to expectation. It's why I became a programme manager, so that I could be in control and ensure that the customer gets what they actually need!

I'd happily do more of an advisory role, but wouldn't everyone.

Retrained via a specialist course lasting 6 months I think, but you have to be good at maths.

if you’re not techie then you’re going to be managing people. In that context the people really matter. In your shoes I’d be looking for a similar level role but take a long time to find the right cultural fit