Moving from research/teaching to admin

[Flockameanie]

Has anyone given up a research/teaching post and moved into uni admin?

I'm languishing at senior lecturer (in the humanities) and I'm pondering moving sideways into a relatively senior uni admin role (on the research side). I'm wondering if anyone has done similar? Did you struggle with losing the flexibility and self-governance of an academic role? That's the thing I'd miss the most I think...

As far as I can tell, admin roles are mainly about managing people. Do you enjoy managing people? Some people love it, and if you do then it can be very rewarding.

I did a 5 day 'women in leadership training course' and decided that I'm not good at managing people and I don't enjoy it. So I'm staying on an academic track as long as I possibly can.

Was that Aurora @parietal? I did that a few years ago.

I do quite like managing people. And I like thinking strategically and working with an overview perspective. I’ve run a few bigger departmental strategic things and enjoyed it. I like the collaboration with a range of colleagues too (academics, prof services, students).

I’m quite burnt out on the research and teaching front and, more importantly and rather tragically, have fallen out of love with my discipline/ object of study. So research feels like a massive effort and I’m beginning to feel like a real fraud. Plus I’m in a dying discipline, thanks to the currant assault on the humanities thanks to Boris and chums. Funding is nigh on impossible to get and that’s limiting my progression chances on the academic track.

It’s all pointing to a career change and I’d really like to stay in HE. But I’m worried also about losing the perks of being an academic (mostly, being able to dictate my own working patterns and priorities and, eg being able to duck away from my desk to watch DC’s sports day for a few hours without having to answer to anyone.) I don’t really know what the realities of a prof services job (it’s in research management/ strategy) would entail.

I made this leap 10 years ago and have never looked back. Your insight as an academic I'm sure would be invaluable. I have just as must flexibility (especially post covid) - but pay and promotion prospects aren't always as good. Best of luck!

That’s encouraging @audacityofpoo

Are there parts of your job you don’t like? And do you have any regrets about moving away from an academic post?

I seriously considered this and spent a good bit of time sussing it out with research admin. In our system, senior research admin are paid as well as academic staff so there is no loss of income, but a lot to gain in work-life balance because admin staff work normal hours. I didn't do it because I was worried that I didn't give academia enough of a chance and that I might end up resentful or frustrated towards the academics I'd have to work with. A good few admin staff said they found that hard at first but none expressed any regret about the decision. I did hear academics describe academic-turned-admin staff dismissively (so many pricks in academics!) because they 'couldn't deal with it' or 'wanted an easier life'. But those people would be assholes to work with anyway so I don't think it makes a difference.

If you decide to do this you'll need to think very carefully about how you tailor your experience as an academic to the administrative side of things for the job application. Obviously academics do a significant amount of admin but I wouldn't assume just because you are an academic you'd be a shoe-in for an administrative role at equal pay - particularly if you don't have line management experience.

I made the move to a professional services role and it was the best thing I ever did. I actually got paid more and still had the same autonomy as I managed my own case load. Didn’t really have people to manage. The relief of having a permanent post and not having to find grant funding all the time. Really good team as well of bright people, all with PhDs so lots of intellectual stimulation. Work finished at 5 as well - never worked evenings or weekends like in academia.