To feel like I am being demoted?

[constantlylactating]

I have worked for a medium sized organisation for the past 5 years. Almost immediately after starting I was given someone to line manage, and I have since built the team from scratch.

I am seen as a senior member of staff, with only my manager between myself and the CEO. I make all of the decisions for my department, in terms of setting the workload, planning out the year ahead month by month. I hold the budget and put together the full income and expenditure budget for the year. I pull together proposals for the board, including intricate income projection figures. Basically, if it's anything to do with my department I have the final say. Obviously my manager can and does suggest things, but he appreciates that I have the experience in this niche area where he does not.

At the start of the year my manager informed me that a new role was being created, sitting in between myself and him- an obvious step up for me, career wise. He said it needed to go external, but that I could also apply.

Recruitment is being handled by a 3rd party, and after an initial chat with them today it turns out that no, I am not being encouraged to apply. There are already 'plenty of applicants with more experience' and the recruiter does not recommend I apply as she does not believe I would even get an interview (?!).

I asked for clarity from my manager and he admitted that no, he does not see me in that role. He said he didn't want to be the one to tell me, which is why he used a 3rd party recruiter.

I will admit, I found both conversations very demotivating.

I have been told my current job is safe. On the surface not much will change for me, AFAIK my job description is not being rewritten. However surely so much of it will change?

I will no longer be the budget holder, no longer the decision maker? I am not even sure if I will retain line management responsibility.

I don't know what to do or how to feel. My manager wants a chat with me next week and I don't even know if I should raise my concerns to him, as it is too late, the job has now been advertised.

IABU - no, you're being too precious/emotional
YANBU - yes it does sound like a demotion.

Does your manager only manage you?

Which of course might be exactly what they want. I wouldn't do this. They will be well aware of this risk because the line manager knew the OP would impacted and outsourced the hard conversation. He should be the one going, tbh.
But that threat will make no difference and they might use it as a basis for redundancy or rationale for all sorts of decisions. Best not to make any threats. Just think strategically for yourself.

Don’t do this op. You need to seek clarity first.

firstly it is not unusual to have another manager to manage two areas and you and your team are one of those areas, you still have line management.

it is odd if the only thing your manager does is manage you. But this seems to be the new person is focused on building b, and manage you, who manages a, and they then have the over view of both. Your current manager, who becomes your one up has a wider view of more than just a and b, surely they do more than manage you.

the new manager then reports on both to your manager, as such your responsibilities don’t change just your line management,

if they make you a sole contributor then you’ve got grounds, but I’m not sure that’s what’s happening.

so don’t go in demanding, but do clarify is this just a line management change or a change to your responsibilitities.

Don’t listen to the external recruiter! They have a vested financial interest in placing a new candidate.

Apply explain all aspects of the job description you’re doing already but in the meantime get your applications done asap.

Apply but get your CV out there and on linked in.

No, my manager has about 6 direct reports, including me.

Weirdly I am in pretty much the same position except they have rewritten my job description and offered me redundancy or the new role which has less responsibility.

Also told me not to apply for the higher level new role.

I suspect your meeting next week may be to give you the choice of change of role or redundancy. Sorry you are going through this too but make sure you think about what you want out of this (better package, trial period to buy you time, training for a more senior role, better job title to put on CV etc) and put it forward.

This is very true. I’ve worked in HR a very long time and it’s constantly threatened but I have never had anyone do
it successfully. People believe wrongly that organisations can’t grow or require different things and assume blind loyalty to individuals. Why would you promote someone if they don’t have the skills or experience you need? Manager sounds like a wet weekend but it doesn’t sound like much is changing beyond reporting line. If anything the fact the department is growing sounds good. But clearly OP has options. However applying for a role they only have a bit of experience in doesn’t seem an obvious way forward. Not everyone can get to the White House.

Ok then this is likely jusg a line management change, this new person comes in, manages you and is responsible for building b, your responsibilities stay rhe same, you continue to manage your team, but now report to the new person, who then is part of the management team reporting to your current manager and they have over sight of a and b.

you need to clarify, but from what you’ve said there is nothing unusual here, and nothing to indicate you are being moved off current responsibilities and made a sole contributor.

This so sounds like a situation I witnessed when they already had someone in mind and had to go through the recruitment process to show non bias. Xx

I am confused why they ask you to reply through the recruiter? When we advertise a role at work we advertise internally and also hand the post to a recruitment agency. I doubt your company will pay a large fee to accept you so the recruiter might have discouraged you applying as they want a newbie so the get the fee. Unless I misunderstand the situation of the new vacancy.

No i think you have it completely right, the very fact they are using a recruiter means I know I won't get it.