Passed over for promotion

[Passedover]

I work in a small team within a large organisation. Today following numerous recent issues our team director resigned (this has been brewing for a few weeks, she returned from annual leave today and resigned and so this is not out of the blue). Our business unit lead has subsequently announced one of my fellow team members ('Fred') will now take over as interim director. First and foremost I think he will do an excellent job and help move us forward in the right manner. However, Fred only joined our team 6 months ago from doing a different role within the organisation. He has a lot of transferable skills and aligned experiences but only 6 months experience of doing this actual role. I have over 5 years experience and a director role would have been my natural next step .
I feel conflicted as in part I don't want the hassle of this role (lots of internal and external politics) but at the same time very disillusioned that I've been passed over.
I reduced to 4 days a week on slightly shorter days (9-4.30) after DC who are primary age and have effectively sacrificed my career to keep our family life ticking over - 1.5 hr commutes each way and no help other than breakfast / after school club. I generally do both drop off and pick up.
I'm not sure where to go from here, there will not be any other director opportunities come up in the short to medium term and I feel like my confidence has been severely knocked that I'm not deemed capable or competent of stepping up.

Firstly - if Fred has been appointed as interim director, does this mean that there will be an open application process for the role?

You need to schedule a sit down with your business unit lead and just ask the question, openly and honestly: “I was surprised to see Fred appointed unilaterally, when I’d hoped that my dedication and experience would have at least put me in the running. I’d like to understand what I can do to support in this transition and make my interest clear in the director’s role” and go from there.

Perhaps there other elements to this situation you aren’t privy to right now, but their reaction to this will help you understand whether this organisation simply doesn’t see you as leadership material and you need to look elsewhere.

Thanks BeamerTown. I know you're right but at the moment I don't think I have the strength to ask the question, perhaps I might feel different in a day or two.
I very much doubt the role will be advertised so there will be no opportunity to apply. Our team works exclusively with an external partner and I think it will be deemed too disruptive to potentially change director again. I suspect that after 3 months, Fred will be made 'permanent' into the role.

I very much doubt the role will be advertised so there will be no opportunity to apply.

Even more reason to have that conversation and get your name on the table. They might be making assumptions about your ambition based on you being PT with shorter hours.

I agree they might think the shorter hours are a barrier. Are you willing to go full time? Have the conversation now.

However don't assume there will be no director opportunities. Fred sounds like someone who will use this as a stepping stone to better things before long. Also, and I know this is harsh, he may just be much more what they want in that role.

I'm not sure where to go from here, there will not be any other director opportunities come up in the short to medium term and I feel like my confidence has been severely knocked that I'm not deemed capable or competent of stepping up.

I think there are two things possibly going against you here. One is your 4 day week and shorter hours and the other is maybe you have not been clear that you wanted a chance at being a director.

Once you've got over the shock I'd have a chat along the lines that Beamer outlined.

Good luck.