Role profile no longer representative of actual role

R41730

Hi,

Apologies if this isn’t in the right place but I’m looking for a bit of advice -

Background
I work for a large financial services org as a Project Manager. Up until January last year I was expected to manage projects whilst also line managing some other PMs. My role profile supported up to 5 direct reports and a 60/40 split in my time between managing projects and people respectively.

In January last year the company was split and part of the company was acquired. I found myself in the part that was remaining but I lost my manager and some of the wider team to the acquiring company. This led to organisational uncertainty for a while as both sides tried to right-size. In the absence of a dedicated PM manager (I think I saw my manager maybe twice in 9 months who had a much bigger job) I was expected to assume extra responsibilities that evolved and increased throughout the year. I didn’t really mind this as it was good development and I felt passionately about the capability I work in.

However...

Now i line manage 12 people and deal with all team management duties, quality assurance, recruitment etc. I now have a new manager who asked me to propose future plans for developing the capability. In my proposal I suggested creating a Capability Manager role to better reflect all of the work I am now doing. Having been told I was performing my extra duties well I had assumed I’d have a good chance of securing the role myself.

Recent conversations now seem to be changing in tune though and I feel like my expectations about securing the role are actively being managed down now it’s about to be advertised. Having performed the role on a voluntary basis for a year I don’t want to revert back to my old role as this feels like a backwards step. If I didn’t get the role I feel I’d have to leave to continue my career progression.

Whilst I may have been a bit naive throughout last year taking on these duties it was done in good faith. I will feel very resentful and unfairly treated if I don’t get the job.

If that scenario plays out do I have any grounds to take this any further, is there anything I should be doing now to help me in that scenario?

Thanks for reading

lincroft1710

I will give you the tough love/wake up call first

You may not be as great at your job as you think you are and your managers are telling you that you are doing a good job so that you will continue going the extra mile until they can find the person they believe will perform your current duties to the standard they are expecting.

No doubt you have expressed an unambiguous interest in the new role and have talked up your ability to do the job.

If you don't get the job (to which you have no automatic entitlement), I doubt it would be advantageous to raise a grievance.