XP: Potential/likely promotion to department head

[keweenawlove]

Accidentally posted this on Married Life first
(I might DD some of the details here)



My boss called me last week and told me he's planning to retire in May or June and he's recommending that I be named the new lab director. I work in a lab in a children's hospital that's a combination of clinical service and research as a PhD engineer. This has been the "plan" for the last several years. I had a job offer to move to start a lab in Boston a few years ago but my current hospital was able to approve a permanent position for me as a succession plan for my current boss. So this has been somewhat in motion but everyone I work with including me is a little shocked it's happening this fast. Boss's wife was diagnosed with cancer about a year ago so I think that's part of the reason for his retirement now. I have to do a formal interview but the upper level administration is talking about it like it's a done deal. I just don't want to talk too publicly in case it doesn't go through. I'd be the department head for a department of 8 including a technician, physical therapists, and engineers.



Any advice, words on wisdom on navigating this role as I go forward? My boss has told most of the department his plans and naming me as the new director and so far everyone has been really supportive. I'm just a little nervous because everyone has been in the group much longer than me and I'm the youngest by far. I'm also friends with a lot of them so I'm hoping I can navigate the dynamic relatively smoothly going forward.

[ohgillian]

Congrats on the potential opportunity.

My only advice is that I have seen some interviews crash and burn when the person who is the "internal shoe in" doesn't take the interview as seriously as they would if they were an outsider. So if you do interview I'd encourage you to prep as if it were with people you don't even know, if that makes sense.

[dr.girlfriend]

Congratulations! I have more advice about what to do after you get the job than for the interview. I would just encourage you to have individual meetings with your direct reports to review any questions or concerns they might have about the new structure, be clear about timelines for annual reviews, that kind of thing. We have had a series of business administrators at my hospital over the past few years and nothing has bugged me more than getting a manager who doesn't make any attempt to get to know or touch base with the people they are managing.

Regarding being the youngest, etc., I would make sure not to imply, even indirectly, that other potentially more-experienced people were passed over for the job, even if it turns out to be true. Not everyone is interested in increasing their administrative time.

It sounds like a great opportunity! Congratulations, and I wish the best to your former boss and their family.

[keweenawlove]

Mar 29, 2021 11:19:53 GMT -5 ohgillian said:

My only advice is that I have seen some interviews crash and burn when the person who is the "internal shoe in" doesn't take the interview as seriously as they would if they were an outsider. So if you do interview I'd encourage you to prep as if it were with people you don't even know, if that makes sense.

Thanks! This is the main reason I don't want to talk about it with anyone in real life who doesn't already know in case something like this happens. But I'm working with one of the administrators on vision statements and other future directions for the interview.