Assistance needed - corporate jargon and job titles

[derek badger]

Long story short. I need some help/ideas from those of you in large corporate environments.

Big changes ahead at work, probably good opportunities. I've been here 12 years and had as many line managers in that time, the current one is a nice guy and values and looks after his team. He pinged me on WhatsApp last night and we need to update my job description and title by the end of today.

The role itself is fine, I do a lot of stuff for a lot of people and enjoy most of it. Things changed at the start of Covid and I no longer have any reports under me, but still have the word manager in my job title - Service Delivery Manager. In HR's eyes this isn't right, needs to be removed and could affect future paygrading. Neither one of us want this clearly. So I need a new job title that would command a slightly higher than market rate salary, so that I can be in a position for an increase next review, but doesn't include 'manager' in the title.

This is what I do:

• Across the EMEA region I manage technical aspects for facilities projects (office moves, changes, closures, openings and other projects).

• Lead and coordinate the technical delivery of global marketing events (tradeshows, pre-sales demos etc).

• Manage smaller IT delivery projects for the EMEA infrastructure team.

• Deal with suppliers, contracts etc.

• Techincal stakeholder for other internal projects

So...

Dogsbody?
Technical bullshit analyst?
Project implementation specialist?

In all seriousness, it needs to be a real-world title that 'fits' and an HR team would recognise. Global corporation of 10,000 employees.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

Service Delivery Consultant

[Mr. Dazzle]

I'm in a similar sort of position, I don't have (or want) any reports but I'm still responsible for leading a lot of stuff. I've asked to be "Engineer at Large" several times but they won't let me.

You do actually sound like an Engineer though TBF - that's the impression I get from the description you're giving.

[derek badger]

I'm in a similar sort of position, I don't have (or want) any reports but I'm still responsible for leading a lot of stuff. I've asked to be "Engineer at Large" several times but they won't let me.

You do actually sound like an Engineer though TBF - that's the impression I get from the description you're giving.

I do less and less technical these days compared to previous roles where I had 'engineer' in my title. Senior "Implementation" or "Technical Delivery" Engineer is top of my list at the minute, but my boss isn't too keen on 'Engineer' as he wants me to start taking some of his non-technical workload on.

[Saga Lout]

Intergalactic Overlord.

That should cover it.

[Saga Lout]

Actually, thinking about it, if you can't come up with a proper job title, you don't deserve a raise.

[Lutin]

"real-world" and "HR"

Nope. Doesn't compute.

[KungFooBob]

If you can't be a manager, make sure you get a 'senior' in there... even if there isn't any junior/normal plebs.

[derek badger]

If you can't be a manager, make sure you get a 'senior' in there... even if there isn't any junior/normal plebs.

Yea, that's basically it. I manage a lot of things (processes etc.), but not people. We both agree the title has to reflect some level of seniority given the 12 years with the firm.

I've pitched the following to him, given an indication of market rates...and said with all the travel I could do with a company car!

• Project Delivery Tech Lead

• IT Operations Tech Lead

• Senior Implementations Engineer

• Technical Delivery Specialist

Just need to see which on of them fits with the other roles at that grade.

[JamJar]

Tell HR to fuck off and that the title Manager refers to your role in managing resources and they don't have to be human resources (A fucking awful phrase as it is)

[DefTrap]

We've started adding 'Principal' to job titles because we now have too many 'Senior's I keep complaining that there can really only be a single Principal in each role and it triggers my OCD.

It's just one step away from the American way where effing everybody is a ''VP' or a 'Director' and you think "oooh!" and it turns out that they're not a director and 2-i-c of nothing.

[Mr. Dazzle]

We've started adding 'Principal' to job titles because we now have too many 'Senior's I keep complaining that there can really only be a single Principal in each role and it triggers my OCD.

We have Senior -> Lead - Senior Lead -> Principal.

No Lead Senior Lead though, I'm sure that's next

[KungFooBob]

Maybe you could get a chief in there too?

[Mr. Dazzle]

[the_priest]

Service Delivery Specialist.

I was a CSI Specialist and it got me better salary grading in the days of Charity Work.... Quite a bit better pay rise then I was expecting to be honest!

Hope you get the right wording that satisfies the HR bods as it is a hard game to win with how they use scales and words to justify their existance.

[Saga Lout]

One tactic to consider: Whatever HR suggests, ask them how they will use that job title to deny or decrease future pay raises.

(And keep the emails that say they won't. )

[MingtheMerciless]

Intergalactic Overlord.

That should cover it.

Ahem, I believe that’s already taken!

[MingtheMerciless]

In best Kevin Spacey/Peter Mandleson creepy and quiet voice perhaps HR should be told that you are the “Principal Resolution Facilitator Specialist” for the department you don’t want to know about, and how is little Timmy getting on at his new school?

I am not a fan of corporate HR.

[Treadeager]

" Chief Assistant to the Assistant Chief " , copyright Flanders & Swann circa 1960

[Mussels]

Are they going to make project managers call themselves 'Projects'?

That sort of crap would have me logging into jobserve because your HR are either clueless or have an objective in mind that won't be good for you.
Maybe suggest 'head of service delivery'