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Has anyone here ever advocated for their company to create a new position? While I’m not seeing a lot of growth opportunities within my department, I’m am seeing a lot of new challenges I think I could help tackle the company’s overarching goals. It’d be an awesome change of pace as I’ve been in my role for almost 4 years. But I’m not sure how to even start that kind of conversation or how to prepare to bring something like this up. Any advice here?

Paulla Fetzek · Answer

Like you, my company doesn't have a lot of room for promotions.  But that doesn't mean opportunities can't exist!

Much of the current work I do is because I advocated for the position/responsibilities I now hold.  I'm not in an entirely new role.  Rather, I created a position that has become a part of other things I also do for my company.

This was in 2017.  Before approaching my managers (I had 2 at the time) to discuss this new position:
1) I created a job title for the position
2)  I wrote out a description of what the job would entail
3) I provided bullet-points of why I was uniquely qualified for 
      the position - and why no one else in the company could 
      assume the role or the work
4) I provided options for what I could do with my current 
      workload in order to assume this new role

When I met with my managers [and I'm very fortunate that they're both AMAZINGLY supportive of me to begin with] - they realized that there honestly wasn't any other option.  They then took all my information to the president of the company, who also agreed.

Two years later, this role  [The title I chose, by the way is Implementer/Trainer] is my ABSOLUTELY FAVORITE part of my job.  I continue to prove why I'm perfect for the role, and why I'm the only one capable of doing it!

All the best...

Anonymous · Answer

Hey there! I am currently advocating for my organization to create a new position. It helps me to think of this as a process, rather than a one-time request. I gather evidence proving that the position is needed, and provide that evidence to my boss once in a while. My boss knows that I want the org to create this position, as I am active in advisory committees and whatnot related to this area, so none of this comes as a surprise to her. I periodically bring it up with my immediate supervisor, who has acknowledged the need. I'm doing the work anyway since it needs to be done,  and will continue to do so even without official acknowledgement in the form of a new position, title, or pay.

Of course I also wrote a job description for myself and sent it to the hiring manager for my current position. The boss hired me for that job that I created for myself. I see this as an extension of that, as does my boss and my immediate supervisor.

Basically this boils down to do the work you see necessary whilst doing a great job at the position you were hired for, and point out the 'side gig' work consistently without being overbearing.

Good luck!

Shelby C · Answer

I've done it three times within the same company. It was simple. All I had to do was write a short business proposal stating the need, show the added value, and find the money to pay for it. With all three, I was able to prove the position would pay for itself within the first month. The thing to avoid it to ensure that you will not be duplicating anyone else's work. If there is overlap, that's okay though. You can figure out how to form a team. Read up about ISO so you have a deeper understanding of the importance of reducing waste. The big thing that helps is having a mentor that will buy in who has expertise in the field who will go to bat for you and preferably be your Manager.

Best of luck!

PS - Build extra money into the budget for your performance bonus. I didn't do that the first two times. ?

Alexis Wilson-Castaldi · Answer

Do it! As with the advice above make sure your new position is a value-add position and you have included a pay incentive into the role as well. They will be much more likely to approve of the new role if it pays for itself through cost savings or increased revenue, and the need to hire for your old position!

If it's a small-medium company this could help spark other changes as well.

Oh and make sure you have a solid plan of action in place and 6-12-18 month goals lined up and be prepared for some negotiation.  But I highly recommend going for it.

Chre M. Davis, M.S.Ed. · Answer

I have done this before when I went from a lone ranger in a department to adding someone to my team as my responsibilities started to grow and shift. What a tremendous learning opportunity and way to create change for your organization!  I agree with the advice offered so far.  Do your research, present your evidence, and then brace yourself for the change!

Katie Malone · Answer

Hi, I kind of did. I created a business case for a new position, but then didn't really get a chance to present it. I would suggest doing research on a kind of position that you would want to create and put together some stats and why exactly that position would be needed and what it would do -- focus on how your position could save the company money in the long run, if that's possible. In my case, I would have taken away the need to use money for an agency. 
I would also first bring this up with your manager to see what he/she would think about helping you put this together. Start small and then keep going up a level.

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