First time poster, short time lurker.
;) A little background- I've been with this company for about 3 years and have had one promotion and one lateral move. Small raise with the promotion. Currently finishing a masters program and will graduate in December.
Earlier this year I read the writing on the wall and proposed a new position, encompassing most of what I currently do, but not all, and adding another component that looks to become necessary when changes come down from higher up. (we're a department in a HUGE bureaucracy) This position also takes into consideration what I'm learning in my degree program, and the salary I've proposed is high (I factored in wiggle room), but commensurate with my experience and education. I submitted it to my manager and to a division assistant head. They both made favorable noises, but nothing has come of it.
Yesterday our division head included me in a discussion involving the two assistant heads, and the topic was pretty much what I'd suggested months ago. I responded and mentioned I'd proposed a new position to deal with this.
Over the pandemic one part of my job has gotten easier because of the lack of face to face interactions, so I've taken the opportunity to become more involved in diversity initiatives and have become somewhat of a SME. (at least in our organization) I've been tasked with forwarding these initiatives and have become involved at a national level, often at the behest of the division head.
I've told my manager and my assistant head that I'm glad to do this, but once we get back face to face more, I will not have time to DO all of this.
TL;DR- I've heard nothing back about a proposed position, I keep having more things to do (which, to be honest, I find much more interesting than my actual job description) and now that things are opening back up again I won't have time to do it all.
How do I make that clear? I've already told higher ups I won't be able to do it all, and I've laid out a new position that would allow me to do MOST of it if they hire someone to do SOME of it (even a part-timer or student) and I've heard nothing back.
I don't want to put my foot down and say NO, because I really do want to do all this new stuff. But I know what that can lead to, and I'm not interested in burning out, especially at the pay rate I have. (that's ANOTHER story)
Thoughts?
I'm answering from my professional HR role here...
If you don't hear from your managers, or you hear a no on the new position, have you thought about your next steps? The job market is wide open right now. Are there other roles out there that you'd be interested in? You need to know what you will/want to do if your proposal is not accepted.
Secondly, after you consider the above, I would meet with your manager and let her know you are following up on the proposed role, ask if there are any road blocks to getting a response - you said you work in a beaucracy, so that can make decision making slow - and ask when you can expect a response. If you don't feel like there is a clear deadline, then set one with her. Say "is it a reasonable expectation to have a decision on this in the next two weeks?"
Last but not least, since the division head reached out to you directly, are you comfortable discussing your proposal with that person? Not to say go above your own manager, but if you are working with your division head and you've already mentioned you proposed this role, you may have a good opportunity to discuss the role, while also letting this person know your own manager is following up on it. Dont let the opportunity go to waste if its appropriate!
From what you are telling, it sounds that you have made yourself clear alright. Is there anything specific that makes you suspect your stance is not clear to them?
Manage expectations by issuing deadlines for delivering requests items. If you need a month or two to deliver due to your work load then explain that. Remind the requestor each time that once the team adds headcount you will hand off some items and things can happen in a more reasonable time frame.