I'm the sole IT administrator at a company with 65 employees. Recently, our CEO stepped down, and I'm trying to navigate my position and future here. I've been working on a lot of strategic tasks that go beyond my title as Network Administrator. I want to propose a new role, specifically for myself, as the Vice President of Information Technology.
I currently work with HR to hire an additional IT staff member to help manage day-to-day workloads, but I need to justify this higher title at the same time. My challenge is to convince the board that I deserve this VP title while still being seen as just the IT guy.
Has anyone successfully transformed their position into a higher management role in a small to medium-sized organization? How should I frame the transition from just being a tech person to a business executive? Should I ask for the new hire first or combine it with a department restructuring proposal?
I've gathered some stats to show that a 1:65 IT to employee ratio isn't sustainable, but I need to build a solid business case for my position going forward. Any insights or experiences would be greatly appreciated!
5 Answers
Honestly, aiming for a VP title seems a bit inflated given the size of your company. An IT Manager or something similar might be more appropriate. However, if you think you can pull it off and get a decent raise out of it, then go for it! Just ensure you have a solid justification for that title when presenting it.
A jump from Network Administrator to VP of IT in a small setup feels a bit excessive. Maybe an IT Manager role would be more suitable first. From my experience managing a larger team, keep your expectations realistic while building your role up.
I think that’s true! I might have to settle for an IT Manager title initially but using my MBA credentials effectively in my proposal could set me on a better path.
It definitely sounds like a restructuring proposal is a solid approach. You'd likely need to emphasize how creating a VP role along with hiring more staff ensures strategic direction for the company's technology. Create a compelling business case that aligns IT to business operations — that should be your focus.
Absolutely! Framing my role around business impact will definitely help. Thanks for the great insight!
Every organization is different, but it’s crucial to demonstrate you're already performing at a higher level. Show the board that you can conduct strategic IT work and manage budgets effectively before merely asking for a title change. You probably need someone in your corner from the executive team to back you up as you make this proposal.
Thanks for the advice! I plan to present my case in terms of strategic benefit to the organization rather than just elevating my status. I’ll focus on building rapport with the acting CEO too.
It seems like a big jump to a VP role. Most small companies don’t have that structure, and if I saw a 'VP of IT' application from such a small firm, I'd raise an eyebrow. Aim for the title change but focus on securing the pay you deserve instead of just the title.
That’s fair! I guess I need to present my case while keeping the title realistic. I agree it's essential to focus on pay scale along with job responsibilities.
Makes sense! I edited my post to clarify that a VP title here is more about being a department head rather than a giant corporate role. I’ll focus on presenting the benefits of the potential pay raise that could come with this shift.