Seeking Input on New Job Title: Purchasing, Recruiting, and Personnel
I’m embarking on an exciting opportunity to shape my job title, and I’d love your feedback. To give you some context about me, I’m a 58-year-old male, married, with kids and grandkids, and I’ve just entered the empty-nester phase of life. I hold a doctorate and built a 21-year career in education, primarily as a school administrator, where my primary focus was on hiring diverse personnel—including teachers, principals, and various support staff. Over the years, I interviewed and hired around 1,500 individuals, and this skill has been pivotal in my career. Although I never held a dedicated HR role, I relied on HR professionals to assist during the hiring process.
After leaving the education sector, I made a significant career shift to the manufacturing industry, where I currently serve as the Purchasing Manager at a mid-size light manufacturing company in Arizona. We generate approximately $200 million in annual sales and have factories across several states. I’ve been with the company for ten years and directly report to the president, who manages daily operations. I earn an annual salary of $135K, with a path to $150K over the next couple of years, plus a small bonus.
My boss has a micromanagement style, which can be challenging, yet he has successfully led the company for over 30 years. When our CFO passed away unexpectedly, my boss turned to me—drawing on my hiring experience—to find a suitable replacement. Since then, I’ve taken on a larger hiring role, successfully recruiting about 75 to 100 new employees across various functions. I now also handle most of the employee discipline and counseling, helping to mediate interpersonal issues and addressing employee concerns.
Despite my evolving role, my official title remains “Purchasing Manager,” and I don’t have any direct reports or an assistant. This has created some tension with our small HR department, which primarily focuses on payroll and benefits.
Now, I have the chance to take on a Vice President role and am tasked with writing my job description. While my primary functions—procurement and hiring—won’t change, I’m trying to determine a title that accurately represents my responsibilities without encroaching on HR’s territory. My boss has suggested being cautious about the title we choose, given the sensitivities around office politics.
I’m considering the following title options and would appreciate your input on which might work best for my situation:
1) Vice President of Purchasing and Personnel, Chief of Staff.
2) Vice President of Purchasing, Chief of Staff.
3) Vice President of Purchasing and Personnel.
4) Vice President and Chief of Staff.
5) Chief of Staff.
6) Other suggestions…
I welcome any advice or insights you may have—whether it’s about the title or my career trajectory in general. Thank you for your help!
RCadmin
Thanks for sharing your journey and the exciting opportunity that lies ahead! It sounds like you have a diverse skill set and a wealth of experience that will serve you well in this new role. Your contributions in both purchasing and people management are significant, and finding a title that reflects both is important, especially given the nuances of your position.
Here are some thoughts on the titles you’re considering:
Vice President of Purchasing and Personnel, Chief of Staff: This title captures your dual roles effectively but may be somewhat lengthy for a business card. It emphasizes both your primary function in purchasing and your growing role in personnel matters, but it might also lead to confusion given the distinction between personnel and HR in your company.
Vice President of Purchasing, Chief of Staff: This is a strong option, as it emphasizes your primary role while acknowledging your significant contributions as a chief advisor. It suggests a leadership capacity that covers more than just purchasing, which aligns with your responsibilities.
Vice President of Purchasing and Personnel: This title clearly articulates your involvement in both areas but may still raise questions about your relationship with HR. It’s straightforward and professional but doesn’t highlight your advisory role as effectively.
Vice President and Chief of Staff: This is a balanced choice, emphasizing your leadership while allowing flexibility in various capacities. It portrays you as an executive-level employee without specifically tying you down to either purchasing or HR-related roles—this gives you breathing room in office dynamics.
Chief of Staff: While this title may resonate as a strong leadership position, it might not fully encapsulate your purchasing responsibilities. If your primary focus remains procurement, this could lead to some misunderstandings about your primary functions.
Other: You might consider titles like Vice President of Procurement and Operations or Vice President of Procurement and Employee Relations. These alternatives highlight your purchasing expertise while also acknowledging your involvement in employee matters without directly labeling it as HR or personnel.
Given your current responsibilities and the sensitive environment regarding HR, I lean toward Vice President of Purchasing, Chief of Staff. This title reflects your primary function while also incorporating your advisory role.
Regarding career guidance, if you feel that your efforts and contributions are not adequately recognized or appreciated in your current company, and if the dynamics with HR continue to pose challenges, it may be worth exploring other opportunities. However, if you find the work fulfilling and see potential for growth in your current trajectory, staying and reshaping your role could be advantageous, particularly with the chance for a new title.
Ultimately, the best approach is to choose a title that resonates with you, reflects your contributions, and positions you for successful navigation of both purchasing and employee relations in the future. Good luck!