Mangetout, for me, “Business Development Manager” has a sales connotation to it. The last place used the BDM term to refer to its sales people. No thanks!
I like Kat and garius’ suggestions.
In particular, I think your title should include something along the lines of “Head of…” or “Manager of…”.
Head of special operations? LOL makes you sound a bit like an elite forces dude. Project Manager would’ve been good except it does look a little like a step down. Shame you can’t use Director either (it does have a connotation of being on the board of directors).
Head of special projects?
That’s the best I can come up with. Let us know what you decide on!
Max.
I agree, special project people (or projects people) means to me “next in line to get canned.” Or, we promoted him, discovered it was a bad idea, and now he does “special projects.” Kind of like the “special” kids in school.
I’d just go back to Industrial Engineer or Sr. Industrial Engineer (hell, I did - I went from Consultant Manager back to Network Analyst). It won’t look bad on your resume, unless you really want to be a manager. And, if you really want to be a manager, you should start looking for a different job. When you talk to people for your next job, explain the circumstances. They will understand that you weren’t made the sacrificial lamb and appreciate that.
First of all, thanks to al who posted here.
Now, get this. The VP calls me this morning to ask if I’ve decided on a title. I sais that, if it was OK politically, I’d like to be Senior Industrial Engineer (There’s only one other IE!). He says “Oh great, that’s fine, that’s what we had put on the announcement memo anyway. No problem”
So the fuckers had already labeled me anyway. I’m off to find a good headhunter.
Thanks again folks.
So, you should have chosen “Manager, Special Projects.”