Moving from PM to BA?
I am having a 13 years in IT Industry. My career progressed really nice, I was Enginneer, then I moved to Team Lead-then Project Manager-then Program Manager, and now Delivery Manager.
Basically on the last 3 positions I am doing the same work, planning project, monitoring team, updating Jira, leading Scrum meetings, Sprint plannings, etc.
I am currently working in a outsourcing industry which is high risk and there is less and less work every year. Also, atmosphere in my company is toxic.
I got the opportunity to join a stable company that has it's own product, but they want me on BA position. They offer me 10% higher salary then I currently make on Delivery Manager/PM role. On BA position my job will include traveling ( I don't have it now, and consider it a benefit). They say I will work mainly with client by trying to bring a company vision to them and lead them in product growth, and defining the requirements for our Dev team.
To be honest it sounds very attractive to be, but everyone tells me it is step down in a carrer considering I have engineering experience, PM experience, and bunch of certificates including PMP.
On the other side I see it not as a downgrade, but moving from Project Management to Product Manager. Despite the Business Analyst position on paper might not sound that attractive, I see it as a Lead role considering I will be able to influence way in which product will develop.
Can you please advise how do you see BA position compared to PM, is it a downside, and should I accept this move in my career?