u/kiwiiwik100

Hello All!

I work in the Natural Resource industry. My background is in chemical engineering and I am about 10 years into my career. I have been with the same company for the last 7 years and have advanced throughout the operation over my time here. I currently lead the Capital Engineering team and Surface Operations. It was a good promotion 2 years ago and generally I feel like I am doing a good job as a "Jr." Leader onsite. Our Org structure typically has a manager above my roll, who then reports to the general manager of the entire site. The last 2 years I have reported directly to the General Manager.

My boss came to me this week with a proposition. The Surface Operations Plant has been without a manager for more than 2 years. The current leadership there reports directly to him as well and has struggled recently in part due to a lack of standards, leadership skills, and overall not having enough support to do the job well. He is pitching I take over that department as Manager, backfill my current role, and overall lead the Plant and Surface Operations, as well as Capital Projects.

This seems like a great opportunity, more money, and bigger responsibility at my relatively younger age. But I have doubts! While my background is in process and chemical engineering, I have never worked in a processing facility like this one, and while I would pick it up fast, I worry politically it could alienate the team or hamper my ability to lead it effectively. I am a strong communicator and hard worker, so those would be benefits to overcoming this.

I suppose I am torn - part of me wants to just say yes and go for it (thinking I have worked with many managers that are not qualified or poor at what they do). But the other part of me is saying there are far more qualified individuals that should be leading such an important part of our operation. Am I being silly?