Thanks all for the discussion. I will take what I can and make improvements. A lot of what was said, like having answers ready I have been doing, I do think it is just a question of finding the right opportunity, but that is taking a long time. To answer the question of what field I am in it is IT. I have been a Manager or Director for fifteen years at this point and that is what I am trying to overcome. I am also applying for those roles, but the reality is that those roles are few and far between especially in my area of the country and as I think I mentioned we really would find it very, very difficult to relocate at this time.
I have addressed the concern of coming in and leaving for greener pastures. It helps that no job on my resume was less than five years and so I point to that as examples of my lack of job hopping and I have one that was thirteen years and that was a layoff after company sales fell almost 75% otherwise I might still be there. Having hired dozens of people myself, I THINK I know what to avoid to make it possible to be misunderstood as "not wanting to work", which is certainly not the case, I just know that I am very good at project management and making sure that all the things that need to get done, do. My higher level experience helps me identify things that others may overlook because I have "been there, done that" and know where the hidden traps lay in almost any type of undertaking. I've had outside implementers tell me on more than one occasion that if I had not been on the project and caught the gaps that we would have missed the go-live date so I am confident my value gets seen and is there, but obviously a new employer with no history with me just has to weight my explanations and see what they think of them.
My current role is not a ton of hours (usually about 45-50) but I do know that others may be demanding much more where projects managers tend to have to work overtime when the project is getting to the launch stage. I also am confident that I can get things done much more quickly than others with less experience so plowing through tasks is not hard for me.
I am trying to explain what I am asking in a clearer way, but most responses are in the ballpark. It is explaining that my desire for a lower role is not because I do not want to work, it is that I am more passionate about more hands-on activities rather than just managing form afar, but I am not opposed to moving up again in a new organization, so I am definitely not talking about in no way wanting to manage people again, just wanting to take my skills and use them as effectively as I can for the benefit of my organization.
I am not anywhere near FIRE. That may be a dream that is not possible for me having come to MMM late in my life and having a big family with expenses that go with it.
I think that covers most of what seemed to be gaps in my story from those who answered. Thanks again and I look forward to more discussion!