So I have a pretty good job with a pretty good company that I've only been with for a year. Recently I've discovered I'm really interested in another department within the same company. By interested, I mean from what I've heard about it, it seems like it would be a great fit for me. Why? Well partly because there seems to be a tad bit more creativity involved which appeals to me greatly. Another major factor is the department is virtual, which means I could move back to the south where I'm originally from (which means a lower cost of living, a much faster track to FI, and probably an overall increase in my level of happiness since I'll be back closer to my family/friends). Lastly, without getting into too much detail, I'd say that my current position is more of a 'jack of all trades' meaning I manage a TON of stuff and sometimes feel like I never get to dive into things 'in depth enough' to become an expert on any particular topic. This department focuses on a certain area that would be a little more specialized which appeals to me because I like the idea of being able to hone in on a certain area and be extremely adept at it/know everything about it.
My boss approached me recently about the possibility of a promotion at the end of this year. Supposedly it's very likely. However, I'm really interested in looking into what this other department does more. They're currently expanding and I've got notifications they've hired 3 people since the beginning of this year. At first I thought we'd be working with this department and I'd have a chance to put my face out there to them, but we won't be on my particular project.
How do I best approach finding out more info at this point? I think if I tell my boss I'm interested in working elsewhere it won't go well. But at the same time I eventually need to be able to talk to the people in the other department and do some face-to-face informational interviews or something of that sort. Also, should I wait until I get a promotion in my current department before even pursuing the other role? My thought is that I'd be able to negotiate off of the higher salary from the promotion. Also, every position in my company is at a certain 'grade'. If I wait to bump up to the next grade, I'd be more valuable to the other department, as they hire at grade levels two levels above my current one (hope that makes sense to everyone).