This study investigates the experiences of academics who take on temporary, middle management roles within a university faculty. Individuals with titles such as Associate or Sub Dean, Head of Department or Programme Director were interviewed but, for the purposes of this paper, we will refer to all of these as Associate Deans. We are aware that these titles may mean different things in different higher education institutions and even in different departments, faculties or countries. We purposely focus on individuals working below the level of Dean and look at both their motivations for, and experiences of, taking on a management role whilst at the same time retaining some level of research and teaching responsibility as an academic.