Date: 201506
Local time of day: 1201-1800
Location: ZZZ.ARTCC, US
Light: Daylight
Aircraft: Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
ATC / advisory: Center ZZZ
Reporter organization: Government
Reporter function: Supervisor / CIC
Reporter qualification: Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Human factors: Training / Qualification; Situational Awareness; Distraction; Confusion; Communication Breakdown; Troubleshooting; Workload
Anomaly: ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Contributing factors: Staffing; Human Factors; Procedure; Environment - Non Weather Related; Company Policy; Chart Or Publication; Airspace Structure
Primary problem: Procedure

Narrative: In the last pay period and this pay period for here at the Center; I was scheduled to supervise air traffic control in these operational areas that are foreign to me:Day 0 XA:00 shift in [Area X] (I have never managed this area before!)Day 2 XA:00-XB:00 in [Area X]Day 7 XH:45 shift in [Area Y] (never managed this area)Day 9 XB:00 shift in [Area Y]Day 11 XA:00 shift in [Area X]Day 16 XH:00 shift in [Area Z] (never managed this area)Day 17 XC:00-XG:00 in [Area Y]Day 23 XH:00 shift in [Area X] They have me all over the place without regard to knowledge of personnel; the operation; or safety.  It is thunderstorm season.  You need to be able to provide operational support for the controllers you supervise when things get hectic. I was by [the] Center's new Traffic Management Officer who is now in charge of the Traffic Management Unit.  At XB:30  while performing FLM (Front Line Manager) duties in my operational area; I was approached for STMC (Supervisory Traffic Management Coordinator) duties in the TMU for I stated that I no longer maintain currency within the TMU and a lot of procedures and guidance for STMCs have changed.  I was informed that I was to vacate my position as FLM of my operational area to perform STMC duties in the TMU so the current STMC could work as part of staffing.  I was forced to manage the Traffic Management Unit although I have lost my currency and am no longer certified on positions and am no longer up to speed on current guidelines and practices and procedures.  It's been 5 months I stated to the TMO that I would not feel comfortable with this as in my opinion it violates JO 7210.3.  I stated to him that I know it is a big mess you're faced with; but they (superiors) put me in this situation by involuntarily moving out of the TMU as I am now a [Area A] FLM.    Recently; (yesterday morning); I was scheduled to supervise (Area X) for on a shift at XA:00 that I have never supervised before.  I am now an [Area A] supervisor.  It is an unsafe expectation to manage air traffic control operations in this manner.  I am expected to 'wing it'.  No training; no currency; no certifications; no knowledge of who is certified in what positions (except for a few that I may know); no knowledge of staffing needs of the area; not knowing who is in training or who they train with or whether the staffing can support the training; who is partially certified from who is fully certified (to be able to assign positions effectively); not knowing a controllers abilities or limitations with sector volume; not knowing interpersonal differences between controllers as some people don't get along with each other; etc.  I walked into a situation after coming off of a leave of absence to be put in an unsafe situation to manage air traffic control operations in a completely foreign area. I have stated my disposition about being in this situation (basically my desire to not be put in an area I have never managed before).  This scheduling of supervisors is being done regardless to a supervisor's comfortability and/or experience and is sanctioned by upper management.  Nevertheless; the supervisors put in these situations are accountable if anything goes wrong.  This is not a rant.  Operational managers have acknowledged that they know this is not proper.  Safety is the issue here.  I have listened to several horror stories of situations my peer FLMs; have experienced while being put in these situations.  All someone needs to do is interview a few FLMs here to ascertain the gravity of what is occurring.  Upper management is looking for ways to 'get around' a standard that has been around years before I became a supervisor here (Supervisors managed there areas that they are assigned to).  We never operated in this manner until recently.  FLMs have filed reports on this matter.  How many does it take?  The flying public deserves better.  The safety team here is tasked to fashion a work around to thecurrent JO7210.3.  It will be manipulated by upper management to minimally appease the ERC (Event Review Committee) to continue its practices.  The newest FLMs here are rumored to obtain an hour on each position in another operational area and then an hour at the FLM desk of another area and then be competent to manage the operation.  Can a CIC manage another operational area?  No.  Some FLMs are afraid of what is expected of them.  No one has the courage to voice this out loud.  An intervention is necessary.




Synopsis: Front Line Manager (FLM) reports of having to supervise other areas that he has little or no knowledge of. Facility is mandating this to the FLM and the FLM reports that he feels this is an unsafe practice.