Take the PIC role and kiss ass 2000X. Make yourself look good all the time by exceeding metrics. In front of customers, pressure them to do bogus customer service surveys, make sure the said customer mention your name in the survey. Take your corporate people to lunch, pretending that they are your "friend". Ask for more "project" you can do from your boss and pretend you are never satisfied with the extra load, keep asking for more responsibilities. In a meeting, be that guy who talk A LOT and spit out a bunch of corporate nonsense. Take credit and boast whatever you do to your boss/"friend". Pretend to be a social butterfly. Fake it til you make it. If you play it right, you will get it in 3-5 years. Be willing to relocate to where the open position is (it may be just 300 miles from you).