[allfou]

Take the manager role. It's the hardest to get between the 2. There are many great companies and a zillion individual contributor positions out there. Stay in that company for 1-2 years and apply at a better company as a manager. Stupid recruiters will look at your current title. So either move horizontally or vertically...

[ev_rolfe]

Don't really have anything to add, just wanted to say this is a very good point.