Changes to job role whilst on mat leave

[SecretLimonadeDrinker]

I'm currently half way through my mat leave and have had an email from my manager to say that my job role is being split into two role, on is a promotion and the other would be at my current grade and to confirm on Monday if I want to go to the promotion, I have also be told verbally that my mat leave cover will be doing the promoted role during my mat leave and it was slipped that they hope to keep her in the role when I return.

The problem I have is that the other role (current grade) is a specialist and my manager told me that if I want to progress in my career I would need to stay in a general role which the promotion would be. I was also told before I went on at leave that there was a possibility they would keep my mat leave cover and I would manager her and another girl in our team. This other girl has since be promoted to my grade and this is now off the table. Between us, I'm not happy she has been promoted to my grade as I have a lot more experience and have been working on projects with a lot more responsibilities. They have done away with all of the lower grades which make me feel like I have been demoted as I am back at the bottom again, I know this isn't the case but its how I feel.

I'm not really sure what to do, I don't think that I would get the promotion as everyone in the office feels like its a done deal already and the job is hers (I've heard hr said they must offer me the chance to apply so it feels like its just lip service). I really feel screwed over and I don't know how to address it

Thanks for reading, I know it's long, please,et me know if there is anything you would like me to clarify or expand on.

Do you want the promotion?

I do, before I went on mat leave I was doing the role 50% of my time, the decision for the role to go full time and be the next grade up was made last year, I expressed interest then and was then told it would be based out of a different office but this has since changed to be based out of my normal office. I've also taken on a lot of responsibilities way above my grade to work towards this.

I'm also concern the implications a specialist role would have on my career prospects as my manager said she thought it would limit them and it's not an area I particularly enjoy.

It does sound likes its a done deal though so I'm not really sure where it leaves me, I need to ask on Monday if the specialist role will be mine by default. I'm not quite sure exactly what the job entails as they haven't written the job spec yet. A further 20 % of my role has also been redistributed to other people.

I'd say ask for more details, but with an eye on going for the promotion.

Ok, if you want the role I would confirm that in writing and put forward a good application. I would also separately express concern in writing at the comments let slip and the fact that it sounds like a done deal, and say that you would be disappointed to feel that as a result of your maternity leave you were not given a fair chance to get promotion.

I would also ask for clarification on what happens if your application is not successful.

Thanks for your replies.

I was suppose to bring DS into the office this morning to meet my colleagues (as requested several times) followed by and informal chat with my boss to discuss my role. Unfortunately DS has been poorly and screams if not been held (been up all night with him too so not keen to drive for 40mins with screaming child and very little sleep) and therefore I tried to contact my boss to change the day we come in and suggested that we had the chat by phone (my mil is looking after DS so I'm less distracted and actually this would work better as I could focus on discussing my job). I left a message, no response. I then called the office at the time we would have met and was told she would call me back and I have tried again a few hours later and been told the same thing.