I'm really just looking for some advice on how to broach a subject with my employer before I go off on mat leave (baby due September). Sorry in advance for long post!
The context is that DH and I have been talking for some time about fully relocating away from where we currently live and work (London commuter belt, both of us commuting into London) where we can't really afford to upsize from our current 2-bed flat, to somewhere more reasonable where we might feasibly have a 3-bed house and also be able to flex our working lives/childcare a bit more. We were actually on the verge of making this move a few months ago - literally ready to put our flat on the market and reserve a new house in our preferred location, do long commute for a couple of years if necessary/find new jobs and then TTC properly - when we found out I was already pregnant and decided it was too much of a risk/financial stretch/stress to do all of this when about to have a year of (not very well paid) mat leave and risk having to go back to work afterwards via a long commute which wouldn't work with childcare. We decided to put any moving on hold and think again once I went back to work next year.
Fast forward a few months, and for various reasons my employer has started to think about expanding its operations in exactly our preferred location, in a way that might mean that there are some opportunities there coming up from January 2015 onwards. It's not clear what the opportunities will be at the moment, but I'm involved on the edges of thinking about them as my team needs a short-term person in that location whilst I'm on mat leave, and it's possible there could be something that I'd be useful for - or also possible that they'd flex plans if they knew a safe pair of hands would do it (they're quite prone to creating jobs for people). I've been there a couple of years and am trusted and well thought of - one of the issues in the other location is recruiting good people. I'd planned to take 10 months mat leave, which they already know, with DH doing the remaining couple, but feel like I would consider going back earlier if I were to be making a move which would support a better lifestyle for us.
I feel like I should put my hat into the ring if there's any possibility at all, as they will be planning and thinking about this for the next 3-4 months or so. I do like working for them and wouldn't move for just any old job. I'd really like some advice on how and when to bring this up with my employer, as I don't want to send out the message that I am either a) going to relocate anyway and therefore not come back to work for them at all unless I can do something else b) not interested enough in my current role (which I am and am a little bit gutted I'm not going to be around to do some of the things I've planned) or c) shouldn't be considered as I won't be around at the right time. All thoughts welcome!