Advice needed - returning to work after mat leave

[SealMum]

I'm due to return to work following maternity leave in a few months. I'm an analyst in the public sector. When I left to go on mat leave I said I didn't want to go back to the same role as I'd been there a while and my job involved a lot of travel, so instead I'll be going back to a different role at the same level.

I've been offered a post leading a new strategy analysis team. It's in an area I'm quite familiar with, and my manager would be someone I worked with a bit in my old role, and like. Those are the main pros. The cons are that it's a new role and so not fully clear what it entails yet (and I generally find strategy a bit "fluffy"), and I'm not sure it plays to my strengths, though my would-be manager thinks I'd be good at it (but might be just saying that). I know that it not being fully scoped out could be a good thing but I'm feeling a bit nervous about going back to work so would be more comfortable with something more defined. The role would involve lots of work with senior stakeholders, some of whom can be quite challenging, and is billed as good for someone who wants promotion - which I definitely am not thinking about right now! I feel it's a good role for someone who's confident and good at putting themselves out there, and I'm not sure I was ever that, and am certainly not at the moment!

There's no pressure on me to take it but if I don't I'll probably have to take whatever comes up next and I don't know what that will be. This role isn't awful but comes with some clear cons and I don't know if I'd be any good at it. But if I don't take it I may end up with something worse - or better, who knows. I was meant to have decided by today but I just can't make up my mind, so looking for other perspectives or advice if possible please.

I would take it, I think, because:

• you know the area - no massive learning curve, gives you credibility (even with the senior stakeholders) - > potentially quite easy life
• you like the manager - > will make the environment more pleasant.

BUT - I would work with said manager (who you get on with) to define your role more clearly, or to have clear definitions and vision of success for what you need to be doing. You can also do that once you are in, within the first couple of months.

Imagine you've just got an email from the manager saying the role is no longer available. What is your reaction?

Do you feel disappointed?

Or relieved?

Thank you - this is really good advice. I'm now worrying I've overstated my familiarity with the area, but maybe that's showing a big part of it is nerves about returning to work, rather than the job itself. The job itself could certainly be better/help with the nerves though!

I think I'd be relieved to be honest, which is obviously very telling. But I'd be worried about what I'd end up with instead - though I think I'm realising from this thread that a big part of the issue is my confidence with returning, as well as the job itself.