Job 1 or Job 2?! Conundrum!!

[SallyPatch]

Very interested to know thoughts please!
Unsure whether to go for a particular job, but it will genuinely never come up again!

Important - I already have job 1, job 2 is the same grade and pay. Both the same contractual hours.
I have 2 young kids and currently do regular school runs.

Job 1
I already have this job.
Co-Manager of a service, so generally shared responsibility. Line manage 13 people, 26 people on the wider team.
WFH all of the time, but should go in office once a week (not currently enforced)
My counterpart is amazing, as is my manager. Great team, some issues as in all teams.
However the service is on its knees, no light at the end of the tunnel. Groundhog Day, lots of complaints. Big shakeups definitely have to happen at some point, so uncertainty there. At some point in future, job could be affected by AI.

Job 2 - unsure whether to go for it. But literally won't ever come up again!

No line management responsibility.
Great managers and team as far as I know. Have done some of the work before so I know I like it and can do it well.
Have been encouraged to go for it by colleagues and managers.
WFH part week, but would be expected to travel, generally 1-3 times per week, up to 4 hours away, but not always regular and not always to the same place.
School runs would have to also be picked up by husband and family, whereas at the mo I can and often do, do every school run.

However the work I would be doing is more interesting and more challenging, and has more job satisfaction if results achieved.
Service is busy at times but not overrun like job 1. AI wouldn't affect the job so not so concerning long term.

in terms of progression, there'd likely be more opportunity in job 1 department, however the work in job 2 gives me more strings to my bow and doesn't stop me going for promotions in job 1 department anyway

My main concerns are:
-School runs - WFH is amazing for school runs. While I'd be expected to travel for job2, they have emphasised I have full autonomy over my diary. Family around to help at least 2 days a week. Husband has said he will support but has previously left a job that included travelling a few years ago, because it was a lot with babies, but kids are older now!

-Love my co manager and most of my team, worry id be giving up something that works for my family in logistic terms for no extra money

-Job 2 literally NEVER comes up for decades and this is quite literally my only chance I'd ever have to go for it

Grateful of objective thoughts!

I'd go for it. See if you get it and then make a decision.

Job 2. Your kids are getting older, you have family to help and it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity. No contest

Apply for job 2, but I would have concerns about you biting off more than you can chew in terms of travel / attending the workplace. You only have to go into the workplace once pw at the moment, yet you don’t. Has your husband ever regularly done the school run for a prolonged time?

Hiya, thanks for this. It's a concern I share! He works quite locally so can do the school run, we'd just have to be proactive with work planning in advance so we know what we are doing. It would definitely mean him doing more than he does currently!

Everything in your post is screaming that you really really want job 2. Unless it’s going to make life incredibly difficult, you should go for it. Like you said, might never come up again and you don’t want to live with regret.

I’d go for job 2.
You mention school runs so I imagine your kids are both at school? In that case you’ve only got a few short years before they’re at secondary and will be much more independent in terms of school runs, holiday cover etc.

You’ve got the potential to make this work by DH covering a day a week and family another day and you can organise your own diary to suit their availability.

Good luck

Once the autumn term starts I would go into the workplace once pw and get him to do the school run on that day. Even if you don’t change jobs now it will mean it will mean he doesn’t get too used to you doing it all.

Apply for Job 2 - you don’t have to accept it but if you don’t put yourself forward then you’ll never know.

Job 2. If you have control of your diary then you can book appointments that suit you.

Job 2. If you have a partner that can share pick ups you can make it work. And if you can have some control on days to travel eg not on Tuesday the 14th in may as partner has an important all day meeting or whatever, then that would definitely work