How to rethink a role before you hire

In the association, membership and peak body world, it is tempting to see a vacancy as a disruption you need to patch quickly. A position description gets dusted off, dates are tweaked, a few verbs are changed, and the ad goes up. But what if that gap is more than an inconvenience?

A vacancy is rarely just an empty seat. It is a signal and an opportunity. It can reveal duplication of tasks, unclear responsibilities, or parts of the strategy that have shifted without the team shifting with it. Rather than defaulting to a like-for-like replacement, a vacancy is a chance to pause, reset, and make a deliberate decision that strengthens your team for the future.

Start with the future, not the past

Most recruitment processes begin with an old position description. It feels efficient, but teams evolve and member needs change. Before you copy and paste, step back and ask where your strategy is heading. If advocacy, engagement or service delivery are your priorities, your role design should reflect that direction, not last year’s structure.

Questions worth asking

What outcomes does this role need to deliver in the next 6 to 12 months?
How does it connect to our member priorities right now?
Are there overlaps or gaps in responsibilities across the team that we can fix?
What support will a new starter need to succeed in their first 90 days?

Clarity at this stage prevents mis-hires, speeds up recruitment, and helps new team members stay for the long term.

Design roles for real people

Roles in Associations, Memberships & Peak Bodies are complex. They often require balancing advocacy, engagement, governance, and delivery all at once. Instead of building an impossible wish list, focus on the few capabilities that will make the biggest difference. Then be transparent about the culture, expectations and support on offer. Candidates respond to clarity, and strong people will put their hand up when the environment feels set up for success.

From disruption to alignment

At Revise, we see vacancies not as setbacks, but as strategic moments. With the right process, they can bring fresh energy, sharper alignment and better outcomes for your organisation and your members.

If you are facing a vacancy and want to use it as a chance to strengthen rather than scramble, let’s talk.

Vacancies Are Strategic Moments