Warrior, from your last post I sense you know your way around the business and have what appears to be an execellent overview of the situation. A public institution wishes to hire someone to an in-house contracted position in order to save themselves the current highly excessive costs they are now paying for farming out those same services, and you mention some concern that the salary they are quoting for this position seem exceedingly high for what they are asking of the candidate who gets the position.

Then I get the sense of some indecision on your part with regards to taking the part, a probable pay cut but possible job security improvement, something these days we are all seeking, especially those of us entering the final third of our careers.

First, I would suggest you lose your indecision and make a full-fledged effort to obtain an offer of the job, put out your best in the interview, no holds barred. It is all moot until you get that offer, at which time you can then sit back and do the comparisons of current versus offered salary, benefits, security, potential further advancement, etc.... As a manager of some high-priced professionals myself I can tell you that, aside from the required capability to perform the required duties, the next most important thing I look for is someone who comes with an eager and forward looking attitude, an attitude of "how can I help you achieve what you are seeking to achieve?" and even better present some independent ideas of how you think you might start to meet or better exceed their expectations. Someone who does not aggressively seek the job and followup with another contact to solidify that interest to me means that person is considering my position not necessarily as their first choice, and I will typically move on to other more interested candidates, even if they may be less qualified/experienced.

I think your concerns of wonderment about how they can offer what in your opinion is a salary far in excess of that needed to obtain an employee who can perform these duties should be tempered by the fact that they probably recognize just how much they think they can save and that it is worth it to them to offer that level of salary to achieve that end goal. They may also have other as yet unforeseen to you motives for offering a high salary, truly expecting to obtain that special level of expertise that leaves them with no doubt that they did the right thing toward achieving their end. They may have ideas about extending that person's spectrum of responsibility, thereby warranting the higher salary.

Any way you look at it, if you think you MIGHT want the job go for it aggressively and with positive intent on obtaining it and helping them in achieving their goals. Only after you get the offer can you then really do a full analysis of the merits of the position and its benefits, etc.... Until then, even in the situation of you having far greater knowledge about the topic than likely even those who are seeking to hire you (or another candidate), COMPLACENCY is your most serious and profound enemy.

Confidence, Completeness (background preparation required), Composure, Curiosity (always have a list of relevant duty-related, not salary or benefits related, questions ready for the slow spots in any interview---demonstrates true interest in the job itself), Capability (and the ability to demonstrate it on the fly), Curriculum vitae (sell your background experience whenever it seems to match their needs), Contact (both eye and social/professional) and Connection (finding some common ground with your interviewer and with the direction of the entity that is hiring you) are the traits you seek to exude.

Good luck with it. I hope you are offered the position, and if you are and do decide to take it , that it brings you great prosperity and satisfaction.