I work in a very niche field. My boss left to take another position elsewhere, and they offered me the boss’s job for an insulting salary. Part of that job I’m not even qualified to do, and I told them as much and that I thought they would have a very difficult time finding anyone qualified and willing to take it at the current salary range. I did tell them if they took the one piece of the job out that I’m not qualified for, and raised the pay to X salary, I’d happily take it.
Fast-forward a few months, and they sit me back down and say they’ve been cold-calling people and getting turned down. The people they’re calling keep recommending ME, which is super validating, but I’m not at all inclined to take it unless the one piece that I (literally, seriously) am not qualified for is removed and the pay is raised appropriately. Am I wrong to refuse to negotiate these two points?
Edit: Those saying “just learn the one piece;” that would be ideal, but my boss was the only one who knew how to do it, and me winging it could get us into serious legal trouble as that piece is the sole regulatory authority over a number of entities.