Start with the problem, not the job title
The best briefs explain what isn’t working today and what will be different in a year if the hire goes well.
Agree the non-negotiables
Pick the four requirements that genuinely matter. Everything else is a preference, and should be written as one.
Be honest about the package
If the salary is behind the market, your recruiter should say so on the first call. Better to know before the shortlist than after the offer is turned down.