Hill will step into a newly created role as general manager of professional rugby and pathways, overseeing player contracts and acting as a conduit between high performance and the Brumbies business.

Hill has been a professional coach for the past 15 years, including two seasons in charge of the Rebels, and admits he's stepping out of his comfort zone for a new challenge.

The Brumbies had been working with Hill, who had been coaching in Japan, to finalise a deal before turning their attention to finding a successor to coach Stephen Larkham.

Larkham is leaving the Brumbies at the end of the season to become a full-time Wallabies assistant.

The Brumbies are putting together a shortlist of candidates to interview in the hope of making a recommendation to the board in the coming weeks.

Hill has put his coaching career on hold to start his new job on March 13, but he will still be in a position to offer assistance to Larkham.

"I know I am stepping out of my comfort zone but it's also an opportunity to grow, so I'm excited by that," Hill said.

"Is it the end of my coaching career? I don't know. I think I will always coach in some capacity, whether I do that in Canberra or wherever. I'll still look to do some coaching.

"I'm taking a bit of a leap of faith doing what I am doing and so are the Brumbies. I still see my role as contributing to the Brumbies' success and getting a list in place that will be sustainable."

The Brumbies have a host of players whose contracts finish at the end of the year and one of Hill's first tasks will be working with Larkham to keep the bulk of the squad together.

Players including Scott Fardy, Sam Carter, Tevita Kuridrani and Jarrad Butler are searching for new deals while flanker David Pocock will return from a 12-month sabbatical next year.

Hill is also set to take on some pathway duties for developing players when he settles into the role.

It's a homecoming of sorts for former Wests star Hill, who started his coaching career as a development officer at the Brumbies in 1999.

He has since worked with Sydney University, Japan giants Suntory, the Rebels and the Ricoh Black Rams.

Hill also knows what it's like to manage big-name players after coaching wayward star James O'Connor and Kurtley Beale for two years at the Rebels.

O'Connor made headlines last weekend when he was charged with cocaine possession in Paris and the former Wallabies golden child is set to never play in Australia again.

Hill said his three seasons at Rebels, one as an assistant to World Cup-winning coach Rod Macqueen and two as head coach, had given him valuable experience for his coaching career and he's keen to use that in Canberra.

"This role is complementary to what I've done, I'm just doing a different job," Hill said.

"I'll still be around the playing group and the coaches, I will just be a bit more detached.

"It will be hard to separate that at first. I hope [Larkham] does use me as a resource, but he already has some great coaches who are doing a tremendous job. I'll just be contributing to that if needed."

The Brumbies play the Durban Sharks at Canberra Stadium on Saturday night, but coach Stephen Larkham and players Sam Carter, Ben Alexander and James Dargaville took time out of their preparation to attend a memorial service for Dan Vickerman on Wednesday.

More than 1000 people farewelled former Brumby Vickerman at a service at Sydney University.

The Brumbies will return to training on Thursday with Larkham set to name is side for the clash against the Sharks. Prop Scott Sio (hamstring) is unlikely to play while Jarrad Butler is in contention to return.

SUPER RUGBY ROUND TWO

Saturday: ACT Brumbies v Durban Sharks at Canberra Stadium, 7.45pm. Tickets available from Ticketek.