Crossword Genius

Faculty position taking power for the first time (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

aptitude

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'faculty' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'position taking power for the first time' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'power' could be 'p' (symbol in physics) and 'p' is located in the answer.
'the' could be 't' (the is pronounced as a 't' sound in some dialects) and 't' is located in the answer.
'first' could be 'i' (Roman numeral for one or first) and 'i' is found in the answer.
'time' could be 't' (abbreviation) and 't' is found within the answer.
The remaining letters 'aude' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't see.
This explanation may well be incorrect...

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for aptitude that I've seen before include "Bent" , "capacity" , "faculty" , "A natural talent or skill, for which there may be a test" , "Update it, having natural skill" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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