Northern Ireland's Parades Commission is looking to recruit five new members.
The recruits will have to rule on some of the most troublesome parading disputes.
UK Northern Secretary Theresa Villiers said the new commissioners would be appointed for three years.
However, they could have their term cut short if former US diplomat Dr Richard Haass finds a new adjudication process.
Ms Villiers said: "The Haass talks provide a welcome opportunity to see if a devolved solution can be agreed for the adjudication of contentious parades.
"I am very supportive of that work and I hope that progress can be made.
"In the meantime, the Parades Commission will continue to be the body responsible for these matters."
The term of the current team, headed by Peter Osborne, is due to expire at the end of the year.
Paying tribute, Ms Villiers said the outgoing commissioners had carried out one of the most important and challenging roles in Northern Ireland.
Unionists, who have been highly critical of the Parades Commission in recent years, have given the new recruitment process a cautious welcome.
Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore said the new body should be in place by 1 January 2014.
He said: "Over the coming weeks, however, both governments will continue to encourage all stakeholders to support fresh thinking and political agreement on the issue of parades in the context of Haass talks.
"I will discuss the issue of parades with Richard Haass when we meet again later this month.
North Belfast MP Nigel Dodds described the move as an opportunity for change, but said root and branch reform of the adjudication body was still needed.
He said: "The current body does not have the confidence of the unionist community, or indeed many others who see it as unfair and irrational.
"It consistently rewards bad, even violent, behaviour and punishes good behaviour. It is inconsistent and aloof."
Ulster Unionist Mark Cosgrove, who sits on the Belfast Parades Forum, described the move as an opportunity for a fresh start.
"The last few years have been a very difficult period for relationships between the main Loyal Order parading traditions, the wider unionist community and the Parades Commission.
"Everyone knows the Commission has a difficult and challenging role to adjudicate through complex competing interests.
"Whilst I believe there are some fundamental problems with the legislation in the Processions Act that the Commission operates under, this is an opportunity for a fresh start."
Ms Villiers is to write to the leaders of the main political parties asking them to encourage suitable candidates to apply.
