To succeed in your job search, you will have to get to employers before they advertise their jobs. This means getting in to talk to employers in the first, second, or third stages. In this stage people get jobs where none are open. You must create your own demand. No formal job opening exists, but the need is clear.
Some insiders know of a possibility.
Up to this point you are only competing with yourself. The job is posted in-house. Referrals are desired. Applications are being accepted. Everyone knows about the job opening.