Should I Apply?

I work for a nonprofit. The director of my program is leaving and the job was just posted. I have been with this company 6 years. The lead in our department is close to retirement and doesn’t want it. The day she announced she was leaving, another coworker jokingly said congrats on your promotion to me and several others have asked if I’m applying (so I feel like amongst the grunt workers, there is absolute faith I could do this and do it well). I want to apply, know the program and my coworkers and would love to do it.
My hesitation is the leadership above the director. That director has more than once caused people to quit, some suddenly. She is not nice and everyone knows it. This might be my only shot at getting a director position and my pay would go from about $50k to about $85k. Advice??