BIM Department

[JonTheBIMGuy]

For those companies out there with a BIM Department, these questions are for you. What is your org chart for your department? How many levels can someone who starts at the bottom move up? What are those levels? Any information here would be helpful. Thanks!

[USMCBody]

Companies vary for sure, but here are the basic levels... I don't think I missed much, but this is just off the top of my head

But in general there is an entry level Drafter...
Take markups and make into computer with some errors. (not the brightest in the bunch, but just needs more experience in general. Strait out of school) Need direction from other drafters

2nd level drafter...
Take markups and make practically no errors. Familiar with design and can begin to ask questions about design, but not really understanding what the design pitfalls are yet. More experience than levels below. Need direction here and there from other drafters.

3rd level drafter...
Medium level. Take markups with no errors. Familiar with portions of design where they could do the design. Can push back the design to designers on certain areas and say what are you thinking. Knows some pitfalls in designs, but maybe not all. Not much direction from other drafters needed

4th level drafter...
Senior level. Markups help, but minimal direction needed to draft up design with very rare errors. Could fill in design roles as needed. Has the level of understanding of design where they could say this can't go out and it will not. Trains drafters indirectly by on the job training and designers indirectly by pushing back the design and telling them to fix it and what pitfall they fell down... The one giving the direction to other drafters and designers. The backbone of the company

Drafting Manager...
Also Senior level, but basically a branch off from the drafters. In charge of setting up and keeping drafting standards current. Does formal training for Drafters to keep them proficient. Probably doesn't work on projects to much, but could be turned loose to do the entire design if needed here and there. Keep knowledgeable of upcoming software and the future of the drafting process. Basically the keeper of the keys for all the drafting programs and make sure all are up to date. In charge of Fixing drafting problems of software and such. In charge of drafter reviews. Final word on quarrels between drafters and designers. Probably even has say in who get's raises... Basically in charge of the whole drafting department of at least the office.

Upper Drafting Manager...
Same as Drafting Manager, but in charge companywide or area of the world. Travels to other offices. Only big companies could have this. More forward thinking. Trains drafting managers / gives direction to the way the company should go. Basically talks to owner and or software companies directly...

[JonTheBIMGuy]

Thank you, that helped a lot.

[Wanderer]

Thank you, that helped a lot.

We don't do much in the way of production, so, unfortunately, to move up, the only choice is to become an Engineer or a Project Manager.