"Defining Job Titles and Career Paths in BIM"

Ireland is undergoing a digital transformation. Some industries particularly in the areas of travel and retail have been radically transformed. However many industries are facing their biggest challenge in their existence already weakened by the economic crisis and constrained by their legacy business, it will be difficult for them to adapt and embrace the new rules dictated by digital change. Irelands design and construction industry is on the cusp of a digital transformation with early adopters now deriving some benefits from a move to a building information modeling (BIM) process. Digital transformation cannot happen unless there are personnel with the right skillsets to tackle the new methods of working. This move opens new dynamics into which domain specific skillsets supported by BIM technologies often overlap. New skillsets emerge while traditional ones submerge. One of those skillsets that has emerged is in the creation and management of building information through the digital model. New roles have emerged and are organically growing. Some of these roles are titled BIM Technician, BIM Coordinator and BIM Manager but here is confusion in the industry as to the meaning and interpretation of these titles. With a design and construction industry that is made up of traditional domain specific professionals where does industry go to find these “BIM” specific professionals. Do 3rd level education providers create new courses to fill this need or is there a design and construction course that has already many of the competencies required to fulfill the role? This paper sets out to explore these questions.