Drafter and/or LSIT
I looked into that as well... lots of upside.
if the person doesn't work out, it's not a huge change.
the person isn't in the area, so not a competitive threat
limit risk of file copy theft
if the person is in a different time zone, you could have your drafting done while you sleep and check it over coffee!
alas, I didn't pull the trigger on that, and just worked until I burned out.
If a person was a fully functional project surveyor/survey drafter (understands surfaces, field conditions, boundary, etc), then fully remote would be great. I am working under the assumption I will not find that in this market, but I might be wrong.
The issue is what they would expect from me. If redlines and constructive criticism is enough, then remote would work.
In fact, half of our current office staff work happens remotely. One is a PLS that works 100% remote. The other is a project surveyor (not a PLS) that comes in once a week. The once a week makes a difference, IMHO, but is essentially not needed for the retired PLS.
I just struggle with remote training, so the limitation is completely mine.
God you have no idea how badly I wish I lived closer. Sounds like the chance of a lifetime!
It is. Just do it.
Currently, our project surveyors are drafting their own surveys, but I would like for each of them to reduce that in order to expand their responsibilities.
Management at the large firm where I worked could never grasp this, but in solo practice I find doing my own drafting is so much more efficient.
Currently, our project surveyors are drafting their own surveys, but I would like for each of them to reduce that in order to expand their responsibilities.
Management at the large firm where I worked could never grasp this, but in solo practice I find doing my own drafting is so much more efficient.
The trick is to move a few project surveyors into more senior roles to handle the big-picture stuff, but not hollow out the experience and efficiency already present having the project surveyor intimately involved in their own work. PMs shouldn't be involved in the day-to-day, boots-on-the-ground work of surveying. I'd go so far as to say that they shouldn't be in responsible charge and stamping the final product 99% of the time. Let the manager manage, and let the surveyor survey.
We are pretty much a corporate shop, and PMs rarely have the time or the ability to actually act as project surveyors, but corporate doesn't want project surveyors in the mix because it costs $$$. As soon as someone gets their PLS they get pressured to become a PM so they can bring in work, because the only metric is how much we are selling. So many PMs could care less about mentorship and training - their bonuses aren't dependent on it - so we end up with PMs that are neither technically competent nor good at managing personnel, and often mediocre surveyors to boot. Our efficiency is far worse than the field-to-finish project surveyor model because of it. I'm going to stop there. End of rant.
