It’s almost like pharmaceuticals. There are new ones — with new names that have been invented for new diseases — almost every day. The same can be said (almost) for tech jobs.
The latest new job? Director of Remote Work.
Working remotely used to be somewhat unusual. But thanks to COVID, it has rapidly become the norm. More remote workers means that someone has to keep track of them all. That someone is the Director of Remote Work.
Tech giants such Facebook, Twitter, GitLab, and Quora have already created a new position dedicated to overseeing remote work. In a host of other companies, the position is recognized informally.
Many of the new Remote Work Directors are executives with backgrounds in finance, law, land acquisition, and consulting. They are tasked with decisions on real estate (companies with remote workers may need to downsize their office space), the tax implications of remote workers who could be living and working in multiple states or countries, and the HR issues that arise when management and workers interact at a distance.
Most importantly, the Director of Remote Work needs to be an IT professional. Because, let’s face it is, technology is what allows our workforce to go remote. And any Director of Remote Work needs to understand the tools and technology requirements of remote workers.
As companies make the transition from a traditional workforce to a fully remote or hybrid system, the Director of Remote Work may become increasingly important to ensure that the transition is seamless and the corporate culture remains solid.
And, of course, it’s always handy to know whom to spend face time with when the inevitable snafus arise.