Specification Writer, NMS

Automotive and Surface Transportation; Ottawa; Hybrid; CAD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Bilingualism bonus

Job summary

National Research Council Canada is seeking a Specification Writer for the Construction Research Centre to develop, update, and publish Canada’s National Master Construction Specification (NMS). You will collaborate with editors, translators, and advisers to ensure accuracy and alignment with latest codes and standards.

The role focuses on maintaining master specs, applying building science knowledge, and contributing to new documents on best practices and sustainability in a hybrid work

Qualifications

• Diploma or degree in Architectural/Civil, Building Science Technology, or related field.
• Certification assets (RSW/CCCA/CSP/CCS/CDT) would be considered an asset.
• Equivalent education/experience considered.

Responsibilities

• Write, edit, and review NMS master specifications for accuracy, clarity, and adherence to NRC standards.
• Perform quality assurance reviews.
• Collaborate with technical advisors and editors to integrate updates from codes and research findings.
• Maintain consistency with MasterFormat, UniFormat, and SectionFormat.
• Analyze feedback to improve NMS documents.
• Contribute to new documents addressing best practices, climate resiliency, and sustainability.
• Support publication activities with P&M team and Admin.

Skills

Specification writing

Editing

MasterFormat

UniFormat

SectionFormat

Interdisciplinary coordination

English grammar

Education

Architecture/Building Science diploma or degree

CCCA/RSW/CSP/CCS/CDT asset

Tools

SharePoint

Content management systems

Job description

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Priority may be given to the following designated employment equity groups: women, Indigenous Peoples* (First Nations, Inuit and Métis), persons with disabilities and racialized persons*.

* The Employment Equity Act, which is under review, uses the terminology Aboriginal peoples and visible minorities.

Candidates are asked to self-declare when applying to this hiring process.

OrganizationalUnit:Construction

Classification:TO-4

Tenure:Continuing

Language Requirements:English, Bilingual preferred BBB/BBB

Work arrangements: Due to the nature of the work and operational requirements, this position may be eligible for a limited hybrid work arrangement (combination of working onsite and telework).

At the NRC, we recognize that Indigenous candidates may have important connections to their communities and you may be eligible for an exception to this work arrangement. Alternative work arrangements may also be considered to accommodate candidates as required. To learn more about these options, please contact the NRC Hiring team using the contact information below.

Discover the possible

The role

The NMS team at the Construction Research Centre is looking for a Specification Writer to support our Construction Research Centre. The Specification Writer would be someone who shares our core values of Integrity, Excellence, Respect and Creativity.

As part of the NMS team, the Specification Writer will contribute to the ongoing development, enhancement, and publication of Canada’s National Master Construction Specification (NMS). a cornerstone resource for architects, engineers, and construction professionals across the country.

The NMS is a comprehensive template system used to develop design and construction specifications for the Canadian built environment, including buildings and infrastructure. It contains more than 17,000 pages of technical content organized into over 850 documents. The NMS is widely adopted by the Government of Canada, as well as provincial, territorial, and broader public‑sector organizations, to support the efficient creation of consistent, high‑quality project specifications.

The incumbent will work closely with NMS technical advisors, English editors, and administrators to ensure the accuracy, consistency, and quality of NMS documents. They will apply expertise in specification writing, building science, and construction documentation to produce and maintain high‑quality master specifications that reflect the latest codes, standards, and industry best practices.

Key Activities:

• Write, edit, and review NMS master specifications for accuracy, clarity, and adherence to NRC’s quality and formatting standards.
• Perform quality assurance reviews.
• Collaborate with technical advisors, English editors, and translators to integrate updates from codes, standards, and research findings.
• Maintain consistency with NMS conventions, including MasterFormat, UniFormat, and SectionFormat.
• Analyze feedback from users, industry partners, and regulatory stakeholders to improve NMS documents.
• Participate in the continuous improvement of workflows, metadata management, and content validation in NMS publication cycles.
• Mentor junior team members on specification writing principles and NMS guidelines.
• Contribute to the development of new documents to address emerging best practices, climate resiliency, and sustainability practices.
• Support publication activities in collaboration with the NMS Specification Administrator and the Production and Marketing (P&M) team.
• Perform data entry of NMS documents into an XML database as required.

Screening criteria

Applicants must demonstrate within the content of their application that they meet the following screening criteria in order to be given further consideration as candidates:

Education

Diploma or degree in Architectural/Civil, Building Science Technology, or a related field.

Certification as a Construction Specifications Canada, Registered Specification Writer (RSW), or Certified Construction Contract Administrator (CCCA), Certified Specification Practitioner (CSP); or Construction Specification Institute, Certified Construction Specifier (CCS) or Construction Document Technologist (CDT) would be considered an asset.

An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.

• Significant experience writing, editing, and reviewing construction specifications as part of regular professional duties.
• Demonstrated knowledge of specification formats such as MasterFormat, UniFormat, and SectionFormat.
• Experience coordinating interdisciplinary input from architects, engineers, and other technical specialists.
• Experience preparing and maintaining master construction specifications, would be considered an asset.
• Demonstrated knowledge in construction contract administration, would be considered an asset.
• Experience using digital collaboration tools (e.g., SharePoint, Teamwork) and content management systems for technical publication cycles, would be considered an asset.
• Experience with sustainable design or construction sustainability certification programs (e.g., LEED®, WELL™) would be considered an asset.

Condition of employment

Reliability Status

For a Reliability Status, verification of background information over a period of 5 years is required.

Candidates will be assessed on the basis of the following criteria:

• Ability to write, edit, and review construction specifications for technical accuracy, readability, and compliance with established standards and codes.
• Ability to identify the impact of changes in standards, codes, technology or industry practices on specifications.
• Broad technical knowledge across architectural and engineering disciplines relevant to building design and construction.
• Working knowledge of contract law principles as they apply to construction procurement and project delivery.
• Strong understanding of specification language, construction terminology, construction law, and English grammar.
• Working knowledge of construction specification writing style, formatting, and classification systems (MasterFormat, SectionFormat, PageFormat, and UniFormat).
• Proficient in MS Office Suite including Outlook, Word, Excel, OneNote, Teams, and PowerPoint.
• Technology support - Conceptual and analytical ability (Level 3)
• Technology support - Results orientation (Level 2)
• Technology support - Self-knowing and self-development (Level 1)

Competency Profile(s)

For this position, the NRC will evaluate candidates using the following competency profile(s): Technology Support

In addition, the incumbent who meets the language requirements will receive the Bilingualism Bonus of $800 per year.

NRC employees enjoy a wide-range of competitive benefits including a robust pension plan, comprehensive health and dental coverage, disability and life insurance, office closure at the end of December, and additional supports to enhance your well‑being throughout your career and beyond.

Notes

• In 2026, the NRC was chosen as one of Canada’s Top Employers for Young People, a National Capital Region Top Employer and Forbes Canada’s Best Employer.
• Relocation assistance will be determined in accordance with the NRC's directives.
• A pre-qualified list may be established for similar positions for a one-year period.
• In order to ensure a prompt and efficient processing of applications, candidates are encouraged to provide, along with their résumé, a detailed covering letter explaining how they meet each of the requirements of this position (education, experience, language requirements) by providing concrete examples. In addition, the candidate is encouraged to describe in detail when, where and how he/she gained the experience.
• Preference will be given to Canadian Citizens and Permanent Residents of Canada. Please include citizenship information in your application.
• The incumbent must adhere to safe workplace practices at all times.
• We thank all those who apply, however only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.

Please direct your questions, with therequisition number (25540) to:

Closing Date: 17 September 2026 - 23:59 Eastern Time

*If you are currently a term or continuing employee at NRC, please apply through the SuccessFactors Careersmodule from your NRC computer.