Specification Writer, NMS

National Research Council Canada / Conseil national de recherches Canada; Ottawa; Hybrid; CAD 83,000 - 108,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Bilingualism bonus

Job summary

National Research Council Canada / Conseil national de recherches Canada in Ottawa seeks a Specification Writer to support the ongoing development, enhancement, and publication of Canada’s National Master Construction Specification (NMS). The role involves collaborating with editors, translators, and technical advisors to ensure accuracy, consistency with MasterFormat/UniFormat, and high-quality master specifications reflecting current codes and best practices.

Mentoring is included.

Qualifications

• Diploma or degree in Architectural/Civil, Building Science Technology, or related field.
• Certification such as CCS, CSP, RSW, CCCA would be an asset.
• Equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.

Responsibilities

• Write, edit, and review NMS master specifications for accuracy and clarity.
• Perform quality assurance reviews across documents.
• Coordinate input from architects, engineers, and specialists.
• Maintain MasterFormat, UniFormat, and SectionFormat consistency.
• Support publication cycles with metadata and workflow improvements.
• Mentor junior staff on specification writing and guidelines.

Skills

Specification writing

Building science

MasterFormat knowledge

Editing and QA

MS Office

Education

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

Certification as CCS, CSP, RSW, CCCA, or equivalent asset

Equivalent combination of education and experience

Tools

SharePoint

Content management systems

Collaboration tools (Teams)

Job description

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.

City: Ottawa

Organizational Unit: 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

Anything is possible at the NRC, named in 2026 one of Canada’s Top Employers for Young People, Top Employer in the National Capital Region and Forbes Canada’s Best Employers! As Canada’s largest research and innovation organization, our world-renowned research pushes the boundaries of science and engineering to make the impossible, possible. Every day we explore new ideas through innovative research and help companies discover possibilities that impact Canada’s future and the world.

At the NRC, you’ll also discover new possibilities. Our supportive workplace fosters a culture of creativity, welcoming fresh perspectives and innovation at all levels. We value teamwork. You’ll collaborate across multiple fields and with the brightest minds to find creative solutions. Most importantly, you’ll discover what’s possible within you as you grow, make valuable contributions and progress in your professional journey. From ground-breaking discoveries to a life-changing career, discover your possible at the NRC.

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.

For information on certificates and diplomas issued abroad, please see Degree equivalency.

Experience

• 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.

Language requirements

English, Bilingual preferred BBB/BBB

Information on language requirements and self-assessment tests

Assessment criteria

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

Technical competencies

• 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.

Behavioural competencies

• Technology support - Client focus (Level 1)
• Technology support - Communication (Level 2)
• Technology support - Initiative (Level 2)
• Technology support - Conceptual and analytical ability (Level 3)
• Technology support - Results orientation (Level 2)
• Technology support - Self-knowing and self-development (Level 1)
• Technology support - Teamwork (Level 2)

Competency Profile(s)

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

View all competency profiles

Compensation

From $83,435 to $107,838 per annum.

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 the requisition number (25540) to:

E-mail: [e-mail]

Telephone: [phone]

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

For more information on career tools and other resources, check out Career tools and resources

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