The Senior Specifications Writer leads the development of precise architectural documentation, collaborates with teams, and mentors junior staff while ensuring project quality and compliance.
Bring your architectural expertise to the forefront of design excellence at Cuningham. We’re seeking a Senior Specifications Writer who thrives on transforming design intent into precise, coordinated, and buildable documentation for complex, high-profile projects. With your background in architecture, license preferred, you’ll lead the charge in developing CSI MasterFormat specifications that integrate seamlessly with our drawings, championing quality, performance, and sustainability at every step. Collaborating across disciplines and with external consultants, you’ll be a trusted technical leader, guiding teams, mentoring emerging professionals, and influencing how our projects are delivered from concept through construction.
While candidates located near one of our offices are preferred, we are open to considering remote work arrangements for the right candidate.
What you will do:
- Prepare and manage project specifications in SpecLink Cloud across multiple project types, including multifamily housing, hospitality, education, and other commercial and institutional types.
- Edit Divisions 00 & 01 for varied owner requirements and delivery methods.
- Collaborate with internal teams and external consultants through meetings and design reviews to align specification efforts.
- Serve as a technical resource for products, materials, building systems, and performance standards, integrating these into architectural andinteriorspecifications.
- Review drawings at each phase to maintain consistency between documents and specifications; prepare addenda, evaluate substitutions, and oversee outsourced spec quality.
- Support quality management processes by validating compliance with codes, regulations, and firm standards.
- Stay current on client, project, and regional requirements; engage with product representatives to refine and share material selections firmwide.
- Mentor and train staff in specification writing, best practices, and related software, fostering a culture of technical excellence and regenerative design.
What we look for:
- Professional degree in Architecture or Interior Design; architectural license preferred.
- Minimum of 10 years of architectural experience, including at least 7 years of proven expertise in specification writing, clearly demonstrated on the resume.
- CSI CCS certification preferred.
- Proficiency in CSI MasterFormat and specification software, preferably SpecLink Cloud.
- Strong knowledge of building materials, systems, codes, and industry standards.
- Experience with Divisions 00 & 01 and multiple project delivery methods.
- Ability to coordinate across disciplines and work with consultants to produce fully integrated construction documents.
- Familiarity with sustainable design frameworks (LEED, WELL, Living Building Challenge) and their application in specifications.
- Skilled in reviewing drawings for alignment with specifications and quality standards.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to clearly explain technical requirements.
- Proficiency in MS Office and Bluebeam; familiarity with Revit/BIM 360.
- Proven ability to mentor and train junior staff in specification writing and best practices.
- Highly organized, detail-oriented, and able to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously.
Closing from Default - All locations
Why Cuningham?
Together, we create enduring experiences for a healthy world.
Whether we are celebrating at a Spirit hour, nurturing an equitable and just work environment, or delivering regenerative design solutions to restore natural and human systems, each exchange is an opportunity to create a better future and support the health of our talent and communities. Our values are simple and impact every aspect of our practice:
Celebrate curiosity.
Design the future.
Restore the earth.
Take care of each other.
Have fun.
What can we create together?
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Cuningham is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and values the strength diversity brings to the workplace when combined with equity and justice. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, age, genetic information, national origin, disability, military, or veteran status.
Top Skills
Bim 360
Bluebeam
Csi Masterformat
MS Office
Revit
Speclink Cloud
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