Architectural Specifications Writer

Washington, DC

Full Time

Architecture

Experienced

ZGF is seeking a Specifications Writer to join our team in our Washington, DC office with at least 10 years’ experience. Each day we ideate, collaborate, and create, supported by a culturally diverse group of architectural professionals. Our team thrives on multi-disciplinary engagement while practicing at the intersection of architecture, interiors, and urban design and are distinguished by our creative and intellectual curiosity.

As a Specifications Writer, you will…

Be a well-rounded strategic thinker with an integrated approach to design and technical project resolution.
Bring a proven track-record of success with complex, multi-phase projects.
Participate in setting direction for the execution of project goals and objectives, definition of scope, selection of items for investigation, and development of novel concepts and methods.
Edit and maintain project specifications per established procedures.
Review, edit, and create technical specification sections.
Create the written requirements for the products, procedures, and standards for complex projects.
Develop relationships with product representatives.
Assist staff in conducting product research.
Assist with ongoing editing and revisions of ZGF master specifications.
Occasionally assist with other project administration duties including responding to RFIs or submittals.
Seek engagement and collaboration at all levels, including the internal and external design team, toward design solutions.
Be energized to create something new every day and eager to collaborate in a team.
Participate in the effective performance of the project team regarding project quality, schedule, and budget.
Be calm under pressure and be able to prioritize tasks across multiple projects or assignments.

Qualifications:

Professional architecture degree preferred, or related degree considered.
Architectural license preferred.
Minimum of 10 years’ experience.
Must be articulate with excellent communication skills and writing abilities; excellent spelling, grammatical and typing abilities.
Experience in Construction Administration for large-scale and technically complex projects.
CSI CDT or CCS certificate preferred, though not required.
Experience with knowledge management and building information management systems.
Experience with Deltek MasterSpec and BSD SpecLink.
Proficient, if not an expert, in Microsoft Suite, Bluebeam Studio, Newforma.
Familiarity with Revit.
Experience with LEED and/or other sustainable certification systems required.
Strong oral and written communication skills to support a collaborative teamwork environment.
Ability to be an effective collaborator and contributor to a geographically dispersed project team.

Base Salary Range

$110.000/yr - $150.000/yr

Benefits

ZGF Employees Enjoy Medical, Dental and Vision coverage with a generous employer contribution, HSA with employer contribution, 401k with employer match, 4 weeks of PTO and 10 paid holidays per year, paid parental and family leave programs and a hybrid work environment.

Apply With:

Cover letter
Resume
Work samples

ZGF Architects LLP is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We invite qualified candidates to apply online posting cover letter, resume and portfolio.

Apply for this position

Required*

Apply with Indeed

First Name*

Last Name*

Email Address*

Phone*

Address*

Resume*

We've received your resume. Click here to update it.

Attach resume or Paste resume

Attach resume as .pdf, .doc, .docx, .odt, .txt, or .rtf (limit 5MB) or Paste resume

Paste your resume here or Attach resume file

Cover Letter*

What's your citizenship / employment eligibility?*

What's your highest level of education completed?*

Website, blog or portfolio:

Desired salary

Are you legally authorized to work in the United States?*

Will you now or in the future, require employer sponsorship for immigration status in the United States?*

How did you hear about this position?*

Please upload a specification sample.

The following questions are entirely optional.

To comply with government Equal Employment Opportunity and/or Affirmative Action reporting regulations, we are requesting (but NOT requiring) that you enter this personal data. This information will not be used in connection with any employment decisions, and will be used solely as permitted by state and federal law. Your voluntary cooperation would be appreciated. Learn more.

Gender

Race/Ethnicity

Invitation for Job Applicants to Self-Identify as a U.S. Veteran

A “disabled veteran” is one of the following:
- a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or
- a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.
A “recently separated veteran” means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.
An “active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran” means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.
An “Armed forces service medal veteran” means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.

Veteran status

I IDENTIFY AS ONE OR MORE OF THE CLASSIFICATIONS OF PROTECTED VETERAN LISTED ABOVE
I AM NOT A PROTECTED VETERAN
I DON’T WISH TO ANSWER

Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability

Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability Form CC-305
OMB Control Number 1250-0005
Expires 04/30/2026

Why are you being asked to complete this form?

We are a federal contractor or subcontractor. The law requires us to provide equal employment opportunity to qualified people with disabilities. We have a goal of having at least 7% of our workers as people with disabilities. The law says we must measure our progress towards this goal. To do this, we must ask applicants and employees if they have a disability or have ever had one. People can become disabled, so we need to ask this question at least every five years.

Completing this form is voluntary, and we hope that you will choose to do so. Your answer is confidential. No one who makes hiring decisions will see it. Your decision to complete the form and your answer will not harm you in any way. If you want to learn more about the law or this form, visit the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) website at www.dol.gov/ofccp.

How do you know if you have a disability?

A disability is a condition that substantially limits one or more of your “major life activities.” If you have or have ever had such a condition, you are a person with a disability. Disabilities include, but are not limited to:

Alcohol or other substance use disorder (not currently using drugs illegally)
Autoimmune disorder, for example, lupus, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV/AIDS
Blind or low vision
Cancer (past or present)
Cardiovascular or heart disease
Celiac disease
Cerebral palsy
Deaf or serious difficulty hearing
Diabetes
Disfigurement, for example, disfigurement caused by burns, wounds, accidents, or congenital disorders
Epilepsy or other seizure disorder
Gastrointestinal disorders, for example, Crohn's Disease, irritable bowel syndrome
Intellectual or developmental disability
Mental health conditions, for example, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD
Missing limbs or partially missing limbs
Mobility impairment, benefiting from the use of a wheelchair, scooter, walker, leg brace(s) and/or other supports
Nervous system condition, for example, migraine headaches, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis (MS)
Neurodivergence, for example, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder, dyslexia, dyspraxia, other learning disabilities
Partial or complete paralysis (any cause)
Pulmonary or respiratory conditions, for example, tuberculosis, asthma, emphysema
Short stature (dwarfism)
Traumatic brain injury

Please check one of the boxes below:

YES, I HAVE A DISABILITY, OR HAVE HAD ONE IN THE PAST NO, I DO NOT HAVE A DISABILITY AND HAVE NOT HAD ONE IN THE PAST I DO NOT WANT TO ANSWER

PUBLIC BURDEN STATEMENT: According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number. This survey should take about 5 minutes to complete.

You must enter your name and date
Name	Date

Human Check*

Submit Application