At Perkins&Will, we believe design has the power to create a better, more sustainable world. We are seeking a Senior Specifications Writer to serve as a trusted technical advisor and lead the development of project specifications and procurement documentation that support design excellence, constructability, quality, sustainability, and risk management across complex projects.
Working closely with architects, designers, consultants, and clients, you will provide technical leadership throughout project delivery while helping advance firmwide specifications standards, best practices, and knowledge sharing.
- Lead the planning, coordination, and delivery of construction specifications, project manuals, procurement documentation, and related deliverables for complex projects and project portfolios.
- Develop coordinated specifications aligned with project design intent, drawings, codes, owner requirements, delivery methods, and quality standards while identifying and mitigating technical, constructability, and documentation risks.
- Serve as a trusted technical advisor to project teams, providing expertise on specification strategy, building materials, assemblies, systems, product selection, sustainability, and risk management.
- Provide senior-level support throughout project delivery, including bidding, construction administration, addenda, submittals, substitutions, RFIs, and other technical documentation reviews.
- Collaborate with clients, consultants, contractors, and multidisciplinary teams to support successful project outcomes and informed decision-making.
- Mentor team members and contribute to firmwide standards, master specifications, technical resources, knowledge sharing, training, and continuous improvement initiatives.
- 8+ years of experience in architectural specifications, architecture, engineering, interior design, construction, or a related design and construction discipline, including significant experience preparing and coordinating specifications for large, complex, or technically challenging projects.
- Postsecondary degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Advanced knowledge of construction documentation, project delivery methods, building materials and systems, building codes, and CSI standards.
- Demonstrated ability to evaluate technical risks, develop effective specification strategies, influence project decisions, and manage multiple priorities while maintaining exceptional quality standards.
- Strong communication, collaboration, leadership, and organizational skills.
- CDT (Construction Documents Technologist) and/or CCS (Certified Construction Specifier) credential.
- Professional degree, certification, or active licensure in architecture, engineering, interior design, or a related field. Licensure preferred but not required.
- Experience with Division 00 procurement documents, bidding processes, addenda, submittals, substitutions, and RFIs.
- Experience supporting sustainable, regenerative, high-performance, or resilient design projects.
- Proficiency with RIB SpecLink, Deltek Specpoint, Bluebeam Revu, and Microsoft Office applications.
- Active engagement in professional organizations such as CSI, AIA, or related industry associations.
- Commitment to ongoing professional development, including advanced sustainability or regenerative design credentials such as LEED AP, WELL AP, Living Future Accreditation (LFA), SITES AP, BREEAM AP, Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification, or Passive House certification.
Salary Range Information
We foster a culture that is diverse and inclusive and strive for pay practices that are fair, and competitive and reflect our commitment to pay equity. Our compensation decisions include but are not limited to a candidate’s qualifications including skill sets, education, experience and training, licensure and certifications credentials if applicable, and business-related factors. This practice extends to all employees, including performance considerations for merit increases, job promotions, and transfer opportunities. We additionally review our pay practices, conduct pay equity audits, and ensure our managers are trained in our pay practices on an annual basis. At the time of posting this job advertisement, commensurate with qualifications, the annual pay salary range for this position is between $110,000.00 and $154,700.00, dependent upon location and experience.
Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
At Perkins&Will we believe that inclusion spurs creativity and that innovation is born from an engaged culture of diverse people + ideas. By moving beyond barriers and stereotypes of gender, race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, medical condition, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status; we are committed to building an organization that reflects the diversity of the communities and clients we serve.
"Design has the power to inspire joy, uplift lives, and strengthen the spirit of community."
*Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
Perkins&Will has established and adopted an Equal Employment Opportunity Employment policy (“EEO”), which is part of the Company’s Human Resources Policy. The purpose of this EEO policy is to ensure that all employment decisions are made on a non-discriminatory basis, and without regard to sex, race, color, age, national origin, religion, disability, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, gender reassignment, citizenship, pregnancy or maternity, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable national, federal, state, or local law. In some cases, local laws and regulations may provide greater protections than those outlined here and employees will be covered by the laws of their local jurisdiction.
Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision
Perkins&Will will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information.
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Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with DisabilitiesThis employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.
Skills Required
- 8+ years of experience in architectural specifications, architecture, engineering, interior design, construction, or a related design and construction discipline
- Significant experience preparing and coordinating specifications for large, complex, or technically challenging projects
- Postsecondary degree or equivalent combination of education and experience
- Advanced knowledge of construction documentation, project delivery methods, building materials and systems, building codes, and CSI standards
- Ability to evaluate technical risks, develop specification strategies, influence project decisions, and manage multiple priorities while maintaining quality standards
- Strong communication, collaboration, leadership, and organizational skills
- CDT and/or CCS credential
- Professional degree, certification, or active licensure in architecture, engineering, interior design, or a related field
- Experience with Division 00 procurement documents, bidding processes, addenda, submittals, substitutions, and RFIs
- Experience supporting sustainable, regenerative, high-performance, or resilient design projects
- Proficiency with RIB SpecLink, Deltek Specpoint, Bluebeam Revu, and Microsoft Office applications
- Active engagement in CSI, AIA, or related professional organizations
- Advanced sustainability or regenerative design credentials such as LEED AP, WELL AP, LFA, SITES AP, BREEAM AP, RHFAC, or Passive House certification
Perkins&Will Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Perkins&Will and has not been reviewed or approved by Perkins&Will.
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Inclusive Benefits Coverage — Inclusive health benefits extend to same-sex spouses and domestic partners and include coverage for gender confirmation surgery, reinforced by repeated external recognition for LGBTQ equality.
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Healthcare Strength — Health coverage spans dental, vision, disability, life, and medical insurance, alongside FSA options and related support programs that broaden access to care.
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Retirement Support — Retirement support includes a 401(k) with employer matching and is complemented by performance bonuses that add to total rewards.
Perkins&Will Insights
What We Do
Since 1935, we’ve believed that design has the power to make the world a better, more beautiful place. That’s why clients and community members on nearly every continent partner with us to design healthy, happy places in which to live, learn, work, play, and heal. We’re passionate about Living Design, a philosophy that guides our work and emphasizes poetics and beauty; conceptual clarity; research and innovation; technology and tectonics; community and inclusion; resilience and regeneration; and health and well-being. Our team of over 2,500 professionals in 30 studios worldwide provides interdisciplinary services in architecture, interior design, branded environments, urban design, landscape architecture, and more. Our partners include Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects; Portland; Nelson\Nygaard; and Pierre-Yves Rochon (PYR). We’re also part of the Sidara Collaborative, a global network of leading designers, engineers, planners, and consultants.
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