Specification Writer, NMS

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