Specification Writer 2

DOWL • Lake Oswego, OR

13h

About The Position

The Specification Writer 2 is responsible for creating and maintaining technical documents that outline the requirements and standards for a variety of civil and environmental projects. The specification writer works in close collaboration with engineers, project managers, and other stakeholders to ensure that all specifications are clear, accurate, and aligned with both client and company expectations. Duties may include ensuring specifications are compliant with client standards, revising existing specifications to meet current project needs, interpreting technical drawings to incorporate relevant details, performing quality control within DOWL’s quality program and the project contract, facilitating meetings with engineers, project managers, clients, and other stakeholders, creating and managing client‑specific templates, calculating construction quantities, estimating construction costs, and preparing project correspondence. The person in this position is expected to exercise a strong work ethic, a desire to learn new design and documentation concepts, and strong organizational and communication skills. A successful Specification Writer 2 should demonstrate developing proficiency with editing special provisions for at least one Pacific Northwest DOT and be able to quickly learn DOWL’s other client specification requirements. A successful employee is expected to work well with others, absorb and apply constructive criticism, and seek guidance from more experienced members of the team as necessary. This position will work under the guidance of a licensed professional engineer.

Requirements

• Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel) - Developing
• Market Sector Software (AutoCAD C3D) - Developing
• Market Sector Software (Microstation Connect and OpenRoads) - Developing (if applicable)
• Task Specific (e.g., AutoTurn, GuideSign) - Basic
• Previous experience in specification writing, technical writing, or a related field
• Solid understanding of technical fundamentals
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and other documentation tools
• Ability to manage multiple projects and meet tight deadlines
• Performs basic technical tasks with market sector with limited oversight
• Performs quality control of basic deliverables
• Eager to learn and expand skill set, advanced understanding of technical writing skills
• Reviews, interprets, and employs appropriate design guidance from technical memos and reports
• Understands how specifications influence construction methods, bid items, quantities, and cost estimates
• Team player who follows the direction of others, ask goods questions, retains information provided, and shares information with those less experienced.
• Produces the following under limited direction/oversight from others: Technical reports and memos, Specifications, Construction quantity calculations and cost estimates, Design documents and construction plans
• Exhibits Understanding Budget and Schedule
• Moderate understanding of scopes, schedules, and budgets.
• With guidance, predicts the level of effort for individual tasks and successfully deliver tasks within that level of effort.
• Monitors results on moderately complex projects.
• Understands and employs the following design codes: AASHTO and FHWA - Moderate, Local Client - Moderate
• Limited direct interaction, commonly in group settings. Responds to emails, attends meetings, and answers questions/comments with limited autonomy.
• Performs moderately complex technical work on projects for the assigned market sector.
• Operates with limited autonomy – work is supervised and reviewed by more senior staff.
• Bachelor's Degree required
• Years of experience required: 2 years
• EIT/EI required
• Driving is an essential job function or a valid driver’s license is required to support legitimate business purposes
• The employee is regularly required to sit.
• The employee is required to talk and hear.
• The employee is regularly required to stand, walk, and use hands.
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision and ability to adjust focus.

Nice To Haves

• Years of experience required with advanced degree: 1 year
• A successful Specification Writer 2 should demonstrate developing proficiency with editing special provisions for at least one Pacific Northwest DOT and be able to quickly learn DOWL’s other client specification requirements.
• A successful employee is expected to work well with others, absorb and apply constructive criticism, and seek guidance from more experienced members of the team as necessary.
• This position will work under the guidance of a licensed professional engineer.

Responsibilities

• Ensuring specifications are compliant with client standards
• Revising existing specifications to meet current project needs
• Interpreting technical drawings to incorporate relevant details
• Performing quality control within DOWL’s quality program and the project contract
• Facilitating meetings with engineers, project managers, clients, and other stakeholders
• Creating and managing client‑specific templates
• Calculating construction quantities
• Estimating construction costs
• Preparing project correspondence

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level