Specifications Writer - EV Construction

Turner & Townsend•San Francisco, CA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Turner & Townsend is looking for a Specifications Writer to serve as the technical authority defining how our EV Clients physical infrastructure is built, maintained, and scaled globally. The Design Studio builds and governs the physical footprint of our global network of facilities. Sitting at the intersection of architecture, engineering, and procurement, our mission is to translate spatial concepts into high-performance material standards. As a Specifications Writer, you will actively collaborate with Design, Governance, BIM, and Engineering teams to research material performance, close standards gaps, and craft buildable, legally sound, and cohesive technical specifications.

Requirements

5–8+ years in technical specifications writing, architectural production, or A/E contract documents delivery (or equivalent technical expertise).
Demonstrated ability drafting and editing both architectural and engineering (MEP/Structural) specifications for cohesive delivery.
Solid understanding of CSI MasterFormat, UniFormat, and SectionFormat structures as applied to corporate facility rollouts.
Proficiency with industry-standard tools such as BSD SpecLink or MasterSpec.
Experience evaluating material data sheets, testing standards (ASTM, ANSI, UL), and building codes (IBC, NFPA, ADA).
Strong writing and editing skills with the ability to translate complex engineering concepts into concise, enforceable standards.
Bachelor’s degree in Architecture, Civil/Mechanical Engineering, Construction Management, or equivalent technical training/experience.

Nice To Haves

Certified Construction Specifier (CCS), Construction Documents Technologist (CDT), or Certified Construction Contract Administrator (CCCA).
Active membership in SCIP (Specifications Consultants in Independent Practice) or similar organizations.
Background writing specifications for large-scale rollout programs, industrial spaces, R&D labs, EV charging infrastructure, or technical prototyping facilities.
Familiarity with aligning Revit model metadata (shared parameters, keynotes) with specification databases to enable automated "BIM-to-Spec" workflows.
Familiarity with sustainable building certifications (LEED, WELL) and green material specifications.

Responsibilities

Draft & Evolve Master Specifications: Write, review, and continuously refine technical specification sections (Divisions 01 through 48) to support our evolving design standards and R&D requirements.
Drive Cross-Disciplinary Alignment: Partner closely with mechanical, electrical, plumbing, structural, and civil engineers to ensure engineering specifications seamlessly integrate with architectural materials and spatial requirements.
Identify & Bridge Standards Gaps: Proactively audit active design standards, identify missing specification sections, and independently research and develop new standards from scratch.
Lead Technical & Material Due Diligence: Research and vet proposed products, finishes, and equipment against durability, cost, sustainability targets, and building codes (IBC, NFPA, ADA, ASTM, ANSI, UL).
Establish Quality Control Guidelines: Create standardized checklists and review tools to help project managers evaluate external Architect of Record (AOR) CD submittmits for brand and technical compliance.
Maintain Specification Databases: Own and curate the studio's MasterSpec/SpecLink cloud database, keeping templates up to date and readily accessible for production teams.
Integrate Real-World Insights: Partner with construction and operations teams to incorporate field "lessons learned" back into master specifications, preventing recurring field failures.
SOX control responsibilities may be part of this role, which are to be adhered to where applicable.