Senior Specifications Writer

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Author Message Michael Kundinger (Unregistered Guest) Unregistered guest Posted on Friday, April 08, 2005 - 11:48 am:    I'm trying to develop this position at my firm. Can anyone send me a job description for a Senior Specifications Writer. Or possibly some bullet points for this position. Thanks. Ronald L. Geren, RA, CSI, CCS, CCCA Senior Member Username: specman Post Number: 121 Registered: 03-2003 Posted on Friday, April 08, 2005 - 04:59 pm:    If I was looking for someone: - Minimum 5 years of preparing project manuals including Division 1 sections. - Must be CCS certified or required to obtain certification within 1 year. Robert E. Woodburn Senior Member Username: bwoodburn Post Number: 17 Registered: 01-2005 Posted on Friday, April 08, 2005 - 05:03 pm:    To be realistic, such a job description ought to include the demonstrated ability to read the minds of Project Managers. Many firms also expect such a person to be able, on occasion (particularly when deadlines are tight) to perform double duty as a consulting magician. Ron Beard CCS Senior Member Username: rm_beard_ccs Post Number: 56 Registered: 10-2002 Posted on Friday, April 08, 2005 - 05:33 pm:    To be a "senior" at anything one should have a depth of experience in addition to having been in the position longer than anyone else. The wider the range of experience, the more the "senior specifier" brings to the table. Having 10 or 20 years of experience in only retail-commercial [or any other specific area] is a shortcoming as compared to someone with only 5-7 years experience in educational, correctional, institutional, industrial, design-build, phased construction, or any other combination of the various types of projects, IMHO. A senior specifier is going to be the "go-to guy" and should be able to deal with "new" ideas and the unusual. The ability to work with people and common sense, not to mention a sense of humor, should not be left out of the criteria. The ability to work with, and through others [consultants, clients], should be demonstrated. J. Peter Jordan Senior Member Username: jpjordan Post Number: 55 Registered: 05-2004 Posted on Friday, April 08, 2005 - 05:42 pm:    While it is tempting to follow Mr. Woodburn's lead in establishing the most realistic requirements, I will resist. I would suggest that a "Senior" Specification Writer should have more than 5 years preparing (or coordinatng the preparation of) project manuals, but this is a subjective matter. How about a minimum of 7 to 10 years assisting the the preparation of project manuals and 3 to 5 years leading the effort. CDT should be non-negotiable although I can also make a case for CCS in terms of a "Senior" person. I believe that it should be made clear that preparation includes editing master sections from various sources, writing sections "from scratch," and developing in-house masters. I would ask for sample sections (a sample in-house master and a final section) to evaluate the writing. I do like Mr. Garen's suggest of including preparation of Division 1. I would also want a writing sample of a technical memo or report. A "Senior" Specification Writer should be able to evaluate a product or situation, make an informed judgement, and write a clear recommendation which provides a convincing rationale for the recommendation. It may be guilding the lily somewhat, but I can also make a case for more than a passing familiarity with specification production procedure and process. Does the person have to fit into a well established process and procedure or is there an expectation that this person would develop one after evaluating what is in place. In some cases, professional registration may be desired or required, but this will not be the case in every situation. George A. Everding, AIA, CCS, CSI Senior Member Username: geverding Post Number: 29 Registered: 11-2004 Posted on Friday, April 08, 2005 - 05:46 pm:    See 5.9.3 of the Project Resource Manual, titled “Profile of a Specifier”, for a fairly accurate and comprehensive overview including sections on “Educational Background”, “Beneficial Traits”, and “Proficiency”. Thoughts expressed in the previous posts are reinforced in the article. Wasn’t able to quickly find the comparable reference in the MOP, but there is probably something similar (or identical) there. Anne Whitacre, CCS CSI Senior Member Username: awhitacre Post Number: 178 Registered: 07-2002 Posted on Friday, April 08, 2005 - 07:37 pm:    I would agree with Mr. Jordan. A "Senior" specifier is, to my mind, someone with more like 15-20 years experience, who knows how specs are produced (physically, that is); can provide a cogent estimate of the time involved in their preparation; can handle projects, even of building types they are not familiar with; is comfortable with Division 1 documents; can interpret a contractor's estimate, and provide guidance to younger staff members regarding specifications, project changes and substitutions and the like. They should be able to discuss various bidding types, have a good network of resources both locally and across the country, and be familiar with how to phase project documents, review drawings, ... in short, anything that it would take to run their own consulting office. Sheldon Wolfe Senior Member Username: sheldon_wolfe Post Number: 126 Registered: 01-2003 Posted on Saturday, April 09, 2005 - 12:06 pm:    Not just comfortable with Division 01, but intimately familiar with it and how it affects other sections. The same familiarity with Division 00 is also required. In my experience, even when architects and engineers know what is in the specifications and how they are written, they have no idea what is in the bidding requirements or conditions of the contract. Sadly, that ignorance goes beyond the staff architect, and includes project architects, project managers, and principals. Phil Kabza Senior Member Username: phil_kabza Post Number: 100 Registered: 12-2002 Posted on Sunday, April 10, 2005 - 08:12 pm:    I would add to the excellent insights above that a senior specifications writer is one who has experience in mentoring less experienced specifiers and design interns, and considers that a regular part of their responsibilities. I would look to 10+ years diverse experience in specifications. Ralph Liebing Senior Member Username: rliebing Post Number: 162 Registered: 02-2003 Posted on Monday, April 11, 2005 - 06:57 am:    I personally feel it would be mst beneficial if the person had some experience in contract administration, primarily as an on-site rep [either part- or full time] I feel this "point of enforcement" experience in specification work would provide valuable insight for a rounded knowledge of professional, adminsitrative and practical matters. Since the specification writer often functions as the advisor to the production process, field experience would increase the value of that service. This is especially true of a person cast as a "senior" writer. J. Peter Jordan Senior Member Username: jpjordan Post Number: 56 Registered: 05-2004 Posted on Monday, April 11, 2005 - 10:51 am:    These are very interesting comments. It would be most useful if they could be put in context with job description and prerequisite requirements for entry level personnel, experienced personnel (but not master), as well as senior-level personnel. Making a common distinction about what each level of personnel needs to know and be responsible for would be very valuable. This probably needs to go in the next PRM.