PROCUREMENT OFFICER APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM

The “Procurement Officer Apprentice I” position serves as an entry-level participant in the Department of General Services Office of State Procurement’s Future of Procurement Apprenticeship Program. This position supports OSP’s mission to ensure efficient, fair, and transparent procurement processes across Maryland State government while building the future workforce of the State’s procurement program.

Under close supervision, the Procurement Apprentice receives structured, hands-on training in State procurement policies, contract management, compliance, and administrative procedures while completing, or where applicable, having completed an approved Associate’s degree at a Maryland community college, or at least 24 business credit hours from an accredited college or university. The position provides practical experience to develop foundational knowledge of the full procurement lifecycle—from solicitation development and bid evaluation to contract administration and vendor engagement.

Apprentices assist procurement staff in preparing solicitation and contract documents, maintaining records, supporting bid evaluations, and performing research and administrative tasks in accordance with State laws, regulations, and procedures. The role also provides exposure to the eMaryland Marketplace Advantage (eMMA) system, vendor outreach efforts, and initiatives that promote small, minority, and women-owned business participation in State contracting.

Through this apprenticeship, participants gain the technical skills, professional competencies, and ethical foundation necessary to succeed in public procurement and advance within the State’s procurement officer career series. Successful completion of the three-year Future of Procurement Apprenticeship Program may lead to eligibility for Maryland’s professional procurement officer positions.

Duties for this position include but are not limited to:    

- Participates in structured on-the-job training, state certification programs, and NASPO-developed learning modules to gain a working knowledge of the Maryland Procurement Manual, procurement laws, and ethical contracting practices.

- Assists Procurement Officers with drafting and reviewing solicitations (RFPs, IFBs), preparing bid specifications, advertisement documents, addenda, and evaluation materials. Supports vendor communications, pre-bid/pre-proposal conferences, and documentation tracking.

- Observes and assists procurement management, supervisors, and officers with all procurement activities, including but not limited to: bid openings, vendor debriefings, compliance documentation, contractor reference verification, and certificates of insurance, under supervision.

- Maintains procurement files and assists with statistical and narrative reports; performs data entry and validation for procurement activity tracking and performance metrics.

- Conducts research on procurement policy updates, assists in preparing reports and presentations for the Board of Public Works, and supports internal audits and compliance reviews.

- Performs other duties and contributes to other projects as assigned to support the mission and goals of the Office of State Procurement.

Education: Graduation from an accredited high school or possession of a high school equivalency certificate.

Experience: None

Strong preference will be given to applicants who possess the following preferred qualification(s). Include clear and specific information on your application regarding all qualifications.

-Demonstrated interest in public procurement, supply chain management, business administration, or government operations through prior coursework, volunteer service, or personal statement. 

-Applicants must be currently enrolled, planning to enroll, or willing to commit to completing at least 24 college-level credits in business administration, supply chain, finance, or a related field within the 3-year duration of the apprenticeship. 

-Experience providing customer service, administrative support, or working in a fast-paced environments and balancing multiple tasks or deadlines. 

-Strong written communication skills, attention to detail, and the ability to identify and resolve errors or inconsistencies in documents or data. 

-Familiarity with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook) or other productivity tools used in administrative or procurement settings. 

1.  Employees in this classification may be assigned duties which require the operation of a motor vehicle.  Employees assigned such duties will be required to possess a motor vehicle operator’s license valid in the State of Maryland.

-This position requires the ability to complete State of Maryland procurement training modules, including but not limited to: Introduction to Procurement, Procurement Officer Training, and eMaryland Marketplace Advantage (eMMA) system training, within established timeframes.

-Applicants must be able to travel to local government agencies, vendor sites, and Maryland community colleges as required for apprenticeship rotations, meetings, and skill development. 

-Apprentices may be assigned to support solicitations, contract files, or compliance activities requiring strict confidentiality and adherence to State ethics requirements.

It is important that you provide complete and accurate information on your application.  Please include all experience and education that is related to this position.  All information concerning your qualifications must be submitted by the closing date; information submitted after the closing date will not be considered. Credit is given for relevant part-time, temporary or volunteer experience based on the number of hours worked per week; you must include the time spent on such activities on your application.

Note that for any position requiring a college degree or college credit, you will be required to submit a college transcript prior to being offered a position.  You may submit your transcript as part of the application process.

The examination for this position will consist of a rating of your education, training and experience related to the requirements of the position.  Successful candidates will be placed on the employment eligibility list categorized as BEST QUALIFIED, BETTER QUALIFIED, or QUALIFIED.  The eligibility list will be valid for one year and may be extended.  The list will be used by the hiring authority to select employees for interviews.  Eligible lists may be used to fill future vacancies of the same classification.

Please note, selected candidates may be required to complete and successfully pass a State and Federal fingerprint background check prior to being hired.

You must be legally authorized under the United States Immigration Reform and Control Act to be hired in the position for which you apply.

The State of Maryland offers a generous benefits package that includes:

- Tuition reimbursement for those who qualify

- Flexible work schedules and telework opportunities for many positions

- Free mass transit in Baltimore & Annapolis

- Generous paid leave that increases with years of service

- Paid holidays

- Health coverage with low out-of-pocket costs

- Employee & employer contributory pension plan 

Click on the link below for more information.

STATE OF MARYLAND BENEFITS

Contact linda.wallace@maryland.gov or call 410-767-1386 with questions about this recruitment.  The online application process is STRONGLY preferred. Apply online at dgs.maryland.gov – Human Resources > Employment > Current Openings. If you are unable to submit your application online, please send your paper application to: Human Resources, Dept. of General Services, 301 W. Preston St., Suite 1311, Baltimore, MD  21201 by the closing date and time. TTY Users: call via Maryland Relay

As an equal opportunity employer, Maryland is committed to recruiting, retaining and promoting employees who are reflective of the State’s diversity. People with disabilities and bilingual candidates are encouraged to apply. We thank our Veterans for their service to our country.