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State of Maryland · 1 month ago

PROCUREMENT OFFICER APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM DGS Procurement Officer Apprentice I

Maryland, United States

Full-time

Hybrid

New Grad

0+ years exp

The State of Maryland's Department of General Services (DGS) is seeking a Procurement Officer Apprentice I to participate in their Future of Procurement Apprenticeship Program. This entry-level role supports efficient and transparent procurement processes while providing hands-on training in procurement policies and contract management.

Government Administration

Responsibilities

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

Qualification

Public procurementContract managementEMaryland Marketplace AdvantageMicrosoft Office SuiteCustomer serviceAdministrative supportWritten communicationAttention to detail

Required

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

Completion of an approved Associate's degree at a Maryland community college, or at least 24 business credit hours from an accredited college or university

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

Ability to travel to local government agencies, vendor sites, and Maryland community colleges as required for apprenticeship rotations, meetings, and skill development

Ability to support solicitations, contract files, or compliance activities requiring strict confidentiality and adherence to State ethics requirements

Possession of a motor vehicle operator's license valid in the State of Maryland

Preferred

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 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