Procurement Officer Apprenticeship Program

State of Maryland•Anne Arundel, MD

About The Position

The Maryland Department of General Services (DGS) supports State and local government agencies, as well as local non-profit organizations and the citizens of Maryland, by providing facilities management, real estate and surplus property services, as well as security and law enforcement for State buildings. DGS is also responsible for a full spectrum of facilities, engineering, design and construction services, almost $1 billion in annual contract administration, and overseeing the State procurement process. Here at DGS, we truly Do Great Service… Consider joining our team! 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.

Requirements

Graduation from an accredited high school or possession of a high school equivalency certificate.
None
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.

Nice To Haves

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.

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.