Actual Closing Date
Applications must be received by 8 November 2026 at 11:55PM.
Location and Hours
Location: Council Headquarters, Hamilton
Hours: 35 hours per week, Permanent
Work Pattern: Monday - Thursday 8.45am - 4.45pm, Friday 8.45am - 4.15pm
Salary: £31,242 - £38,779 per year
Job Description
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a number of self-motivated individuals to join the Procurement Service at South Lanarkshire Council as Trainee Procurement Officer(s) (Graduate). This "hands-on" role requires the development of a broad knowledge of purchasing and negotiation to assist in delivering our daily procurement activities.
Working within a dedicated, fast-paced team, you will manage your own procurement projects from day one with the full support of a mentor and line manager. The Service aims to develop highly trained professionals capable of working proactively within a challenging and evolving public sector environment. As part of your professional development, you will be expected to undertake a course of study leading to the Level 4 Diploma from the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS).
The Procurement Service is led by 2 Procurement Advisors, whose areas of responsibility consist of:
- Social Work, Education, Finance & Corporate and IT,
- Housing & Technical, and Community & Enterprise.
The Procurement team manage the contract requirements of all Council goods, works and services, including construction, social care commissioning and IT contracts. The successful candidates could be placed in either team.
You will be interacting with colleagues from across the Council, to understand their requirements, and guide them through an appropriate and compliant procurement process, with the appropriate support in place.
Successful candidates will commence work as Trainee Procurement Officers Grade 2 Level 2. They will be allocated a range of projects which will allow them to build their skills and competences, in line with the Procurement Skills Matrix and Scottish Government’s National Procurement Competency Framework, to progress from Grade 2 Level 2 to Grade 2 Level 4.
Once you have achieved CIPS Level 4 and Grade 2 Level 4, Trainee Procurement Officers will be allocated more complex projects, which will allow them to demonstrate that they have achieved the skillset required of Procurement Officers.
Requirements
The Successful candidates will have an honours degree, and will be able to demonstrate a genuine enthusiasm for developing a career in procurement. We would be particularly interested to receive applications from candidates with a minimum 2:1 degree in supply chain, business, procurement or law, or those with procurement or purchasing experience.
Highly developed communication and analytical skills are required for this role, and some previous work experience in a commercial environment and/or administrative role is desirable, along with the ability to plan and organise a challenging workload.
Interview Process
Interviews are anticipated to take place in person, at South Lanarkshire Council Headquarters in November 2026.
Candidates invited to interview will be required to deliver a presentation on a topical area of Procurement. Candidates will be notified of the subject area of the presentation no less than 2 weeks before the interview and will be required to submit their presentation no less than 1 week before the interview.
Equal Opportunities and Inclusion Statement
The Council is committed to fostering equality, diversity and inclusion in its workforce. Therefore, we welcome applications from all sectors of the community, including under-represented groups within our workforce. We are keen to receive applications from candidates who have a disability, who are from a care experienced background, who are from a black, Asian or minority ethnic background, from a military service background and from those who are new Scots.
As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria as outlined in the job profile for this position.
As proud holders of the UK Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award, the Council is also committed to supporting members of the armed forces community, including service leavers, veterans, reservists and their families. In line with this commitment, service leavers, their close family members, veterans and reservists will be guaranteed an interview if they meet the essential criteria as outlined in the job profile.
Benefits
As an employee of South Lanarkshire Council, you would receive a wide range of benefits including:
- Enrolment in an award-winning local government pension scheme.
- To increase the value of their pension pot, Local Government Employees can opt to join the Salary Sacrifice Shared Cost AVC scheme.
- Up to 33 days annual leave.
- Public holiday entitlement (up to 10 days).
- Occupational sick pay.
- Family friendly policies - flexible working and leave, maternity/paternity leave enhanced leave.
- Employee Discounts - including discounts at the cinema.
- Range of benefits to support you (Cycle to Work Scheme, Physiotherapy, Employee Assistance Program which offers practical and emotional support).
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F&C 5796 - G2 Trainee Procurement Officer (Graduate) in Hamilton employer: Cooper & Hall Limited
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment where you can make a meaningful impact at the heart of senior leadership. With a strong focus on employee development, ONS provides unique opportunities to enhance your organisational and communication skills while collaborating with senior stakeholders. The supportive culture fosters continuous improvement and innovation, making it an ideal place for those seeking a rewarding career in public service.
