Graduate Trainee - Procurement
Fixed Term, Full Time
£28,090 up to £33,047 per annum
Location: Chelmsford
Working Style:
Kick-start your career in procurement with our Graduate Procurement Trainee programme. You’ll gain hands-on experience across diverse categories, develop strategies that make a real impact, and receive full support to achieve your CIPS qualifications.
Role and Service Overview
The Procurement function within Essex County Council is looking for the senior leaders of the future.
Procurement works with colleagues across the council, partners in the wider public sector, and with our supply chains to deliver innovative solutions for the people of Essex. The function leads the end-to-end procurement cycle with responsibility for category management, and managing a supply chain whose reach is one of the largest in the public sector.
The Procurement Function manages an annual third party spend of £1.2 billion and a contract portfolio of £5.8 billion.
Our graduate programme will equip you with the necessary skills and experience necessary to become a qualified Procurement professional (CIPS) and will fast-track you into a Procurement Manager role within Essex County Council.
The Graduate Procurement Trainee will undertake a comprehensive programme of training and development, through individually planned placements within the Procurement function over a three-year period to gain a broad knowledge of procurement practice and gain valuable skills.
As our Graduate Procurement Trainee, you will study towards the alongside CIPS Levels 4 and 5 with the opportunity to complete Level 6 to become fully chartered (MCIPS).
For more information, please have a read through our
. With flexible working options and a focus on innovation, whether you are looking to develop your career or contribute to the local community, Essex is the ideal place for you.
In February 2025, Greater Essex was accepted onto the Government’s devolution priority programme, which will see local authorities in Essex work towards establishing a Mayoral Combined County Authority by May 2026. You can read more about ) on our careers site
Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We’re committed to interview all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job. Please speak to our Recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments during the process. We’re also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying.
Once you’ve secured your role within Essex County Council you will receive many great employee benefits, including support for unpaid carers and flexible working arrangements to accommodate their needs.
At Essex County Council, we value integrity and ethical behaviour. We kindly ask that you embrace our code of conduct and the, including throughout the recruitment process. Your commitment to these standards helps us maintain a positive and respectful workplace for everyone.
Please note that the job role requires you to be mobile throughout an operational area. Therefore, the post holder will need to have a driving licence and access to a vehicle, or the ability to meet the mobility requirements of the role through other means.
Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.
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