Location: On-site, Loanhead, Edinburgh
Hours: Full-time
Flexible Working Options – 4- or 5-day week
Join Our Team: Trainee Procurement Price Analyst
We are seeking a motivated and analytical Trainee Procurement Price Analyst to join MacTaggart Scott (MTS), reporting to the Deputy Head of Procurement and Supply Chain.
This is an excellent opportunity for an ambitious individual looking to build a career in procurement within a defence engineering environment. Through structured training and hands-on experience, you will develop the skills to lead procurement activity across major bids, spares, and repairs contracts while supporting cost analysis, supplier engagement, and governance compliance.
Initially, the role will involve close supervision to support learning and development in defence procurement processes and MTS systems (IFS). As competence and experience are demonstrated, supervision will move to a moderate level, with increasing responsibility and autonomy.
About Us
MacTaggart Scott provides mission-critical systems to Naval Defence and Commercial Marine markets across the UK and globally. With strong and sustained growth, our Procurement & Supply Chain (P&SC) function continues to expand and evolve, playing an increasingly strategic role in delivering business value.
From bid activity and cost analysis to through-life supplier management and sourcing of direct and indirect goods and services, our P&SC team is central to ensuring quality, cost efficiency, compliance, and supply chain resilience.
What Is the Job About?
* As a Trainee Procurement Price Analyst, you will undergo training to become responsible for:
* Ensuring goods and services are sourced and priced in line with schedule, budget, quality, and Procurement strategy.
* Supporting and eventually leading procurement activity on major bids, spares, and repairs contracts.
* Managing enquiries and issuing formal Requests for Quotation (RFQs).
* Conducting price and category analysis to support supplier meetings, price reviews, and strategy development.
* Supporting supplier onboarding and ensuring required documentation (financial, quality, environmental) is maintained.
* Maintaining accurate costing and quotation data within the ERP system (IFS).
* Supporting compliance with company policy and customer flow-down requirements.
* Contributing to internal and external audit activities.
* Collaborating cross-functionally to address supply chain risks, sustainable supply, and cost efficiency challenges.
Success in this role will be measured by your ability to manage bid workloads effectively, maintain accurate cost data, support supplier performance management, and contribute to improved supply chain performance and ESG outcomes.
Key Responsibilities
Working alongside Procurement Price Analysts, you will:
* Support delivery of the Procurement & Supply Chain Strategy in alignment with corporate objectives.
* Ensure cost data supporting bid submissions is accurate and robust.
* Prepare, issue, and analyse supplier quotations.
* Engage proactively with Bid, Commercial, QA, Engineering Support (EST), and other departments to resolve queries such as material compliance and obsolescence.
* Maintain strong supplier relationships, seeking optimal pricing validity and innovative sourcing solutions.
* Maintain awareness of market cost drivers and supply chain impacts affecting bids.
* Support supplier negotiations and performance monitoring activities.
* Maintain procurement and cost data within ERP systems to ensure accurate contract and supplier management.
* Attend and contribute to project updates, bid gate reviews, procurement meetings, and planning sessions.
* Identify and implement continuous improvement initiatives within the department.
About You
* You will bring a positive “can do” mindset and demonstrate:
* Strong organisational and time management skills.
* The ability to manage complexity and deliver high-quality outputs under pressure.
* Excellent attention to detail.
* Effective communication skills (written, verbal, and presentation).
* A collaborative approach when working with internal and external stakeholders.
* Motivation, self-discipline, and the ability to overcome challenges proactively.
Requirements
Knowledge, Skills and Experience
Essential
* Good standard of general education.
* Strong MS Office skills (Word, Excel, Project, PowerPoint).
* Effective communication skills.
* Ability to prioritise and execute tasks in a high-pressure environment.
* Self-motivated with strong organisational skills.
Desirable
* Previous bid or estimating process experience.
* Understanding of supply chain principles and techniques.
* Strong quantitative and analytical skills.
* Experience using ERP systems (IFS desirable).
* Experience working with Bills of Materials (BOM) and Product Requirements Documents (PRD).
* Background in defence-related procurement, particularly marine-based products.
* CIPS Level 3 qualification.
Benefits
Benefits
Your future And What We Offer:
* Flexible Working: Choose a 4- or 5-day week with flexible hours (Mon-Thurs 07:00–19:15 with core hours 09:30–15:30, Friday 07:00 – 16:00 with core hours 09:30 – 12:00), allowing you to fit work around your life.
* Leave Entitlements: Inclusive annual leave, paid parental leave, military reservist leave, annual leave buy and sell, and more.
* Career Development: Supportive environment with a dedicated Learning & Development team and clear pathways to grow your career.
* Wellbeing Support: Access to our comprehensive wellbeing programme, Employee Assistance Programme, onsite nurse, and life insurance.
* Health & Protection: Sick pay, free flu vaccinations, and comprehensive health & wellbeing initiatives.
* Onsite Facilities: Canteen, free parking, and cycle-to-work scheme for convenience.
* Financial Benefits: Generous company pension plan and exclusive employee discounts.
If you are looking to begin or accelerate your procurement career within a growing and strategically important function, and want to develop into a key contributor within a leading defence engineering organisation, we would be delighted to hear from you.