Procurement and Supply Graduate Trainee

NHS National Services Scotland; City of Edinburgh; Hybrid; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A national NHS organization in Edinburgh is offering a Procurement and Supply Graduate Trainee role designed for recent graduates. This 2-year fixed-term position involves cross-training in procurement for various NHS sectors, with opportunities for professional development. Candidates should have a relevant degree completed no earlier than 2024 and exhibit strong enthusiasm for pursuing a career in procurement.

Benefits

Pension scheme

Work-life balance policies

Occupational health services

Qualifications

• Degree or SCQF level 10 completed no earlier than 2024.
• Genuine enthusiasm for a career in procurement.
• Opportunities for Chartered Institute of Procurement membership.

Responsibilities

• Work across procurement for NSS, NHS Shetland, and Public Health Scotland.
• Collaborate to ensure high levels of care for patients.
• Gain exposure across key supply areas including strategic sourcing and logistics.

Skills

Enthusiasm for procurement

Collaboration skills

Communication skills

Education

Degree or SCQF level 10 in procurement, business, law or IT

Job description

Procurement and Supply Graduate Trainee

This post is a 2 Year Fixed Term / Secondment position.

As per the Fixed Term Contacts Policy – Where individuals with continuous service within the NHS apply for fixed‑term contract roles, NSS reserves the right to refuse any such appointment.

About the Organisation:

National Services Scotland (NSS) is a national NHS Board operating right at the heart of NHS Scotland providing invaluable support and advice at a strategic and operational level. NSS supports customers to deliver their services more efficiently and effectively and we offer shared services on a national scale using best‑in‑class systems and standards. Our priority is always the same – to improve the health and well‑being of the people of Scotland. We do this by working in partnership with colleagues across Health and Social Care to deliver fit‑for‑purpose solutions and systems, delivering high quality services that help our stakeholders to free up resources so they can be re‑invested into essential services.

The Post:

NHS National Procurement; the Procurement Centre of Expertise for Health in Scotland, a directorate within NHS National Services Scotland, is pleased to offer a Procurement & Supply Graduate Trainee post for qualified graduates who wish to develop a career in Public Procurement.

This is an exciting and challenging opportunity to join our organisation on a 2‑year fixed‑term / secondment contract. Supporting us as we collaborate across the Health and Social Care sector to ensure the highest level of care for patients and service users is provided across the wide range of goods and services we deliver through best‑value National Contracts and Distribution Services.

The role is part of our Graduate Trainee Scheme, designed to provide the post‑holder with the necessary knowledge, skills and experience to meet the “Procurement Practitioner” standard within the Scottish Procurement Development Framework.

Based within the NSS Procurement team, the post‑holder will work across procurement for NSS, NHS Shetland and Public Health Scotland. The post‑holder will also have opportunities to work within the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service warehouse and with other National Procurement commodity areas as part of the 2‑year programme to gain exposure across all the key supply areas, i.e. strategic sourcing, supply chain and logistics.

The Candidate:

The post‑holder will hold a degree or SCQF level 10 in procurement, business, law or IT related subject and which will have been completed no earlier than 2024.

They will demonstrate a genuine enthusiasm for developing a career in procurement.

The post‑holder will have the opportunity to undertake a course of study leading to membership of the Chartered Institute of Procurement.

Location and Working Pattern:

This post will be based at Gyle Square, Edinburgh.

Currently hybrid working, with regular attendance on site required.

The work pattern for this post is Monday to Friday, 37 hours per week.

It is a condition of this employment that you must live and remain a resident within the UK for the post in which you will be employed with NSS.

Benefits:

Our benefits package includes pension scheme, comprehensive range of work‑life balance policies, occupational health services, learning resource centres and discounted leisure, financial and shopping benefits. HR Benefits Brochure.

Inclusion:

NHS National Services Scotland (NSS) is a national board and, as an anchor institution, it is our ambition to be a diverse and inclusive organisation where everyone feels welcome. We recognise that flexible working creates an inclusive workplace where employees can thrive and feel confident about their ability to balance their personal and professional responsibilities. This is supported through Once for Scotland flexible working policies. NSS has made a long‑term commitment to staff health and well‑being and offers many learning and development opportunities to support and improve our approaches to diversity, inclusion and mental health in the workplace. There are a number of equality staff networks in place which all staff are welcome to join. We are also an equal opportunities employer and as such guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for our vacancies. As an accredited Disability Confident Leader, it is the aim of NSS to offer a fully accessible and inclusive recruitment service that supports applicants on their candidate journey. If you are interested in any reasonable adjustments, please contact the Recruitment Team on [e-mail].

Further Information:

For an informal discussion on the post, please contact Chelsea Lawson on [e-mail].

Closing date for completed applications is 30 November 2025.

Further information about procurement in the health sector can be found in the following video. https://youtu.be/V-jenn0gKIo

Further information on NHS National Procurement is available at: https://www.nhsscotlandprocurement.scot.nhs.uk/

Further information on NSS is available from: https://www.nss.nhs.scot/

Please note that the majority of correspondence is sent by e‑mail only, so please check your e‑mail regularly (including junk folders).

NHS National Services Scotland is an equal opportunities employer and as a committed participant in the disability confident scheme, guarantees to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for our vacancies.