Traineeship in procurement in the Directorate Administration

Join the Directorate Administration as a trainee in procurement.

This opening expired 26 days ago. Do not try to apply for this job.

ECB - European Central Bank

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Application deadline 26 days ago: Wednesday 10 Jun 2026 at 00:00 UTC

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Overview

Join the Directorate Administration as a trainee in procurement.

You have:

  • Bachelor’s degree or higher in business or public administration, business law, facility management, real estate management, procurement or another relevant field.
  • General interest in European affairs, central banking and matters of relevance to our Directorate Administration.
  • Good knowledge of the MS Office package.
  • Advanced (C1) command of English and intermediate (B1) command of at least one other official language of the EU.
  • Advanced knowledge of the MS Office package.
  • Professional certification in entry-level procurement fundamentals (e.g., CIPS Level 2 Certificate).
  • Knowledge of service management, quality assurance, process management, environmental standards, contract management, business and data analysis.
  • Analytical/innovative mindset.
  • Familiarity with the requirements of European public procurement rules.

General Information

Type of contract Traineeship

Who can apply? EU nationals eligible for our traineeship programme

Grant The trainee grant is €1,170 per month plus an accommodation allowance (see further information section)

Working time Full time

Place of work Frankfurt am Main, Germany

Closing date 10.06.2026

Your team You will be part of the Directorate Administration within the Directorate General Corporate Services. Our Directorate has approximately 170 members of staff and oversees the ECB’s technical infrastructure, facilities and security management services. We also have a small data management and analytics team which analyses data from various databases, with a focus on facility management and the technical documentation for our buildings.

In your role as a trainee in the Directorate, you will be part of a cross-functional procurement team consisting of five members of staff. This team supports our efforts to continuously improve and optimise our buildings’ facilities and services. You will work on procurement-related activities in close collaboration with colleagues from across the Directorate Administration’s three divisions, Administrative Services, Premises, and Security and Safety.

The ECB is an inclusive employer and we strive to reflect the diversity of the population we serve. We encourage you to apply irrespective of age, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, race, religious beliefs, sexual orientation or other characteristics.

Your role As a trainee, you will:

- contribute to all aspects of procurement procedures, for example by carrying out market research; - support the procurement team by collecting, maintaining, cleaning, analysing and processing procurement data and documentation; - establish and maintain strong relationships with the three divisions of the Directorate to effectively support them in their procurement activities; - conduct research and draft reports; - prepare and deliver presentations related to the team’s activities; - establish and maintain strong relationships with all parties involved in procurement procedures, including those beyond the Directorate.

The traineeship offers you excellent opportunities to make a meaningful contribution to activities that enable the ECB to deliver on its mandate. You will be part of a multicultural team that strives for continuous innovation to make a positive impact on the lives of European citizens.

Qualifications, experience and skills Essential:

- a bachelor’s degree or higher in business or public administration, business law, facility management, real estate management, procurement or another relevant field; - a general interest in European affairs, central banking and matters of relevance to our Directorate Administration; - a good knowledge of the MS Office package; - an advanced (C1) command of English and an intermediate (B1) command of at least one other official language of the EU, according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

Desired:

- an advanced knowledge of the MS Office package; - a professional certification (completed or being completed) in entry-level procurement fundamentals (e.g. CIPS Level 2 Certificate); - knowledge of one or more of the following: service management, quality assurance, process management, environmental standards, contract management, business and data analysis; - an analytical/innovative mindset; - familiarity with the requirements of European public procurement rules.

You are curious and eager to learn, and want to further develop your ability to analyse complex information. You are keen to collaborate with others, pursue team goals and learn from other people’s diverse perspectives. You strive to know and anticipate stakeholder needs, and will signal any need for change and propose alternative solutions.

You are motivated to contribute to the ECB’s mission, to serve the citizens of the EU as a member of a public institution and to work with colleagues from all over Europe. You are keen to be part of our team and to use your skills and competencies to achieve the aims of this position.

Further information Initial traineeship of six months, with a possible extension to up to 12 months in total.

Other details on the conditions applicable to traineeships at the ECB can be found on our website.

For additional information on this specific vacancy, you can speak to Jean-Marie Connes on +49 (0)69 1344 8441 on 28 May between 10:00 and 11:00.

Application and selection process The recruitment process for this position will include an online interview and may also include a pre-recorded video interview in the pre-selection phase if a large number of applications is received.

Further information on how to apply is available on our website.

If you are not selected for this position but are still considered suitable, you will be placed on a reserve list for 12 months from the closing date for applications, from which you might be considered for other traineeship positions within the ECB.

Potential interview questions

How do you ensure accuracy and attention to detail in your work processes? This question assesses your focus and commitment to quality in a procurement role. Provide examples of past tasks where attention to detail was critical and describe your approach.
Can you describe a situation where you had to work collaboratively within a team? The interviewer seeks to understand your teamwork abilities and how you handle working with others. Pro members can see the explanation.
What steps do you typically follow when conducting market research? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
How do you handle tight deadlines while maintaining quality in your work? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
Describe an experience where you analyzed complex data and made recommendations based on it. Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
What is your understanding of the key elements of public procurement rules in the EU? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
Can you give an example of how you approached a challenge or problem in a team setting? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
What motivates you to work in the field of procurement and public administration? Pro members can see the explanation. Pro members can see the explanation.
Added 1 month ago - Updated 1 month ago - Source: ecb.europa.eu