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- Tasks: Lead procurement activities, manage supplier relationships, and drive strategic sourcing initiatives.
- Company: Join Ocado Group, a tech-driven leader in online grocery innovation with a strong retail background.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 days annual leave, private medical insurance, and flexible work-from-anywhere options.
- Why this job: Be part of a dynamic team that values quality procurement and fosters professional growth.
- Qualifications: Extensive experience in procurement, category management, and strong negotiation skills required.
- Other info: Opportunity to mentor junior team members and influence key business decisions.
The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 £ per year.
Ocado Group is a technology-led, global, software and robotics platform business, with a strong retail heritage. Ocado has been at the forefront of innovation in the online grocery industry since it was founded in 2000. Its retail business, Ocado.com, is one of the world’s largest online-only supermarkets with over £2.2bn annual revenue and over 795,000 active customers.
The Procurement Lead will have primary responsibility for Ocado’s Corporate Services Procurement activity across around £75m annual spend.
Key Responsibilities- Business Partnering
- Business Partner department heads and budget owners, becoming embedded within leadership teams.
- Act as a ‘Critical Friend’ for key business owners, providing support and education in managing key supply partner relationships.
- Be a vocal and compelling advocate for the value of quality procurement and supplier partnerships.
- Leadership
- Deputise for the Head of Indirect Procurement.
- Establish a Strategic Sourcing methodology for all Indirect Procurement, aligned to Group policies.
- Devise and lead a series of continuous improvement activities within indirect procurement.
- Provide SME input to the Procurement Transformation programme, and participate in ongoing best practice sharing and collaboration initiatives across the procurement teams.
- Mentor more junior members of the procurement team.
- Possible line management as Indirect Procurement is formalised within Ocado.
- Execution
- Deliver outstanding ‘Total Procurement Benefit’ for Ocado across Cost, Risk, Quality, ESG and Innovation, role modeling excellent delivery for the team.
- Lead high value, high importance supplier negotiations in the category space to deliver great value for money, win:win engagements and outcomes with partners.
- Be a key escalation point for supplier performance management.
- Category Management
- Use expert knowledge of the Professional Services and Consulting categories to deliver step change improvements in the way we engage, contract and manage partners in that space.
- Embed a Category Management approach to procurement across the Corporate Services categories.
- Supplier Partnerships
- Utilise expert influencing skills to secure preferential engagements with strategic partners.
- Lead the Indirect Procurement SRM programme, ensuring our supply partnerships are effectively managed and successful.
About You
- Extensive Procurement experience in category management, strategic sourcing, SRM and contract management.
- Deep category expertise in the Professional Services and Consultancy verticals.
- Brilliant business partnering and influencing capabilities, able to speak and operate in non-procurement terms to truly understand and unlock value.
- Expert negotiator, adept at driving win:win outcomes with suppliers.
- Robust analytical experience, having leveraged multiple sources of data to inform strategies, recommendations and decision making.
What We Offer
We believe in supporting our people with meaningful, flexible benefits that prioritise well-being and work-life balance. Here’s a snapshot of what you can expect:
- Time to recharge: 25 days annual leave (rising to 27 after 5 years), plus the option to buy more – and 30 days a year to work from anywhere in the world.
- Health & wellbeing: Private Medical Insurance from your first month, wellbeing support through specialist apps and EAP, plus Income Protection and Life Assurance.
- Family-first policies: 22 weeks paid maternity/primary carer leave and 6 weeks paid paternity leave (after qualifying period).
- Financial support: Pension with employer matching up to 7%, share schemes (Sharesave & BAYE), and interest-free loans for train tickets.
- Commuter perks: Cycle to Work Scheme and free shuttle buses to/from Hatfield and Welwyn Garden City stations.
- Exclusive discounts: 15% off at Ocado.com with free delivery (starting in your first month).
Ocado Group is an equal opportunities employer and as such makes every effort to ensure that all potential employees are treated fairly and equally, regardless of their sex, sexual orientation, marital status, race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, age, or disability or union membership status.
Procurement Lead employer: Ocado Group
Contact Detail:
Ocado Group Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Procurement Lead
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with Ocado's business model and values. Understanding their technology-led approach and commitment to innovation in the online grocery industry will help you align your experience with their goals during discussions.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with current or former employees of Ocado, especially those in procurement roles. They can provide valuable insights into the company culture and expectations, which can be beneficial when discussing your fit for the role.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss specific examples of your procurement successes, particularly in category management and strategic sourcing. Highlighting your ability to drive win:win outcomes will resonate well with the hiring team.
✨Tip Number 4
Stay updated on trends in the Professional Services and Consultancy sectors. Being able to speak knowledgeably about current challenges and opportunities in these areas will demonstrate your expertise and readiness for the role.
We think you need these skills to ace Procurement Lead
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Role: Take time to thoroughly read the job description for the Procurement Lead position. Understand the key responsibilities and required skills, such as category management and strategic sourcing, so you can tailor your application accordingly.
Highlight Relevant Experience: In your CV and cover letter, emphasise your extensive procurement experience, particularly in category management and supplier relationship management. Use specific examples to demonstrate your expertise and how it aligns with Ocado's needs.
Showcase Your Skills: Make sure to highlight your business partnering and influencing capabilities. Provide examples of how you've successfully negotiated with suppliers or improved procurement processes in previous roles.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a tailored cover letter that not only outlines your qualifications but also expresses your enthusiasm for the role at Ocado. Mention why you are drawn to their innovative approach in the online grocery industry and how you can contribute to their success.
How to prepare for a job interview at Ocado Group
✨Understand the Role
Make sure you have a solid grasp of the responsibilities of the Procurement Lead. Familiarise yourself with key terms like strategic sourcing, supplier relationship management, and category management. This will help you speak confidently about how your experience aligns with their needs.
✨Showcase Your Negotiation Skills
Prepare examples of successful negotiations you've led in the past. Highlight how you achieved win:win outcomes and the impact these had on your previous employers. This is crucial for demonstrating your fit for a role that involves high-value supplier negotiations.
✨Demonstrate Business Partnering Experience
Be ready to discuss how you've partnered with different departments in previous roles. Share specific instances where your influence helped unlock value or improve supplier relationships. This will show that you can effectively communicate and collaborate across teams.
✨Prepare for Analytical Questions
Expect questions that assess your analytical skills. Be prepared to discuss how you've used data to inform procurement strategies and decision-making. Bring examples of how your analytical approach has led to successful outcomes in past projects.
