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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead buying for fresh products, driving growth and innovation in a dynamic retail environment.
- Company: Join Ocado Retail, the UK's largest online supermarket with a mission to deliver joy.
- Benefits: Enjoy hybrid working, competitive salary, health perks, and discounts at M&S.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a fast-paced role while developing your career in retail.
- Qualifications: Retail buying experience and strong negotiation skills are essential.
- Other info: Access to comprehensive training and development opportunities in a supportive team.
The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 £ per year.
Contract type: Permanent
Location: Hatfield (Hybrid working - 3 days in the office)
Working hours per week: 40 hours (Full-time)
Level: Manager
Application Closing Date: Friday 6th Feb
About us
Our mission is to deliver joy in every shop, through unbeatable choice, unrivalled service, and reassuringly good value. We’re Ocado Retail, a market-leading joint venture between Ocado Group and M&S, and the world’s largest dedicated online supermarket.
About the team and the role
We are seeking a strong Senior Buyer to take the helm in one of our Fresh categories. You will manage a diverse portfolio of large branded and own-label suppliers, with a specific focus on driving growth through innovative range development in stagnant categories. The role of a Senior Buyer within Ocado Retail will require a blend of commercial ambition and expert project management. Collaborating closely with our partners and suppliers on range curation and pricing, you will also manage a team of two, playing a vital role in the Chilled & Frozen leadership team.
What you’ll do
- Commercial Accountability: Be fully accountable for the category P&L and deliver against all KPIs. Proactively identify opportunities to drive customer penetration and significantly improve the all-in margin by negotiating with suppliers to deliver savings. Plan and execute the comprehensive trade, promotions, and events plan. Ensure zero GSCOP breaches, recording all agreements in writing, and reporting GSCOP complaints to Legal within 48 hours of receipt. Always follow the Business Code of Conduct and act with integrity and due diligence.
- Strategy, Range & Innovation: Develop the category strategy with support from the Trading Manager/Buying Director. Expertly execute category reviews to refine the range, ensuring all changes align with the business and category strategy. Identify, analyse, and source first-to-market / Ocado exclusive product innovation using deep customer, market, and supplier insights. Support 2 Buyers in delivering their own range and strategy reviews.
- Negotiation & Supplier Excellence: Lead complex negotiations to agree upon and deliver market-leading Joint Business Plans (JBPs) that align with the customer plan and category strategy. Manage and review the performance of a complex supplier base, communicating and developing strong relationships to drive high engagement. Work closely with merchandise planning and the supplier base to ensure best-in-class availability. Identify and create plans to mitigate potential issues/events that may impact the supply, and ensure product quality meets all Ocado requirements.
- People Management & Performance: Manage 2 Buyers and provide day-to-day coaching and feedback to Category Assistants. Be an expert in data, analysing and assessing performance issues and opportunities using reporting tools, and quickly devising and implementing effective solutions.
Who you are
- Significant retail buying experience with a demonstrated track record of delivering breakthrough commercial results.
- Exceptional negotiation expertise required for strategic, high-value, and business-critical supplier agreements.
- Proven leadership capability with experience in managing/mentoring.
- Exceptional influencing and executive stakeholder management skills, capable of shaping strategy at a senior, cross-functional, and leadership level.
- Expertise in complex data analysis; ability to synthesise diverse data sets to define the long-term category vision and strategy.
- Proven project management capability required to lead and deliver complex, long-term business-wide initiatives (e.g., major range resets).
- A passion for the bakery category and the drive to deliver a best-in-class customer proposition.
Training and Development
Joining our Buying team provides access to our Commercial Academy, a comprehensive development program structured around three pillars: Buyer Induction, Specific Skills (Buying & Selling), and General Skills. You'll gain access to external, advanced training such as Negotiation, as well as courses on Understanding Suppliers and Optimising JBPs. This whole program is designed to deliver a foundational and advanced skillset across essential commercial competencies.
What’s in it for you
By joining Ocado Retail, you’ll have the chance to experience life at the world’s largest online retailer, work with an amazing bunch of people who challenge what’s possible each day, and grow your skills and career in online retail. If that’s not enough to tempt you, you’ll also get access to loads of great benefits to sweeten the deal.
- Health & Wellbeing: Private medical insurance with option to add your family, Digital GP appointments, market-leading family policies, mental health support, discounted gym memberships, dental insurance, and more.
- Spend & Save: Annual bonus scheme split between personal and business objectives, recognition with reward platform, up to 7% matched pension contributions, 15% Ocado discount, 20% M&S discount, free breakfast every day in the office, electric vehicle leasing scheme, and free shuttle bus from Hatfield station to the office.
- Never miss the moments that matter: Hybrid working, 26 days holiday plus 8 flexible bank holidays, options to buy extra holiday, 2 weeks work from anywhere, and lifestyle break opportunities.
Our Hiring Process
Lucky for us, we receive a high volume of applications and genuinely appreciate the time and effort invested by every candidate. To ensure a fair and thorough process, every application is reviewed by a member of our team. If your skills and experience are a strong match, a Talent Partner will contact you to discuss the role and guide you through the next steps of our hiring process.
Your Application and AI
In the spirit of innovation, we welcome you to use AI tools in your application, just as we use them in our own business at Ocado Retail. However, as you leverage this technology, please don't lose sight of the most important element: your unique self. Your experiences, passions, and personality are what truly set you apart. Ensure that your application still authentically conveys who you are and why you're a great fit for us.
Everyone’s welcome
Senior Buyer - Fresh in Hatfield employer: Ocado Retail Ltd
Contact Detail:
Ocado Retail Ltd Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Buyer - Fresh in Hatfield
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend events, and connect with potential colleagues on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching Ocado Retail and understanding their mission and values. Tailor your answers to show how your experience aligns with their goals, especially in driving growth and innovation in the Fresh category.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your negotiation skills! As a Senior Buyer, you'll need to demonstrate your ability to lead complex negotiations. Role-play scenarios with friends or mentors to build confidence and refine your approach.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining the Ocado Retail team.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Buyer - Fresh in Hatfield
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion: When you're writing your application, let your enthusiasm for the role and the fresh category shine through. We want to see why you're excited about joining us at Ocado Retail and how you can contribute to our mission.
Tailor Your Experience: Make sure to highlight your relevant experience in retail buying and negotiation. We’re looking for specific examples that demonstrate your track record of delivering results, so don’t hold back on the details!
Be Authentic: While it’s great to use AI tools to help with your application, remember to keep it personal. We want to hear your unique voice and what makes you a great fit for our team, so let your personality come through.
Follow the Guidelines: Check out our website for any specific application instructions and make sure you follow them closely. This shows us that you pay attention to detail and are genuinely interested in the position.
How to prepare for a job interview at Ocado Retail Ltd
✨Know Your Numbers
As a Senior Buyer, you'll need to be on top of your category P&L and KPIs. Brush up on your financial metrics and be ready to discuss how you've driven growth in previous roles. Bring specific examples of how your decisions impacted the bottom line.
✨Master Negotiation Techniques
Negotiation is key in this role, so prepare by reviewing successful strategies you've used in the past. Think about complex negotiations you've led and be ready to share how you achieved market-leading Joint Business Plans with suppliers.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
You'll be managing a team, so highlight your leadership experience. Prepare to discuss how you've coached and developed others, and be ready to share specific instances where your guidance led to improved performance or innovation.
✨Be Data Savvy
Data analysis is crucial for this position. Familiarise yourself with tools and techniques you've used to analyse performance issues. Be prepared to discuss how you've synthesised data to inform category strategy and drive results.
