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- Tasks: Drive commercial growth in the Baby Food & Snacks category through innovative strategies.
- 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: Be part of a transformative team making a real impact on customer choices.
- Qualifications: Experience in buying, strong negotiation skills, and analytical mindset required.
- Other info: Access to comprehensive training and excellent career development opportunities.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Contract type: Secondment (12 months)
Location: Hatfield (Hybrid working – 3 days in the office)
Working hours per week: 40 hours (Full-time)
Level: Buyer
Application Closing Date: Tuesday, 17th March
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, ocado.com.
About The Team And The Role
We’re looking for an exceptional Buyer to work within our Baby department to manage our Baby Food & Snacks category. In this role, you will be a core driver of commercial growth, responsible for ensuring that your supply base and product range are optimised. You will also be responsible for identifying and delivering value‑added innovation, strategic range decisions, and proactively responding to key consumer trends like health and sustainability.
A critical part of the job involves managing complex supplier negotiations and playing an important role in delivering great value and quality for the customer. You will proactively use data and insights to maximise performance, driving sales, profitability, and share growth, directly supporting the overall Ocado Retail strategy and goals.
What You’ll Do
- Commercial Accountability
- Be fully accountable for category P&L and deliver against all KPIs
- Negotiate and execute complex, high‑value Joint Business Plans (JBPs) with growers and importers that drive mutual growth and innovation
- Utilise live data to make fast, commercially sound trading decisions, reacting quickly to market dynamics, weather events, and availability challenges
- Partner closely with the M&S sourcing team to drive joint initiatives
- Ensure zero GSCOP breaches. Always follow the Business Code of Conduct and act with integrity and due diligence
- Strategy, Range & Innovation
- Expertly execute category reviews to refine the range, ensuring we are first‑to‑market with seasonal highlights and Ocado exclusives
- Work closely with the Category Trade Planner to ensure best‑in‑class execution across all channels
- Collaborate closely with Supply Chain and Technical teams to mitigate risks, ensuring best‑in‑class availability and product quality that meets Ocado’s standards
- Negotiation & Supplier Excellence
- Have complex negotiations to agree upon and deliver market‑leading Joint Business Plans 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
- Identify and create plans to mitigate potential issues/events that may impact the supply, and ensure product quality meets all Ocado requirements
Who You Are
- Experience in a buying role
- Strong negotiation skills
- Excellent commercial acumen
- Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills
- Strong planning and organisational skills
- Proven ability to communicate and influence a wide range of audiences (internal stakeholders and external suppliers)
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.
What’s In It For You
- 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.
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.
Everyone’s welcome
We’re an equal opportunities employer, which means that we make sure all potential colleagues are treated fairly and equally.
L2 Buyer – Baby in Hatfield employer: Ocado Retail
Contact Detail:
Ocado Retail Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land L2 Buyer – Baby in Hatfield
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, especially those already working at Ocado. A friendly chat can open doors and give you insider info that could help you stand out.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by knowing your stuff! Research Ocado's Baby department, understand their products, and be ready to discuss how you can drive growth and innovation in the category.
✨Tip Number 3
Show off your negotiation skills! Be ready to share examples of past negotiations and how you achieved great results. This is key for the Buyer role, so make sure you highlight your experience.
✨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 serious about joining the Ocado team!
We think you need these skills to ace L2 Buyer – Baby in Hatfield
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion: When you're writing your application, let your enthusiasm for the Baby category shine through! We want to see why you’re excited about this role and how your experiences align with our mission at Ocado Retail.
Be Specific: Use concrete examples from your past experiences to demonstrate your skills. Whether it’s negotiation or data analysis, we love seeing how you've tackled challenges and achieved results in your previous roles.
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your application to reflect the specific requirements of the L2 Buyer role. Highlight your relevant experience in buying and how you can contribute to our Baby department's growth and innovation.
Keep It Authentic: While we encourage the use of AI tools, remember to keep your unique voice in your application. We want to get to know the real you, so don’t hesitate to share your personality and what makes you a great fit for our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Ocado Retail
✨Know Your Category Inside Out
Before the interview, dive deep into the Baby Food & Snacks category. Familiarise yourself with current trends, key players, and consumer preferences. This will not only show your passion but also help you discuss how you can drive commercial growth effectively.
✨Master Negotiation Scenarios
Prepare for potential negotiation scenarios that may come up during the interview. Think about how you would approach complex supplier negotiations and be ready to share examples from your past experiences that highlight your strong negotiation skills.
✨Data-Driven Decision Making
Brush up on your analytical skills and be prepared to discuss how you’ve used data to make trading decisions in the past. Highlight specific instances where your insights led to improved performance or innovative solutions in your previous roles.
✨Showcase Your Communication Skills
Since this role involves influencing a wide range of audiences, practice articulating your thoughts clearly and confidently. Prepare to discuss how you've built relationships with suppliers and internal stakeholders, as well as how you handle challenges in communication.