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- Tasks: Lead the buying strategy for Cook & Dine, optimising product range and driving sales.
- Company: Join Ocado Retail, the UK's largest online supermarket, known for unbeatable choice and service.
- Benefits: Enjoy hybrid working, private medical insurance, discounts, and 26 days holiday plus flexible bank holidays.
- Why this job: Be part of a dynamic team that values innovation and collaboration in a fast-paced environment.
- Qualifications: Significant retail buying experience and strong negotiation skills are essential; leadership experience is a plus.
- Other info: We welcome curious minds eager to learn, even if you don't meet every requirement.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Contract type: Permanent
Location: Hatfield (Hybrid working – 3 days in the office)
Working hours per week: 40 hours – Full-time
Level: Senior Buyer
Application Closing Date: Monday, 27th April
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. Not only is Ocado.com the only place to shop a full range of M&S food online, it’s also the home to the widest online supermarket range in the UK and champion of small, independent brands. We’re also the brains behind Zoom by Ocado, our same‑day grocery delivery service.
About The Team And The Role
As a Senior Buyer, you will have accountability for a specified category within the Your Home commercial buying team. You will be responsible for ensuring your supply base and product range is optimised, proactively using data and analysis to maximise performance and also drive sales, profitability and growth to support the overall Ocado Retail strategy and goals. Cook and Dine are our largest categories, and we’re looking for a Senior Buyer to raise the bar even further. The buying area includes great brands with loads of room to innovate and be at the forefront of trends – be that looking after water filters or sourcing beautiful glassware. We also select from the M&S ranges, offering a great choice to our customers. This role sits in our Your Home team – a fast‑paced & dynamic team where there is a fun and collaborative culture.
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 an L2 buyer 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 an L2 Buyer 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 homewares 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
- 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.
Everyone’s welcome
We’re an equal opportunity employer. That means that we make sure all potential colleagues are treated fairly and equally. If you require reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know on the application form.
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Senior Buyer – Cook & Dine employer: Ocado Retail
Contact Detail:
Ocado Retail Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Buyer – Cook & Dine
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with Ocado's product range, especially in the Cook & Dine category. Understanding their offerings will help you speak confidently about how you can enhance their buying strategy and identify potential gaps in the market.
✨Tip Number 2
Brush up on your negotiation skills. As a Senior Buyer, you'll need to demonstrate your ability to secure the best deals with suppliers. Consider preparing examples of past negotiations where you've successfully driven savings or improved terms.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your analytical skills by being ready to discuss how you've used data to inform buying decisions in previous roles. Be prepared to share specific examples of how your insights led to increased sales or improved margins.
✨Tip Number 4
Network with current or former employees of Ocado Retail if possible. They can provide valuable insights into the company culture and expectations for the Senior Buyer role, which can help you tailor your approach during the interview process.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Buyer – Cook & Dine
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in retail buying, particularly in homewares. Use specific examples that demonstrate your negotiation skills and team management experience.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for the role and the company. Mention how your background aligns with Ocado's mission and values, and provide examples of how you've driven sales and profitability in previous roles.
Highlight Data Proficiency: Since the role requires proficiency in Excel and data analysis, include any relevant experience you have with data reporting tools. Mention specific projects where you used data to inform buying decisions or improve performance.
Showcase Leadership Skills: Emphasise your leadership capabilities in both your CV and cover letter. Provide examples of how you've successfully managed teams and influenced stakeholders to achieve business objectives.
How to prepare for a job interview at Ocado Retail
✨Showcase Your Buying Experience
Make sure to highlight your significant retail buying experience during the interview. Discuss specific examples where you've successfully managed a category, optimised product ranges, or driven sales growth. This will demonstrate your capability to handle the responsibilities of a Senior Buyer.
✨Prepare for Data-Driven Discussions
Since the role involves analysing complex data sets, be ready to discuss how you've used data to inform your buying decisions in the past. Bring examples of reports or analyses you've conducted that led to successful outcomes, showcasing your proficiency in Excel and data interpretation.
✨Demonstrate Negotiation Skills
Negotiation is key for this position, so prepare to share instances where you've successfully negotiated with suppliers. Highlight your strategies and the results achieved, as this will illustrate your commercial acumen and ability to secure market-leading plans.
✨Emphasise Team Leadership
As a Senior Buyer, you'll likely manage a team. Be prepared to discuss your leadership style and provide examples of how you've motivated and developed team members in previous roles. This will show that you can foster a collaborative culture within the fast-paced environment at Ocado Retail.