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- Tasks: Lead the buying of our White Wine category, optimising performance 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 recognised for trend-spotting and innovation in the retail industry.
- Qualifications: Significant retail buying experience, preferably in wines, with strong negotiation and analytical skills.
- Other info: Curious minds are welcome; passion for learning is valued over ticking every box.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
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Senior Buyer – White Wine
Contract type: Permanent
Location: Hatfield (Hybrid working – 3 days in the office)
Working hours per week: 40 hours – Full Time
Level: Manager / Senior
Application closing date: Tuesday 15th July 2025
About Us
Our mission is to deliver joy in every shop, through unbeatable choice, unrivaled 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, but 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 commercial buying team. You will be responsible for curating and buying your range of lines for our customers. Day to day, making sure it is optimised with your supply base, proactively using data and analysis to maximise performance to drive sales, profitability, and share growth to support the growth of the overall Ocado Retail strategy and goals.
Wine in total is one of our largest categories, and it is going well for us, and we’re looking for a senior buyer to raise the bar even further. The area specifically selects and sells our White Wine (still) assortment. With loads of room to innovate and be at the forefront of trends, major key brands, and work with the M&S team on their range on Ocado. This role sits in our wider Beers, Wines and Spirits Buying team – a fast paced & dynamic team where there is a fun and collaborative culture, and one that is gathering major industry recognition for ability to spot trends in range and champion online selling, recent awards include IWSC Online Retailer of the Year, Drinks business Awards, multiple wins, including Retail Buying Team of the Year and recently as a wider buying team Ocado has come out top ranked (or won) the annual Advantage Group Survey as the top ranked retailer to work with.
What You’ll Do
- Manage the category P&L and deliver against KPIs
- Complete category reviews to refine range and align to the business and category strategy, and you work with our fellow Senior Buyer in Red Wine, Buyer in Sparkling, and manage Buyer for Rosé and Commercial associate in delivering their category reviews.
- Plan and deliver trade, promotions, and events
- Identify opportunities to drive customer penetration
- Identify opportunities to improve all-in margin, and negotiate with suppliers to deliver savings
- Negotiate with suppliers to agree and deliver market-leading plans aligned to the customer plan and category strategy.
- Analyse and assess performance issues and opportunities using data and reporting tools, devise and implement solutions
- Identify, analyse, and source first-to-market / Ocado exclusive product innovation using customer, market, and supplier insights to guide decision making
- Ensure range changes are aligned with the category and business strategy
- 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 supply
- Work closely with suppliers and the quality team to ensure product quality meets Ocado\’s requirements
- Adhering to all Ocado policies, storage and handover protocols, and completing all of your training so that you have zero GSCOP breaches. Ensuring all agreements are recorded in writing, reporting GSCOP complaints to Legal within 48 hours of receipt
- Following our Business Code of Conduct and always acting with integrity and due diligence
Who You Are
- Significant retail buying experience and existing Senior Buyer experience required for managing and developing people.
- Prior experience in Wines is key for this role for any external applicant is highly desirable, but it is a requirement for your candidacy to be considered for this role that you can demonstrate your knowledge and experience of the many differences that exist in a regulated, taxed and uniquely sourced area, whether it is EPR or Duty you know the challenges this brings, and know how to navigate this.
- It is alcohol and wine, so you know what WSET is and have at least Level WSET.
- Having a passion for product matters here; we want you to be the trend innovator for us and be seen as that. In the industry, you want to keep what is special about Ocado (Choice) at the heart of what you do.
- Strong Experience in managing a team, collaborating with Suppliers, and working with stakeholders is essential. Proficient in Google Suite, well, it is hard to manage the P&L without it, but do you use Gemini, and if you can show us how you are embracing AI in how you work, that’s even better, but not essential, as we are learning ourselves.
- Leadership capability/people management
- Influencing and stakeholder management
- Very strong negotiation skills and commercial acumen
- Project management capability
- Able to analyse complex sets of data
At Ocado Retail we\’re passionate about building careers and skills by giving people access to new and diverse opportunities. If you don\’t tick all the boxes above but have a curious mindset, a passion for learning and adaptable skills to bring to the role, we still want to hear from you!
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. Here’s a taste of what we offer:
Health & Wellbeing: Private medical insurance with the 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: Blended/Hybrid working, 26 days holiday plus 8 flexible bank holidays, options to buy an extra holiday, 2 weeks work from anywhere, and lifestyle break opportunities.
Our Hiring Process
Lucky for us, we get loads of great applications and we really appreciate that so many people put the time and effort in to apply. To recognise that, we treat all applications respectfully and fairly. So, if yours stands out, you’ll follow our standard hiring process – one of our Talent Partners will talk you through this in an initial call.
Everyone’s welcome
We’re an equal opportunities 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.
Seniority level
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Seniority level
Mid-Senior level
Employment type
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Employment type
Full-time
Job function
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Job function
Purchasing and Supply Chain
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Industries
Retail
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Senior Buyer – Wine employer: Ocado Retail
Contact Detail:
Ocado Retail Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Buyer – Wine
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the latest trends in the wine industry, especially regarding white wines. Being able to discuss current market trends and innovations during your interview will demonstrate your passion and knowledge, making you a standout candidate.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals in the wine sector, particularly those who have experience in retail buying. Attend wine tastings, trade shows, or industry events to build connections and gain insights that could be beneficial for your role as a Senior Buyer.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to showcase your negotiation skills by thinking of examples from your past experiences where you successfully negotiated with suppliers. This will help you illustrate your commercial acumen and ability to drive profitability during the interview.
✨Tip Number 4
Brush up on your data analysis skills, as this role requires you to assess performance issues and opportunities. Be ready to discuss how you've used data in previous roles to make informed decisions and drive sales growth.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Buyer – Wine
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in retail buying, particularly in the wine sector. Emphasise your knowledge of wine regulations and your ability to manage P&L effectively.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for wine and how it aligns with Ocado's mission. Mention specific achievements in previous roles that demonstrate your negotiation skills and ability to drive sales.
Showcase Your Data Skills: Since the role involves analysing performance issues, include examples of how you've used data to make informed decisions in past positions. Highlight any experience with tools like Google Suite or AI technologies.
Prepare for Potential Questions: Anticipate questions related to your experience with wine sourcing and supplier negotiations. Be ready to discuss how you would approach category reviews and align them with business strategies.
How to prepare for a job interview at Ocado Retail
✨Show Your Passion for Wine
Make sure to express your enthusiasm for wine and the industry during the interview. Discuss your knowledge of different wine varieties, trends, and your experience with suppliers. This will demonstrate that you are not just a buyer but a true aficionado.
✨Prepare Data-Driven Insights
Since the role involves analysing performance issues and opportunities, come prepared with data-driven insights from your previous experiences. Be ready to discuss how you've used data to drive sales and profitability in your past roles.
✨Demonstrate Negotiation Skills
Negotiation is key in this role, so be prepared to share examples of successful negotiations you've conducted. Highlight your strategies and how they benefited your previous employers, especially in terms of cost savings and supplier relationships.
✨Understand Ocado's Values
Familiarise yourself with Ocado's mission and values. Be ready to discuss how your personal values align with theirs, particularly around delivering joy through choice and service. This shows that you're not just looking for a job, but a place where you can contribute meaningfully.
