Vacancy NameSupplier Commercial Associate Vacancy NoVN1112 Job TypePermanent LocationHatfield Job Details
Supplier Commercial Associate
Contract type:Permanent
Location:Hatfield (Hybrid working - 3 days in the office)
Working hours per week:40 hours
Level:Associate
Application Closing Date:Monday 3rd November 2025
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,. 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, our same-day grocery delivery service.
About the team and the role
The Supplier Commercial Associate will provide dedicated supplier support to execute the JBP activity and act to implement the plans effectively and on-time.
Reporting into the lead supplier Senior Buyer, they will liaise between key supplier contacts and Ocado stakeholders and strive to deliver the best trading outcomes on behalf of the supplier within the framework of the agreed JBP activities. Utilising the supply partners attributes to help deliver on the Ocado customer strategy and the category strategy in which the products sell within.
The Supplier Commercial Associate should be empowered to proactively seek opportunities that improve the trading opportunities for the supplier and help support the shoppability of their brands.
Success will be that all JBP and brand plan activities are landed to agreement, that the supplier’s product data quality is best in class, and that the supplier’s growth is exceeding that of the total Ocado category while supporting the delivery of the Ocado KPIs that relate to that supplier. Including but not limited to, Basket £, Basket M%, Margin %, Eaches, Units, ASP, ATP%.
What you’ll do
Top line
1. Lead implementation of agreed commercial JBP actions
2. Enhanced collaboration with supply chain team
3. Regular catch-ups with the relevant buyers across Ocado Retail
4. Weekly catch-up meetings with supplier account executive
5. JBP document completion and maintenance
6. Managing supplier’s JBP plans in SFM
7. Meeting all internal deadlines like promotional deadlines, media bookings, and events deadlines.
8. Shopper KPI, won and lost favourites, over and under trades
9. Ad hoc reporting support such as Star Reviewers reports.
Pricing & Promos
10. Cost price & trigger funding maintenance
11. Promotional feedback, loading and troubleshooting to deadlines
12. Ranging, promotional funding, category management, and media selling, review margin mainten promotions, conducting range reviews
13. Post promo Reviews and recommendations
14. Seasonal and event execution support
15. Work within critical path deadlines for all accountabilities, working at pace whilst ensuring accuracy.
16. Adhere to Ocado Retail values and comply with GSCOP and Competition Law.
NPD & Product Review
17. NPD set up through to go live
18. Product changes such as soft & hard barcode swaps and favourite swaps
19. Pickface allocation process
20. Product reviews on descriptions and UoM to drive conversion
21. Relisting, delisting process
22. Optimise web layout and merchandising, all customer-facing product data, product search, Retail and cost pricing, and SKU and range management, substitutions
23. Ensure range is optimised for the customer and matches the business strategy
Media
24. Media placement from set up through to go live and banner checks. Also offering advice/feedback on ways to improve media selection
25. Landing marketing campaigns on key growth drivers
26. Event activation
27. Discoverability improvements through merch team collaboration
28. Responsibility for allocating and booking supplier media (Top Level, banners & FPs, and out-of-category media), Supplier Led Events, Star Reviewers, Homepage nominations, Smart Pass process
29. Banner checks process
30. Managing coupons, check-out walk gifting, and sampling campaigns
31. Allocate unsold media to PepsiCo in order to drive eaches (on buyer’s request)
32. support offsite media deployment and touch points
Merchandising Support
33. Shop walk
34. Tagging/Taxonomy
35. Low converting searches
36. Zero searches
Focal point for day-to-day engagement
37. Weekly Check in –Phone
38. Monthly Account Meeting
39. Quarterly Review meetings
40. Brand planning day and JBP kick off
41. Attend all Ocado/supplier functional meetings and act of conduit and consistent point across business (ensure take minutes)
42. Collaborative Demand planner
43. Collaborative Insight Analyst
44. Briefing pack and presentation support
Who you are
45. Ability to manage up to two suppliers simultaneously.
46. Numeracy and Accuracy - Office literate, with at least Beginner Excel experience.
47. Communication Skills - Communicates clearly and professionally with internal teams and external suppliers. Comfortable chasing for information and challenging inaccurate information proactively.
48. Confident managing relationships internally and externally, as well as managing expectations including upwards to more senior colleagues. Along with excellent stakeholder management skills.
49. Planning and Organisation - Manages workload and priorities autonomously. Capable of managing multiple tasks at any one time to a high standard, ensuring deadlines are met, highlighting any risks to their manager in advance.
50. Problem Solving - Able to raise blockers and issues to the Senior Buying team in a timely manner.
51. Team player - Works collaboratively and proactively supports colleagues to achieve organisational goals.
52. Consistently embraces and demonstrates ORL's values through their work and behaviours.
53. Be capable and comfortable using data and insights to support with reporting and drawing out key themes and recommendations
54. Basic commercial understanding or experience to allow the individual to support with KPI management and be proactive in helping the business and the supply partner deliver against the key measures.
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 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
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.