Vacancy NameL1 Buyer - Frozen Vacancy NoVN1217 Job TypePermanent LocationHatfield Job Details
L1 Buyer - Frozen Meal Solutions
Contract type:Permanent
Location:Hatfield (Hybrid working - 3 days in the office)
Working hours per week:40 hours (full-time)
Level:Assistant Buyer
Application Closing Date:Monday 2nd 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,. 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
We're looking for a Buyer to manage our Frozen Meal Solutions category. In this role, you will be responsible for identifying the best innovations in the market and bringing them to Ocado customers at pace. You will also be responsible for managing complex supplier negotiations, ensuring the product range is optimised, and using data and analysis, proactively maximising performance and driving sales, profitability, and share growth, supporting the overall Ocado Retail strategy and goals.
Based within the Frozen Meal Solutions buying team, this role is at the forefront of delivering great value, quality & innovation for the Ocado customers. The role is an ideal opportunity for a great buyer to expand the category through a mix of new challenger brands and big market-leading brands.
What you’ll do
1. Manage supplier performance, identifying potential new suppliers, and provide support to build long-term supplier relationships
2. Use insight tools to analyse and understand performance issues and opportunities
3. Conduct regular competitor website visits and review customer insight and food trends, helping shape our future product and range requirements for our customers
4. Source customer/market insight-led ranges and product innovation
5. Negotiate with suppliers to agree and deliver, market-leading joint business plans for your areas aligned to the customer plan & category strategy, as well as negotiating on supplier-funded media and delivering against the target
Who you are
6. A minimum of 1 year, or placement equivalent, of buying experience
7. Confident to negotiate and communicate with a wide range of suppliers
8. Strong problem-solving, planning, and organisational skills
9. Ability to analyse data and formulate tangible outputs
10. Proficient in using Excel and formulas
11. Good commercial acumen
12. Excited and passionate about working in retail and commercial functions
13. A passionate foodie
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. 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