Supplier Commercial Associate (Internal Secondment)
Contract type: Fixed Term Contract (until mid-May 2027)
Location: Hatfield (Hybrid working - 3 days in the office)
Working hours per week: 40 hours
Level: Assistant Buyer / Equivalent
Application Closing Date: Friday 19th June
About us
Our mission is to deliver joy in every shop, through unbeatable choice, unrivalled service, and reassuringly good value. We’re also on a mission to empower our business with smart technology; weve recently launched our AI Academy, providing a tailored AI learning journey for every colleague.
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 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
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.
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
Commercial & JBP Management
* Execute JBPs: Maintain Joint Business Plans (JBP) and documentation via the Commercial Hub.
* Financial Accuracy: Manage cost price maintenance, trigger funding, and pricing accuracy.
* Performance Tracking: Monitor shopper KPIs, trade performance, and provide ad‑hoc reporting (e.g., Star Reviewers).
* Compliance: Ensure all activities adhere to GSCOP and Competition Law.
Relationship & Stakeholder Management
* Collaborative Liaison: Act as the primary conduit between the supplier and Ocado Retail (Buyers, Supply Chain, and Demand Planning).
* Meeting Cadence: Support weekly account updates, monthly reviews, and annual brand planning sessions.
* Administrative Rigour: Own meeting minutes and ensure cross‑functional alignment.
Promotional & Media Execution
* End‑to‑End Media: Manage the booking, setup, and audit of all digital media (banners, homepage, and offsite touchpoints).
* Campaign Activation: Execute coupons, sampling, and Smart Pass campaigns to drive growth.
* Promotion Lifecycle: Load, troubleshoot, and perform post‑promotion reviews to optimise future ROI.
Product & Range Optimisation
* NPD Lifecycle: Manage New Product Development from administrative setup to go‑live.
* Range Maintenance: Oversee barcode swaps, substitutions, and delists.
* Digital Merchandising: Optimise web layout, search discoverability, taxonomy, and product descriptions to drive conversion.
* Stock Efficiency: Manage pickface allocation and coordinate with Demand Planning to ensure availability.
Operations & Accuracy
* Deadline Management: Deliver all tasks (promos, media, events) within the critical path.
* Market Awareness: Conduct regular shop walks and site audits to ensure brand excellence.
Who you are
* Analytical: Highly numerate with a strong eye for detail; proficient in Microsoft Office (specifically Excel).
* Effective Communication: Professional communicator capable of managing senior stakeholders and proactively challenging inaccuracies.
* Organisational Excellence: Ability to manage complex workloads autonomously, prioritise tasks, and meet strict deadlines.
* Commercial Acumen: Basic understanding of retail KPIs and the ability to use data/insights to provide strategic recommendations.
* Problem Solving: Proactive in identifying blockers and escalating risks to senior leadership promptly.
* Collaborative Mindset: A dedicated team player who aligns with company values to achieve shared organisational goals.
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. Youll also be part of our AI Academy, a dedicated learning journey designed to empower every colleague with the smart technology skills of the future.
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.
We’re an equal opportunities employer, which means that we make sure all potential colleagues are treated fairly and equally.
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