L2 Buyer – Fresh Produce

CompanyOcado Retail

LocationHatfield, England, United Kingdom

Posted At1/22/2026

UK Visa Sponsorship Analytics

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Occupation Type

Buyers and procurement officers

Occupation Code Skill LevelMedium Skilled

Sponsorship EligibilityIneligible for Sponsorship

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Description

Contract type: Permanent

Location: Hatfield (Hybrid working – 3 days in the office)

Working hours per week: 40 hours(Full-time)

Level: Buyer

Application Closing Date: Friday 30th January

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

We're looking for an exceptional Buyer to manage part of the Fresh Produce category. In this role, you will hold commercial accountability for your category, managing a complex global supply chain to deliver a market-leading range. You will help drive our sourcing strategy, cultivating resilient supplier relationships and utilising data to make fast, agile trading decisions that keep Ocado at the forefront of the market.

What You’ll Do

Commercial Accountability

Be fully accountable for category P&L and deliver against all KPIs
Negotiate and execute complex, high-value Joint Business Plans (JBPs) with growers and importers that drive mutual growth and innovation
Utilise live data to make fast, commercially sound trading decisions, reacting quickly to market dynamics, weather events, and availability challenges
Partner closely with the M&S sourcing team to drive joint initiatives
Ensure zero GSCOP breaches. Always follow the Business Code of Conduct and act with integrity and due diligence

Strategy, Range & Innovation

Expertly execute category reviews to refine the range, ensuring we are first-to-market with seasonal highlights and Ocado exclusives
Work closely with the Category Trade Planner to ensure best-in-class execution across all channels
Collaborate closely with Supply Chain and Technical teams to mitigate risks, ensuring best-in-class availability and product quality that meets Ocado’s standards

Negotiation & Supplier Excellence

Have complex negotiations to agree upon and deliver market-leading Joint Business Plans 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

Identify and create plans to mitigate potential issues/events that may impact the supply, and ensure product quality meets all Ocado requirements

Include any line management responsibility

Who You Are

Substantial experience in a buying role
Strong negotiation skills
Excellent commercial acumen
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
Strong planning and organisational skills
Proven ability to communicate and influence a wide range of audiences (internal stakeholders and external suppliers)
A passionate foodie
Experience in fresh produce categories is preferred

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

We’re an equal opportunities employer, which means that we make sure all potential colleagues are treated fairly and equally. We want to ensure everyone has a fair chance to apply; if you need this job description in an alternative format (e.g., larger print, different document type, etc.), please reach out to us at careers@ocadoretail.com and we'll be happy to assist you, and if you require reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know on the application form.