Contract type: Permanent
Location: Hatfield (hybrid working – 3 days in the office)
Working hours per week: 40 hours
Level: Mid-level
Application closing date: Thursday 21st August 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
We are looking for an experienced and passionate Buyer to join our Toiletries & Beauty team. You will have full P&L responsibility for our Haircare & Skincare categories and be responsible for ensuring your supply base and product range is optimised. You will proactively be using data and analysis to maximise performance and drive sales, profitability, and share growth to support the overall Ocado Retail strategy and goals. You will be responsible for negotiating Joint Business Plans with some of the biggest suppliers within Beauty and then executing those plans to drive growth for the suppliers & Ocado.
The role is at the forefront of delivering great value & quality on ranges that are essential in customers’ weekly shop. The role is an ideal opportunity for a great buyer to develop their FMCG experience, and hone their skills in building effective promotional plans and delivering value for customers. The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate a true passion for Haircare & Skincare and balance that passion with commercial acumen to deliver the best range for the Ocado customer.
What you will do:
- Manage supplier performance, identifying potential new suppliers, and support to build long term supplier relationships
- Use insight tools to analyse and understand performance issues and opportunities
- Conduct regular competitor website and store visits and reviewing customer insight helping shape our future product and range requirements for our customers
- Source customer/market insight-led ranges and product innovation
- 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
- Substantial experience in a buying role
- Strong negotiation skills
- Strong commercial acumen
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
- Strong planning and organisational skills
- Communicate and influence a wide range of stakeholders (internal and external)
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: 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.
