Buyer - Beer & Cider

Ocado Retail; Hatfield; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

26 days holiday plus 8 flexible bank-h

15% Ocado discount

Job summary

Ocado Retail is seeking an exceptional Buyer for Beer & Cider. You will manage supplier relationships, lead negotiations on JBPs, and drive data-led growth to optimise the Beer & Cider category.

This hybrid role (3 days in-office, Hatfield) reports to the Trading Manager and plays a pivotal part in delivering value, quality, and innovation to Ocado customers. You will shape range, negotiate with suppliers, and respond to consumer trends like health and sustainability while expanding the

Qualifications

• 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 drinks categories is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Build long-term, strategic supplier relationships, managing supplier performance.
• Lead complex negotiations to deliver Joint Business Plans (JBPs) aligned with category strategy.
• Maximise returns by negotiating supplier-funded media and achieving targets.
• Be a data-driven decision-maker using insight tools to analyse category performance.

Skills

Negotiation

Analytical thinking

Commercial acumen

Communication

Planning

Job description

Buyer - Beer & Cider

Contract type: Permanent (length in months)

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

Working hours per week: 40 hours

Level: Buyer / Level 2

Reports to: Trading Manager

Application Closing Date: Wednesday 9th September

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; we've 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.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're looking for an exceptional Buyer to manage our Beer & Cider category.

In this role, you will be a core driver of commercial growth, responsible for ensuring that your supply base and product range are optimised. You will also be responsible for identifying and delivering value-added innovation, strategic range decisions, and proactively responding to key consumer trends like health and sustainability. A critical part of the job involves managing complex supplier negotiations and playing an important role in delivering great value and quality for the customer.

You will proactively use data and insights to maximise performance, driving sales, profitability, and share growth, directly supporting the overall Ocado Retail strategy and goals.

Based within the Beers, Wines & Spiritsbuying team, this role is at the forefront of delivering great value, quality, and 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

Supplier Management & Strategy

• Build long-term, strategic supplier relationships, managing supplier performance and identifying potential new partners.

• Lead complex negotiations to agree upon and deliver market-leading Joint Business Plans (JBPs) that align with our customer plan and category strategy.

• Maximise commercial returns by leading negotiations on supplier-funded media and ensuring targets are consistently delivered.

Performance & Insight

• Be a data-driven decision-maker, using advanced insight tools to analyse and understand category performance issues and opportunities.

• Proactively drive data-led category growth and maximise overall commercial performance.

Range & Innovation

• Shape our future product and range requirements by conducting regular competitor website visits, reviewing customer insight, and tracking food trends.

• Source and launch customer/market insight-led ranges and product innovation, ensuring we deliver great value, quality, and a best-in-class proposition for our customers.

Who you are

• 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 drinks 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. You'll 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.

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 [e-mail] 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.