Category Assistant (FTC)

Ocado Retail; Hatfield; Hybrid; GBP 21,000 - 26,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health & wellbeing benefits

OCADO discounts

Hybrid working

7% pension contributions matching

Free breakfast in office

Shuttle bus from Hatfield to office

Job summary

Ocado Retail is seeking an entry-level Category Assistant to provide administrative and commercial support to the Buying team. This hybrid role, based in Hatfield, balances office collaboration with independent tasks, ensuring accurate product ranges and trading plans align with Ocado Retail strategies.

You will handle supplier setup, price changes, and listings, while supporting customer queries and training.

Qualifications

• Entry-level administrative role requiring strong organisation and clear communication.
• Experience in a fast-paced commercial/retail or buying environment is preferable.
• Hybrid role based in Hatfield with 3 days in the office.

Responsibilities

• Complete admin tasks ahead of deadlines as directed by Category Administration Manager.
• Provide regular updates to senior stakeholders and identify risks early.
• Maintain and set up product listings and promotions; manage supplier setup and onboarding.
• Execute price establishment and price changes; review media banners pre-Go Live.
• Assist Customer Centre with queries and support ad-hoc training; ensure compliance with GSCOP and competition law.

Skills

Strong administrative skills

Excellent communication

Highly organised

Tools

MS Office

Excel

Job description

Category Assistant

Contract type: Fixed-term contract until the end of May 2027

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

Working hours per week: 40 hours

Level: Entry-level / Administrator

Application Closing Date: Monday 14th September 2026

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 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

As a Category Assistant, you will provide administrative and commercial support to the Buying team for your category/categories. As part of the central Category Administration Team, you will also support the broader Buying team, as required. You will be responsible for a variety of administrative and commercial tasks, with a key focus on accuracy, efficiency, and proactiveness to ensure the product range and trading plans are optimised to support the overall Ocado Retail strategy and goals.

What You’ll Do

• Ensure all administrative tasks assigned by the Category Administration Manager are completed ahead of the deadline and managed as agreed between the Buyer and Supplier
• Provide regular, clear updates to senior stakeholders on the status of administrative tasks, identifying any risks in advance and working to mitigate.
• Work within critical path deadlines for all accountabilities, working at pace whilst ensuring accuracy.
• Maintain and set up product listings and promotions
• Supplier set up, onboarding, and management
• Action price establishment/price changes
• Media loading – review banners before ‘Go Live’ on the webshop
• Assist the Customer Centre promptly with responses to customer queries.
• Support with training on an ad-hoc basis.
• Adhere to Ocado Retail values and comply with GSCOP and Competition Law.

Who You Are

• Strong administrative skills – MS Office (including Excel)
• Highly organised and able to manage changing priorities
• Excellent communication
• Previous experience in a fast-paced commercial, retail or buying environment is preferable

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: Recognition with a 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. If you require reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know on the application form.