Senior Director of Strategic Business Development

Ocado Group

15d•Hybrid

About The Position

At Ocado we're changing the way the world shops for good. Using our heritage as the leading grocery eCommerce pureplay and our expertise in supply chains and logistics, we provide proprietary technology solutions to facilitate and improve retailers globally. We’re looking for a Senior Director of Strategic Business Development to help shape what’s next — particularly as we expand our presence across the U.S. market. This is a highly strategic, externally facing role for a senior leader who thrives at the intersection of long-term strategy, executive engagement, and complex deal origination. You’ll partner closely with our Group CEO, CRO, Regional Presidents, and other senior leaders to identify, develop, and advance major new business opportunities, partnerships, and potential M&A pathways, and build long-term business relationships. This role will require a high level of travel, approximately 60%. If you enjoy building relationships from the ground up, navigating executive-level conversations, and translating strategic vision into real commercial outcomes — this role is for you!

Requirements

Proven track record of initiating and building senior-level business relationships that convert into long-term partnerships or enterprise deals.
Experience in strategic business development, corporate strategy, investment banking, management consulting, or enterprise technology sales.
Strong financial acumen, including business case development, P&L fluency, capital allocation understanding, and scenario modeling.
self-starter who confidently initiates first contact and builds momentum from ambiguity.
Strategic thinker with strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
Exceptional communicator — comfortable engaging diverse audiences from operational leaders to board-level executives.
Collaborative leader who works effectively across global, cross-functional teams.
Curious, forward-thinking, and energized by innovation and transformation.

Nice To Haves

Experience in eCommerce, grocery retail, consumer food, supply chain, logistics, or automation/technology solutions is highly valued.
Exposure to M&A strategy, partnership structuring, or corporate development is a plus.

Responsibilities

Drive Strategic Origination & Market Expansion
Identify, evaluate, and develop new enterprise opportunities across the U.S. market.
Build comprehensive prospect strategies grounded in deep research, with a particular concentration on stakeholder mapping, and competitive analysis.
Initiate and lead early-stage executive conversations that define scope, opportunity, and long-term potential.
Represent OIA at industry events, conferences, and key forums to build presence and pipeline.
Build Executive-Level Relationships
Develop long-term, trust-based relationships with C-suite stakeholders and broader decision-makers.
Manage multi-year engagement strategies from first introduction through deal execution and beyond.
Partner internally with sales, product, finance, legal, IR/Comms, and executive leadership to align approach and positioning.
Shape Strategic Direction
Contribute to enterprise-level strategic planning and long-term positioning.
Support balance sheet and capital allocation discussions, including identifying and assessing potential M&A opportunities.
Proactively originate partnerships, ventures, and strategic alliances aligned with Ocado’s long-term growth strategy.
Lead Insight-Driven Decision Making
Develop rigorous financial models, business cases, and scenario analyses to support recommendations.
Monitor market trends, competitor activity, and emerging technologies to identify risks and opportunities.
Define and track KPIs to measure strategy effectiveness and continuously improve execution.
Communicate with Clarity & Influence
Deliver compelling executive-level presentations that translate complex data into clear, actionable insights.
Serve as a trusted strategic advisor to internal and external stakeholders.