Senior Buyer / Purchasing Manager (Category Management focus)

About the Role

VetUK is seeking a strategic and dynamic Senior Buyer / Purchasing Manager to join our rapidly growing e-commerce team. This is not a traditional transactional procurement role; instead, it is a high-impact position focused on Category and Product Management, designed for a professional looking to influence product strategy and drive business growth within the veterinary and animal health sector.

Main Responsibilities

• Develop and manage long-term strategic partnerships with key suppliers and major brands in pet nutrition and care.
• Lead product range development and strategic stock planning to meet market demand.
• Act as a key liaison between VetUK, our primary distributor, and our fulfilment partner.
• Oversee collaboration with 3PL and fulfilment operations to ensure seamless supply chain execution.
• Work closely with the Analytics team to leverage data-driven insights for product and commercial decision-making.
• Manage a hybrid workload: approximately 80% strategic supplier management and 20% traditional purchasing activities.

Ideal Profile

• Proven experience within the veterinary, pet care, or animal health industry is highly preferred.
• Direct experience working for a veterinary supplier is a significant advantage.
• Background in e-commerce environments is strongly appreciated.
• We welcome candidates from both procurement backgrounds and supplier-side roles (Sales / Account Management).
• Strong ability to manage complex stakeholder relationships.

Required Skills

• Strategic Category Management
• Supplier Relationship Management (SRM)
• Inventory & Stock Planning
• Data-driven Decision Making
• Cross-functional Collaboration (3PL, Logistics, Analytics)

Why Join Us?

• Opportunity to play a pivotal role in a fast-growing e-commerce business.
• A position offering real autonomy and significant professional development opportunities.
• A chance to move beyond transactional buying into true strategic product management.