Category Management - Category Buyer in Stoke-on-Trent

Main purpose of the role

Work in partnership with the Category team to deliver the category P&L, ensuring that sourcing decisions directly support margin, cost, and growth targets, including achieving annual cost-price reductions through strategic sourcing, negotiation, and supplier development.

Key Responsibilities

• Delivering Category and Commercial Performance
  • Work in partnership with the Category team to deliver the category P&L, ensuring that sourcing decisions directly support margin, cost, and growth targets.
  • Translate product specifications, volume forecasts, and price requirements from the Category team into commercially viable sourcing strategies across domestic and international markets.
  • Drive year-on-year cost-price reductions through proactive negotiation, supplier optimisation, and continuous cost-improvement initiatives.
  • Provide regular performance reporting, analysing progress against KPIs and identifying corrective actions where targets are at risk.
• Global Sourcing and Supplier Management
  • Source products from the most competitive global suppliers, including overseas manufacturers, ensuring best-in-market cost prices while meeting required quality, service and compliance standards.
  • Work in conjunction with Global Sourcing strategies with Patterson as appropriate.
  • Build and maintain strong supplier relationships to secure favourable commercial terms, negotiate cost reductions, mitigate risk and identify opportunities for product differentiation and exclusivity.
  • Negotiate and manage all supplier agreements including contracts, SLA, NDAs in line with business processes and requirements.
  • Develop new supplier pipelines—both UK and international—to support innovation, own-brand development, and long-term category growth.
  • Attend relevant trade shows and supplier visits to identify emerging products, new sourcing territories, and cost-saving opportunities.
• Importing, Logistics, and Stock Flow
  • Work with the appropriate business teams to manage end-to-end importing processes from any territory, ensuring compliance with customs, duty, and regulatory requirements.
  • Work closely with Material Planners to ensure accurate forecasting, timely ordering and effective stock flow, balancing availability with financial and working-capital objectives.
  • With the planning team, monitor supplier lead times, production schedules, and shipping timelines, expediting orders where necessary to maintain optimum stock levels.
• Market Insight
  • Maintain a good understanding of the veterinary and adjacent markets, including competitor activity, pricing trends, and emerging sourcing regions in order to make informed decisions.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
  • Share insights, supplier intelligence, and sourcing opportunities across the business to support collaborative decision-making and continuous improvement.
• Additional Responsibilities
  • Support the Head of Product Management with ad hoc tasks that contribute to the effective running of the department.
  • Uphold strong internal communication and documentation standards to ensure transparency and alignment across teams.
  • Deputise for the Head of Product Management as required to ensure that the Category Team are represented as appropriate.

Personal attributes: Qualifications, experience, skills, knowledge and competencies required to fulfil the role

Essential

• CIPS Level 4 qualification or equivalent experience (5+ years in a senior procurement role)
• Strong influencing and negotiation skills
• In depth knowledge and experience in direct/production procurement from different markets
• Previous buying experience in a relevant role
• Exceptional interpersonal skills
• Excellent communicator (written & verbal)
• Highly customer focused
• Capable of working in a team environment, collaborating with others to meet customers needs whilst achieving targets
• Computer literate (Excel, Power Point, Word)
• Excellent analytical skills
• Commercially minded relationship builder
• Highly motivated, results oriented individual
• Ability to travel in UK and overseas – hold full UK Driving License