Job Overview:

The Category Manager, Direct Sourcing position exists to optimize value and performance within critical direct veterinary goods and services categories by managing supplier relationships and developing effective sourcing strategies. This role ensures the organization maintains a consistent supply of quality goods and services, while collaborating with cross-functional teams and senior leadership to align sourcing efforts with broader business objectives in the MVH business units.

Context/Scope:

Internal Collaboration: The role requires working closely with various internal teams, such as business leadership teams, marketing, finance, and operations. Effective communication and collaboration are crucial for executing strategies and achieving goals. Expectations are for professionalism, self-starter, positive mindset, willingness to listen and adapt to new ideas, and influencing without authority.

• Lives and exemplify the Five Principles of Mars, Inc. within self and team. Aligns with our Mars Petcare Purpose of A Better World for Pets.

• Develop and implement long-term category strategies to optimize market share, revenue, and profitability using MSSM (Mars Strategic Sourcing Methodology).

• Conduct in-depth market research and analysis to understand customer needs, competitive landscape, and emerging trends in veterinary health.

• Set category-specific goals aligned with the company's overall business objectives and KPIs (Key Performance Indicators).

• Manage the lifecycle of products within the category, including new product introductions, product improvements, and discontinuations.

• Work closely with the R&D and procurement teams to ensure the development of high-quality products that meet customer needs and comply with regulatory requirements.

• Collaborate with marketing, operations, and medicine to ensure product selection meets hospitals' needs

• Implement and manage new and renewed contract terms and services, negotiate pricing, and serve as the primary contact for contract-related issues

• Develop and maintain strong relationships with key suppliers, negotiating favorable terms, ensuring reliable supply, and driving cost efficiencies.

• Collaborate with the stakeholders to identify and onboard new suppliers or product lines to enhance the product offering within the category.

• Integrates responsible and sustainable sourcing metrics into supplier performance and relationship management activities.

• Partner with Finance to contribute to business operating plans, communicating risks, opportunities, and variances.

• Analyze sales and financial data to monitor category performance, identifying opportunities for growth or areas needing improvement.

• Prepare regular reports and presentations for senior leadership, highlighting category performance and proposing action plans.

• Collaborates and leads relevant buying operations and strategic sourcing specialist discussions and work around key categories, savings metrics, pricing, and exceptions reporting.

• Gathers feedback from veterinary customers, clinics, and other stakeholders to understand their needs and pain points.

• Works to be proactive and problem solve issues before they arise and when they arise, they are forward thinking and solution oriented.

• Stay informed of industry developments, regulatory changes, and veterinary health trends that could impact the category.

• Identify growth opportunities through innovation, including new products, services, or business models that can enhance the value proposition.

• Collaborate with buying operations team to ensure efficient inventory management and forecasting to avoid disruption, contingency planning, and reserves when possible.

• Analyze demand trends and work with distribution and team members to optimize inventory levels and logistics.

• Ensure all products in the category comply with local, national, and international veterinary health regulations.

• Stay up to date on changing regulatory environments and ensure that the category remains compliant with industry standards in partnership with quality.

• Closely partners with the quality team to make sure products and services are reviewed and approved by MVH quality standards and specifications.

• Partners with suppliers and sustainability teams to meet MVH sustainability goals and source sustainable products.

• Lead and directly manage a team of sourcing specialists. Lead functional category specific working teams

• Foster a collaborative, performance-driven culture focused on continuous improvement and customer satisfaction.

• Collaborate with commercial leadership team and all commercial associates with a positive mindset to elevate skillsets, foster teamwork, and ensure a highly functional commercial team.

• Bachelor's degree in business administration, veterinary science, animal health, or related field. An MBA or advanced degree is a plus.
• 5+ years of experience in category management, product management, or a related field, preferably in the veterinary health, animal health, pharmaceutical, or healthcare industry.
• Strong understanding of the veterinary health market, including products, services, and customer needs.
• Proven track record of managing a product portfolio and driving category growth.
• Excellent analytical skills, with the ability to interpret complex data and make data-driven decisions.
• Strong negotiation and vendor management skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively across departments and with external partners.
• Experience in financial management, including P&L responsibility.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel, and experience with product lifecycle management (PLM) software.
• Experience managing and developing a team of high performing professionals

• Action oriented

• Client/customer focus

• Strategic Mindset

• Balances Stakeholders

• Drives Engagement and Results

• Financial Acumen