Category Strategy Development: 

• 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). 

Product Portfolio Management: 

• 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 

                Supplier & Vendor Management: 

•  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. 

  Financial Management & Reporting: 

• 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. 

               Customer and Market Insights:                                                                                                        

• 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. 

              Inventory & Supply Chain Management: 

• 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. 

              Compliance & Regulatory: 

• 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. 

               Team Leadership: 

• 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   

Key Leadership Competencies