Category Manager - P&O, Benefits, Consultants (Mars Veterinary Health)

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Summary and Qualifications:

As part of the Mars Petcare family of businesses, Mars Veterinary Health is a global network of veterinary practices made possible by 75,000 Associates who care for millions of pets across nearly 3,000 clinics in more than 20 countries each year. We are committed to leveraging our reach to make a long-term positive impact on people, pets, and the planet and know our Purpose – A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS – starts with the people who care for them. We strive to offer unparalleled veterinary care for pets by first and foremost enabling and empowering our Associates to do what they love, whether in primary, specialty, and emergency care or management and leadership.

Role Purpose

​ The Category Manager, Indirect Sourcing position exists to optimize value and performance within critical services categories that support the daily operation of the business 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. 

Essential Responsibilities and Tasks:

• 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. 

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).

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.

Special Working Conditions:

• Ability to work at a computer for long periods of time. 
• Project timelines and work volume/deadlines may often require more than 40 hours per week to complete essential duties of this job.
• Must have mental processes for reasoning, remembering, mathematics and language ability (reading, writing, and speaking the English language) to perform the duties proficiently.
• Ability to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form and to solve problems involving several variables.
• Ability to stand, walk, stoop, kneel, crouch, and climb as well as manipulate (lift, carry, move) up to 50 pounds.
• Requires good hand-eye coordination, arm-hand-finger dexterity with the ability to grasp, and visual acuity to use a keyboard and operate necessary equipment.
• The noise level in the work environment is normally moderate.
• Environment where pets are present.

Experience, Education and/or Training:

• 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 least one or more of the following sourcing categories: IT, Facilities, Legal, Marketing, Corporate Affairs, HR and/or Consultants.
• 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.
• Health care background (veterinary or human healthcare, pharmaceutical, etc.) is preferred.

Salary: $100,531 - $150,797

What We Offer – The Good Stuff:

• Competitive salary with paid time off & holidays so you can spend time with the people you love.
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance for you and your loved ones.
• Fertility and family-building assistance.
• Paid Parental leave.
• Practice Paid Basic Life Insurance.
• Practice Paid Short- and Long-Term Disability.
• Competitive referral program – join our team, bring your friends, and get paid.
• Automatic enrollment 401(k) Savings Plan after 60 days of employment with generous company match.
• Commuter Benefits.
• Legal Plan.
• Health Savings Account & Flexible Spending Account.
• Mental health support and resources.
• Paid Volunteering.
• Optimum Wellness Plans® for up to three pets.
• Continuing Education allowance & MED hours for eligible positions.
• Student Debt Relief (for full-time DVMs).
• A Variety of discounts including Mars, PetSmart, Royal Canin, fitness, cellular and so much more.

WE ARE A DRUG-FREE, SMOKE-FREE, EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.

Mars Veterinary Health (MVH)® strongly supports and values the uniqueness of all individuals and promotes a work environment where diversity is embraced. MVH is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, genetic information, status as a protected veteran, or status as a qualified individual with disability. MVH complies with all applicable federal, state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every MVH location.