Category Management - Category Buyer

NATIONAL VETERINARY SERVICES LIMITED

JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Title: Category Buyer

Reports to: Category Manager        

Position Band:        D

Business unit:      Purchasing

Prepared by:      Malcolm Dickinson

Date: 16.04.2026

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

C 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 focussed
• 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 oversees – hold full UK Driving License