Category /Buying Manager

Hybrid in Bristol·Added yesterday (last checked 13 Oct)

IVC Evidensia

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Overview

Work mode: Hybrid, Bristol
Commute: Cycle to work scheme

Skills

The role

IVC Evidensia is the UK and Europe's leading veterinary care group, made up of over 900 practices and referral hospitals, united by a shared purpose of happier animals, happier owners.

We believe careers should be built without limits. Our people are supported to make more impact, access more career opportunities, and play an active role in their local and professional communities. Through investment in learning, innovation, and wellbeing, we create environments where our teams can grow in confidence, capability, and fulfilment-at every stage of their career.

Pet Drugs Online is one of the UK's leading online pet pharmacies and retailers, helping pet owners access trusted medication, healthcare products, and everyday essentials quickly, safely, and conveniently. As part of the IVC Evidensia Group, Pet Drugs Online combines the agility of a growing ecommerce business with the strength and expertise of a leading veterinary care organisation.

Our teams play a vital role in making pet healthcare more accessible through innovation, operational excellence, and outstanding customer experience.

If you love owning a category end‑to‑end and want the freedom to shape how millions of pet owners shop, this is a role where you'll genuinely move the needle. Our Pet Food team is growing in impact and ambition - and you'll be right at the centre of it.

We're looking for someone who knows how to build ranges people care about, negotiate hard but fairly, and turn commercial insight into decisions that actually matter. This is a chance to take full accountability for a category with huge visibility, strong business support, and plenty of space to make your mark.

🐾 How You'll Make a Difference

Lead the full commercial performance of the Pet Food category - from strategy and range to pricing, promotions and supplier terms.
Build a category plan that blends customer insight, market trends and hard commercial logic into ranges that convert and perform.
Own supplier relationships, negotiating costs, trade terms, funding and long‑term partnerships that drive growth and innovation.
Keep a close pulse on trading performance, spotting issues early and driving actions that improve availability, margin and customer experience.
Shape clear price architecture and promotional plans, collaborating with digital, supply chain, marketing and finance to bring them to life.

🐾 You'd Be a Great Fit If...

You bring experience in category management, buying or commercial trading, ideally within pet food, grocery, pharma, FMCG or multi‑SKU retail.
You have strong negotiation experience and know how to secure, manage and deliver vendor income.
You're confident owning a P&L, using data to guide decisions, and influencing senior stakeholders with clarity and credibility.
You've built and refined ranges before - understanding good/better/best structures, pricing logic and how to drive performance.
You're comfortable working cross‑functionally and leading plans that require tight coordination and commercial judgment.

How We'll Support You

At Pet Drugs Online, we're committed to supporting your development and wellbeing. When you join us, you'll benefit from:

A role with real impact in a growing ecommerce and pet healthcare business

Clear career pathways with progression opportunities within Pet Drugs Online and the wider IVC Evidensia Group

Ongoing learning and development supported by experienced colleagues and teams

A collaborative, values-led culture focused on care, innovation, and continuous improvement

What We Offer Our Team

Healthcare Cash Plan

Cycle to Work scheme

Green Cars salary sacrifice scheme

Hybrid working (3 days per week in office)

Discounted staff pet care

Access to discounts/cashback with hundreds of participating retailers

Diversity, Equality, Inclusion and Belonging

We are committed to Diversity, Equality, Inclusion and Belonging, we are keen to hear from candidates from all minority and diverse groups. As a Disability Confident Employer, we are keen to hear from candidates with disabilities and long-term health conditions and would be happy to discuss any reasonable adjustments needed during the recruitment process.

About IVC Evidensia

IVC Evidensia is a veterinary care group operating a network of veterinary practices, ranging from small animal and mixed animal clinics to out-of-hours services and specialist referral hospitals.

Its practices employ veterinary surgeons, registered veterinary nurses, animal care assistants and client care teams, and the group runs referral services in areas such as surgery, orthopaedics, internal medicine and oncology, alongside emergency and critical care and rotating internship programmes.