Senior Category Buyer / Manager – Blackburn

Position Overview

To support our growth, we are looking for a Senior Category Buyer/Manager to join our team.

The Senior Category Buyer/Manager will report to the Head of Procurement & Supply Chain, and will have responsibility for leading a team with a primary focus on managing raw materials and packaging for our manufactured products.

Location

Blackburn, Hybrid

Company Overview

Pets Choice is a leading pet food manufacturer whose industry knowledge spans over 135 years. Based in Blackburn, Lancashire, the Pets Choice portfolio of brands offers a variety of products for pets and wild animals under its brands; Webbox, TastyBone, Meatiful, Spike’s World, Goodwyns, Davies, Oceanic and Vitakraft. Each brand offers a unique insight into animals from dogs to ducks and produces high-quality products that cater to a wide variety of consumer needs. As a trusted partner, Pets Choice provide private label goods including extruded food, wet food and retorted trays, and baked fresh meat treats. The business also offers additional services such as packaging design, fulfilment and logistics. With a broad range of capabilities and distribution channels worldwide, Pets Choice are proud to be a major supplier to the UK grocery, independents and pet speciality sectors.

Role:

• Lead, mentor, and develop your team
• Develop and execute procurement strategies for raw materials and packaging to ensure continuity of production and cost efficiency.
• Establish and maintain strong supplier relationships to ensure timely delivery of materials, quality standards, and cost-effectiveness.
• Conduct market analysis to identify trends and potential new suppliers.
• Compliance with environmental standards and regulations.
• Negotiate contracts and pricing agreements with suppliers, ensuring favourable terms for both cost and quality.
• Perform regular supplier performance reviews, identifying areas for improvement or optimisation.
• Monitor supplier risk management, including identifying potential disruptions in supply chains and proactively mitigating risks.
• Work closely with production, planning, and logistics teams to ensure raw material and packaging availability aligns with production schedules and demand forecasts.
• Maintain optimal inventory levels, balancing cost efficiency with the risk of stockouts or excess inventory.
• Manage procurement budgets
• Identify opportunities for cost savings and process improvements without compromising on product quality or delivery timelines.
• Implement strategic sourcing initiatives to reduce overall procurement costs.
• Ensure that all raw materials and packaging meet the required quality standards and regulatory compliance.
• Work closely with the quality assurance team to resolve any quality issues that arise with suppliers or materials.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of industry regulations and best practices.
• Prepare and present regular reports and utilise data analytics to monitor procurement KPIs.

Key attributes and skills:

• Minimum of 3 years of experience in procurement, with a strong focus on raw materials and packaging in the FMCG sector.
• Strong negotiation and contract management skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build strong relationships with internal stakeholders and external suppliers.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with a focus on cost optimisation and process improvement.
• Proficiency in procurement software and MS Office Suite (Excel, PowerPoint).
• Desirable: Proven leadership skills
• Desirable: CIPS or relevant degree