Senior Vendor Manager (all genders)

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Company Description

More than 20 years ago, zooplus was one of the first to bring the pet category into the world of eCommerce. Today, we stand strong as Europe’s leading online pet platform, delivering moments of happiness to more than 9 million pet parents each year. We're on a mission to create joy for pets and their parents, driven by our core values of Care, Courage, Openness, and Simplicity. At the heart of everything we do, we inspire to grow, raise the bar for our customers and fuel a pet‑first business.

Job Description

Senior Vendor Managers are responsible for managing customer experience, topline performance, and ultimately, profitability for their vendors. They facilitate all interactions with the vendor base, including identifying and signing up new vendors, creating items in the catalog, negotiating contracts and terms, managing promotional activities, and resolving operational issues such as inbound logistics, in‑stock, and payments. Vendor Managers focus on creating scale and identifying competition and external trends for their vendors and categories.

Your Tasks:

• Develop and negotiate exclusive articles, limited editions, pre‑launches, and bundles for Branded Accessories independently.
• Initiate new concepts for attractive product presentation (local product content as well as brand presentation).
• Manage payment terms and cost structure in contractual agreements; audit for best‑in‑class terms for assigned vendors or categories; drive strategic negotiations to deliver top‑and‑bottom‑line category growth.
• Create opportunities for growth, customer acquisition and retention through market, competitor, and range analysis. Influence strategic or complex vendors to prioritize customer experience by lowering costs, improving the supply chain, reducing defects, and driving efficiencies.
• Provide feedback on existing programs or initiate new programs to drive vendor participation.
• Review promotion results, change course of action, negotiate new promotions if needed; create strategic and prioritized vendor marketing plans that maximize margin and customer experience.
• Identify areas that need vendor attention and direct team to address issues; act as escalation point, helping team and vendor(s) resolve conflicts.
• Audit metrics regularly; evaluate products and services to continually drive quality of customer experience across multiple vendors and categories.
• Work cross‑functionally to implement scalable solutions to address customer pain points.
• Partner with cross‑functional teams to develop and propose an annual plan for multiple vendors or categories; build a network in the pet industry.
• Lead cross‑functional projects and involve appropriate stakeholders (Subject Matter Expert role).
• Hold team accountable for maintaining robust process documentation.
• Actively seek feedback from others; demonstrate self‑awareness, identify areas for personal growth and set goals for development.
• Acquire new vendor partners to grow and strengthen the Accessories portfolio.

Qualifications

• Graduate degree in business‑related discipline.
• At least 5 years of relevant experience in Category Management, Vendor Management or Purchasing, ideally in retailing or the pet industry; e‑commerce experience is an advantage.
• Experience working in an international company.
• Experience in project work based on analytical and strategic thinking and ability to structure complex facts.
• Ability to unlock complex issues and work proactively on proposals and solution thinking.
• Understanding of customer needs and market requirements to enhance customer experience.
• Ability to think and react in a high‑energy, fast‑paced environment.
• Strong influencing abilities and vendor management experience.
• Fluency in German and English.

Additional Information

With more than 1,000 passionate professionals located across 6 European offices, we believe our success comes from working together and leveraging our international strengths. Expect a hybrid work setup: 60% in‑office, 40% remote, collaborating with colleagues across locations.

Our benefits:

• 20% discount in our zooplus shop.
• Internal and external training.
• Team events.
• 28 vacation days and days off on the 24th and 31st of December.
• Corporate rates at a local gym chain (Body & Soul).
• Company mobile phone for work and personal use.

Equal Opportunity
zooplus is committed to equal opportunity. We value and embrace diversity and inclusion of all Team Members.

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