Senior Vendor Manager (all genders)

Join to apply for the Senior Vendor Manager (all genders) role at zooplus .

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, these values inspire us 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 (e.g., inbound logistics, in‑stock, 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 of an attractive presentation of the products (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 for vendors and categories.
• Create opportunities for growth, customer acquisition and retention by conducting 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 the creation of new programs to drive vendor participation.
• Review results of promotions, change course of action and negotiate new promotions if needed; create strategic and prioritized vendor marketing plan that maximizes margin euros and customer experience.
• Identify areas that need vendor attention and direct team to address issue; 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 the appropriate stakeholders ("Subject Matter Expert Role").
• Hold team accountable for maintaining robust process documentation.
• Actively seek feedback from others; be self‑aware; 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 a business‑related discipline.
• At least 5 years of relevant work experience in Category Management, Vendor Management or Purchasing, ideally in retail or the pet industry; experience working in an e‑Commerce is an advantage.
• Work experience 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 to work proactively on proposals, solution thinking.
• Ability to understand customer needs and market requirements to enhance the 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 24 th and 31 st of December.
• Corporate rates at a local gym chain (Body & Soul).
• Company mobile phone for work and personal use.

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

Location

Munich, Bavaria, Germany

Job Details

Seniority level: Mid‑Senior level.

Employment type: Full‑time.

Job function: Purchasing.

Industries: Retail.