Senior Category Manager
Pet Circle
Operations
Sydney, NSW, Australia
Posted on Feb 3, 2025
Dogs, cats, budgies and everything in between - pets deserve the world. They make us want to be better humans. That’s why we’ve made it our mission to build the most engaged and passionate community of pets and pet parents across the world. And we’re looking for talented team mates who can help us do it.
Founded in Sydney, our team of 500+ pet obsessives span Australia, New Zealand and the Philippines. We’ve scaled to become one of Australia's top five eCommerce companies and the no.1 online pet store. But we’re just getting started. Like a whippet who’s spotted their mate across the dog park, our growth is only going to accelerate, as we continue to disrupt the way that pet parents shop.
Excitingly, the pet industry is booming (as in $15 billion kind of booming) and online pet retail is set to grow exponentially in the next five years. So this is a unique career opportunity to be part of our epic growth story.
The opportunity
The Senior Category Manager for General Merchandise is responsible for managing and expanding the range of products within the accessories, habitat, enrichment, and behavioral supplier categories for both dog and cat. This role will be pivotal in driving the strategic growth of these categories by focusing on expanding exclusive offerings, either through private label or exclusive supplier relationships. The ideal candidate will bring a strong background in procurement, product development, and sourcing, with a demonstrated ability to drive category growth and margin improvement.
What you’ll be doing
- Lead and execute category strategies for accessories, habitat, enrichment, and behavioral products for both dog and cat
- Focus on growing exclusive offerings through private label and supplier relationships to enhance differentiation and profitability.
- Monitor and optimize category performance, including sales, margins, and inventory levels.
- Identify opportunities for private label development or exclusive sourcing agreements aligned with market trends and customer demand.
- Oversee the product development critical path process, from concept through launch, ensuring alignment with brand positioning, quality standards, and cost efficiency.
- Lead cross-functional teams to develop and launch new products, ensuring they meet market needs and are delivered on time and within budget.
- Assess vendor performance continuously, working with suppliers to drive product innovation, cost optimization, and exclusivity.
- Lead negotiations on pricing, terms, and contracts to maximize margins and ensure efficient supply chain operations.
- Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing team, fostering a collaborative environment to achieve business objectives.
- Own the financial performance of the category, including sales, profitability and customer growth
- Analyze data, market trends, and customer feedback to inform purchasing decisions and pricing strategies.
- Continuously monitor industry trends, competitor activity, and consumer preferences to identify opportunities for innovation and range expansion.
- Drive new product development, enhancements, and category innovation to meet evolving customer needs.
The ideal toolbox
- 7+ years of experience in category management, procurement, or product development, preferably in consumer goods or retail.
- Proven track record in procurement, sourcing, and private label development.
- Strong leadership and team development skills, with a focus on mentoring and performance management.
- Excellent supplier management, negotiation, and cost optimization skills.
- A proactive, strategic mindset to drive growth in a competitive environment.
- Strong analytical, communication, and stakeholder management abilities.
- Pet industry experience is not required, but expertise in general merchandise categories is essential.
Juicy Perks
- Heaps of development opportunities - stretch projects, focus groups & secondments
- Flexible working environment
- Up to 50% employee discount
- Product sample giveaways
- Pawrental leave and wellbeing leave
- Team charity volunteer days
- Classpass subsidy
Role location
We believe that building connections and collaborating as Pet Circlers is super important. So this role is based in Sydney with a hybrid arrangement of 3 days per week in our pet friendly offices (your pet might love coming to the office even more than you). This could change in line with business requirements.
Why Join?
We reckon our mission to help the world Pet Better is an important one, but also an incredibly fun and rewarding one. Becoming a Pet Circler means you’re committed to help shape an entire industry - it’s pretty exciting stuff. Here’s what we stand for:
We’re better together
We operate with humble hearts and hungry minds
Pets matter; so pets and pet parents always have a seat at our table
We’re instinctively curious. Always
Belong at Pet Circle
Our unique perspectives and expertise is our superpower - we value diversity in all forms. So, no matter your background, please apply if this role makes you excited to bring your full self to work each day.