Product Buying Manager – Pet Treats
Midlands | Hybrid working (3 days on-site) | Full-time
£50,000+ base (depending on experience) + car allowance + bonus + excellent benefits
Do you have the structured mindset of a buyer, the precision of a project manager, and a love for pets? We're recruiting on behalf of a well-known pet brand, currently undergoing exciting transformation for a Product Manager to join their fast-paced, collaborative treats team.
This is a unique opportunity to help shape innovation across seasonal and everyday pet treat ranges, delivering best-in-class products from concept to shelf.
What You’ll Be Doing...
This is a hands-on, commercially focused product management role, balancing creativity with detailed execution. You’ll manage projects from initial ideas right through to final delivery for some of the UK’s leading grocery and retail names.
- Lead on New Product Development (NPD) across own label and branded pet treat ranges
- Manage supplier timelines and project lifecycles—particularly working with manufacturing partners in China
- Drive critical paths using systems such as LDS, ensuring every stage of development is on track and commercially sound
- Support the development of seasonal campaigns (Christmas, Easter, Valentine’s, Halloween), spotting gaps and driving standout products
- Write briefs, manage samples, packaging design, pricing strategy, certifications, and legal documentation
- Collaborate with internal teams across Sales, Buying, Design, and Marketing to deliver commercially successful product ranges
- Liaise with European and Asian teams for innovation, project execution, and packaging compliance
- Contribute to major customer tenders and project pitches—some worth £13M+—with insight, data, and creative ideas
We’re searching for someone confident, organised, and passionate—someone who thrives on taking ownership and seeing projects through to completion.
- Strong experience in product management, buying, category management, or NPD – ideally within retail, FMCG, or pet care
- Excellent project management and organisational skills
- Understanding of margins, land cost, and retailer expectations
- Able to manage critical paths and work closely with international suppliers (especially in China)
- Familiarity with LDS or similar retail platforms would be ideal
- Commercially savvy with attention to detail and a proactive, creative approach to NPD
- Personality fit is key: someone warm, passionate, energetic, and aligned with a values-driven, pet-loving culture
- Low-ego, non-hierarchical team with shared responsibility and collaborative decision-making
- Open communication encouraged – regular check-ins, feedback loops, and the chance to own your ideas
- Dog-friendly workplace – bring your dog to work and help test new products
- Leadership values people who are smart, passionate, and ready to challenge ideas constructively
- £50,000+ base salary (depending on experience)
- £4,875 car allowance
- Bonus scheme linked to performance
- 30 days holiday (including bank holidays) plus your birthday off
- BUPA cash plan, Perkbox, and wellbeing perks
- Company phone or allowance
- Hybrid working – 3 days in office (Tues–Thurs), home-based Mon and Fri
- Travel opportunities (Europe and Asia) to visit suppliers and attend industry events
