Senior Vendor Manager (all genders)

The Senior Vendor Manager at zooplus is responsible for enhancing customer experience and profitability through effective vendor management. Key tasks include negotiating contracts, managing promotional activities, and developing strategic vendor marketing plans. They also identify new vendors, analyze market trends, and collaborate cross-functionally to resolve operational issues while driving growth initiatives.

To become a Senior Vendor Manager at zooplus, candidates should hold a graduate degree in a related business discipline and have at least 5 years of relevant experience in Vendor Management, Category Management, or Purchasing. Ideal candidates have experience in retail or the pet industry, particularly in e-Commerce. Strong analytical, strategic thinking, and vendor management abilities are highly valued.

At zooplus, the working environment is hybrid, with an expectation of 60% in-office and 40% remote work. This setup fosters collaboration among a passionate team spread across multiple European offices, ensuring employees can connect and contribute effectively, regardless of their location.

zooplus is committed to the professional growth of its employees, offering both internal and external training programs. As a Senior Vendor Manager, you'll have the chance to continuously develop your skills and knowledge through various training initiatives, along with opportunities to engage in team events and networking within the pet industry.

zooplus offers a comprehensive benefits package for Senior Vendor Managers, including a 20% discount in the zooplus shop, 28 vacation days along with extra time off on holidays, corporate gym membership rates, and a company mobile phone for personal use. This ensures a supportive work-life balance while enjoying various perks.

In answering this question, emphasize your previous roles in vendor management, particularly in e-commerce settings. Discuss specific examples of how you successfully negotiated with vendors, managed logistics, and contributed to profitability. Highlight your analytical skills and how you used data to inform your decisions.

A solid approach involves utilizing project management techniques to assess urgency and impact. Discuss how you would identify key deadlines, stakeholder requirements, and overall business goals, and how you're comfortable making adjustments as new information arises, ensuring that all vendors receive the attention they need.

Describe a specific negotiation scenario, highlighting your preparation process, strategy, and the outcome. Explain how you approached it, the challenges you faced, and the impact it had on vendor relationships and business objectives. This showcases your negotiation skills and ability to drive results.

To maintain strong vendor relationships, emphasize communication and collaboration as key strategies. Discuss how regular check-ins, feedback loops, and understanding vendor needs help foster trust and identify areas for improvement. Sharing your approach can resonate well with interviewers.

Highlight your experience with market and competitor analysis, and how you've used insights to inform product strategy. Discuss your methods for gathering customer feedback and how you employ cross-functional teams to align product offerings with customer expectations.

It's important to acknowledge challenges like maintaining alignment between vendor objectives and company goals. Describe how you navigate these challenges through effective communication, establishing clear expectations, and leveraging data-driven solutions to manage conflicts.

Emphasize your agility in adapting to trends and changes within the e-commerce sector. Share specific examples of strategies you implemented in response to market shifts, focusing on your ability to pivot and innovate within your role.

To measure success, discuss key performance indicators and metrics you track, such as sales growth, customer satisfaction, and compliance with SLAs. Provide examples of how you analyze this data to improve vendor relationships and drive business outcomes.

Frame data analysis as an integral part of your decision-making. Discuss tools or methodologies you use to analyze performance metrics, market trends, and customer insights, and how these data points inform your strategic planning and vendor negotiations.

Craft your answer around your passion for the pet industry and alignment with zooplus's values. Mention aspects of the company culture you admire and how your skills and experiences make you well-suited for the role, ensuring a strong connection between you and the company.