Live Animal Buyer

Do you have strong analytical skills with the ability to identify and execute new product opportunities?  Are you passionate about pets and all the great products to give them a healthy and happy life? Are you looking for a role to develop your merchandise buying, promotional and planning skills in our growing pet supplies industry?  Then this is the role for you. Come join our fabulous team, growing company, and fast paced entrepreneurial environment.

The Live Animal Buyer is responsible for developing and executing merchandise, assortment, and promotional strategies that drive sales growth, profitability, and an exceptional neighbor experience across specialty pet categories. This role partners closely with cross-functional business partners to identify product opportunities, optimize category performance, and support the continued growth of the specialty pet business. The Live Animal Buyer reports to the Director of Live Pet Care and serves as a key liaison between Pet Supplies Plus and pet partners (vendors).

Key Responsibilities

Assortment & Category Management

• Develop assortment strategies that drive sales, profitability, and margin growth.
• Build assortments that support neighbor needs, store execution, and industry trends.
• Maintain expertise in specialty pet categories, including aquatics, reptiles, avian, and small mammals.

Merchandising & Promotions

• Develop and execute promotional and merchandising strategies with cross-functional partners.
• Support category initiatives that drive sales, engagement, and business growth.

Financial Analysis & Planning

• Analyze sales, margin, and category performance on a weekly, monthly, and year-to-date basis.
• Identify trends and develop action plans to improve business results.

Vendor Management

• Develop strong relationships with pet partners (vendors).
• Negotiate product, promotional, and category opportunities to support business objectives.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with planning, allocation, marketing, pricing, ecommerce, and operations teams to execute category strategies.
• Communicate merchandise priorities, initiatives, and business updates across the organization.

Pawsome Live Animal Buyer candidates will have:

• Bachelor's degree in a related field or equivalent experience.
• 3-5 years of retail buying and/or merchandise planning experience.
• Experience with live animal categories or animal care.
• Strong business and financial acumen.
• Excellent analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to collaborate and influence cross-functional partners.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Excel, PowerPoint, and Teams.
• Ability to travel periodically for trade shows, store visits, and vendor meetings.

Pet Supplies Plus is focused on making it easier to get better products for your pet. With 750+ locations in 44 states, the stores have a streamlined design making it easy to navigate a wide assortment of natural foods, hard goods and pet services. Friendly, knowledgeable staff get to know each pet and their owner by name and provide playful store experiences to remind them just how fun it is to own a pet. Pet Supplies Plus stores are large enough to house an incredible variety of food and equipment, yet small enough to still feel neighborly.

Pet Supplies Plus is ranked No. 31 overall in Entrepreneur Magazine's 2026 Franchise 500® list and is the Top Full-Service Pet Supplies Franchise for its exceptional performance in areas including financial strength and stability, growth rate and system size. For more information, please visit www.petsuppliesplus.com. 

EOE STATEMENT

We provide equal employment opportunities to all applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, the company complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment.