The posting
About the Team
The Proprietary Brands team brings PetSmart’s owned-brand portfolio to life through deep expertise and an authentic love for pets. The team delivers compelling assortments with strong value, quality, and innovation. Its work spans brand management, product and packaging design, digital product content, global sourcing, and the Only Natural Pet business.
Team members bring valued expertise and work across functions to create meaningful experiences for pets and pet parents—and build loyalty to PetSmart.
About the Location
Collaborative Work Environment: At PetSmart, teamwork and connection are core to how we thrive. This role is based at our Phoenix Home Office, with an expectation of working a minimum of four days in the office each week. In a standard work week, associates may work up to one remote “flex day” (with leader approval). Our hybrid approach is designed to foster strong collaboration while also supporting flexibility and individual success.
About the Job
The Vice President, Proprietary Brands and Global Sourcing sets the strategy and leads the teams responsible for PetSmart’s proprietary brand portfolio and global sourcing capabilities. This includes brand management, product and packaging design, digital product detail pages, and sourcing teams in Phoenix, Hong Kong, and Shanghai.
The VP owns the Proprietary Brand portfolio P&L and is accountable for delivering the plan, including revenue growth, gross margin, and OG&A. This leader uses performance trends and customer, category, and market insights to identify risks and opportunities, adjust priorities, and keep the portfolio on track.
Success requires effective partnership with Merchandising leaders to shape category strategies, identify opportunities to grow proprietary brand penetration, and drive sales, margin, and customer loyalty. This leader also plays a key role in communicating proprietary brand strategy, performance, and growth opportunities to executive leadership and supporting Board-level discussions.
What you’ll do
- Set brand strategy and vision: Develop long-term strategies and multi-year product pipelines across dog and cat consumables, hard goods, home and recreation, and specialty pet categories, aligned with PetSmart’s enterprise growth objectives.
- Own portfolio P&L and deliver the plan: Own financial performance for the Proprietary Brand portfolio, including revenue, gross margin, and OG&A. Set targets and review results against plan, identifying risks and taking action to address gaps and capture opportunities. Balance near-term delivery with long-term brand and portfolio value.
- Lead brand and product development: Guide brand management, product development, product design, packaging, and digital product detail page teams to deliver a cohesive experience from concept through launch.
- Partner with Merchandising: Partner closely with Merchandising leaders to shape category strategies, identify opportunities to grow proprietary brand penetration, and build differentiated assortments that drive sales, margin, and customer loyalty. Influence category decisions and build shared accountability for proprietary brand performance.
- Lead global sourcing: Set sourcing priorities and lead PetSmart’s global sourcing teams in Phoenix, Hong Kong, and Shanghai. Build productive relationships with domestic and international suppliers to deliver high-quality products at competitive cost.
- Drive customer-focused innovation: Translate customer data, market dynamics, and pet-parent trends into product innovation that differentiates PetSmart’s brands and meets customer needs.
- Lead Only Natural Pet: Guide Only Natural Pet’s brand strategy and performance as part of PetSmart’s proprietary brand portfolio, while supporting its needs as a standalone business.
- Build organizational capability: Develop an effective leadership team, set clear goals and accountability, and support effective collaboration across functions, locations, and time zones. Establish performance expectations across brand management, product development, pricing, and commercialization, and hold teams accountable for results.
- Represent the function: Serve as a strategic voice for Proprietary Brands with executive leadership and the Board, clearly communicating portfolio performance, growth opportunities, strategic priorities, and risks. Translate complex business insights into actionable recommendations that influence enterprise decisions.
What you’ll bring
Required qualifications
- 15+ years of progressive experience in proprietary brands, merchandising, product development, sourcing, consumer products, or a related field.
- 7+ years of experience leading teams, functions, or business units, including developing leaders and delivering results through others.
- Demonstrated experience developing brand and product strategies and bringing products to market.
- Experience leading global sourcing or supplier partnerships, with an understanding of product cost, quality, and supplier performance.
- Proven business and financial acumen, including experience using performance data to set priorities and drive sales, margin, or growth.
- A track record of building productive partnerships across functions, especially with Merchandising and Merchandise Planning.
- Effective and proven communication, leadership, and influencing skills, including the ability to align teams and stakeholders across locations and levels.
Preferred qualifications
- Experience leading a standalone business or brand, including responsibility for its strategy and performance.
- Experience in the pet industry, pet specialty retail, or a related consumer category.
- Experience with product and packaging design, digital commerce content, or digital product detail pages.
- Bachelor’s degree in business, merchandising, marketing, supply chain, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
Leadership capabilities
- Connects customer needs, category strategies, brand positioning, and business results.
- Balances value, quality, innovation, margin, and speed to market.
- Builds trust and alignment across teams, functions, and geographies.
- Makes clear decisions, develops talent, and holds teams accountable for outcomes.
Additional Job Considerations
- This role requires collaboration, teamwork, and face-to-face interaction with colleagues, leaders, and/or clients.
- Being in the office ensures access to leaders, cross-functional partners, and resources necessary to make timely decisions and drive results.
- On-site presence in accordance with our FlexSmart policy supports our culture of innovation, mentorship, and engagement, which is integral to our success in developing the best team.
* This is not intended to be an all-inclusive, exhaustive list of all essential job functions for this position. PetSmart retains the right to change or assign other required job duties to this position.
About the Culture
Our associates are the heart of Team PetSmart. Together, we’re building the best team in retail through our values-based culture, connection, and teamwork. Our goal is to create a culture where associates learn and grow together, thrive as effective teams and challenge each other to be the best they can be.
Our home office offers outstanding amenities in a fun and rewarding workplace including:
- Pet-friendly environment, bring your pets to work and enjoy the on-site dog park!
- On-Site Events & Adoptions, enjoy community-building opportunities, including pet adoption days, seasonal celebrations, family events, art events, & holiday festivals
- “Top Dog” gym with equipment, fitness classes, massage therapists, personal trainers, and wellness spaces
- “Sit & Stay” Café serving fresh breakfast and lunch options, snacks, & more
- “Lil Paws” NAEYC-accredited onsite childcare facility providing high-quality early education
- Paid Volunteer Opportunities to spend time doing good for causes close to heart
- Print Center and Business Services, Dry Cleaning, Mother's Rooms, Sustainable Infrastructure & more
PetSmart provides an equal opportunity for all associates and job applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status or other legally protected characteristics.
