Pet & Equestrian

Pet & Equestrian recruitment

Specialist recruitment for pet and equestrian retailers, brands, manufacturers, suppliers and service businesses, from growing independent businesses to established international names.

Pet and equestrian is a diverse specialist consumer market, spanning retail, ecommerce, food and nutrition, apparel, equipment, health and wellbeing, technology and services.

The businesses within it can look very different, but they share something important: knowledgeable customers who care deeply about the products they buy and the brands and retailers they trust.

Great products matter, but so do the people behind them. The teams developing products and building ranges. The people creating brands and communities. The commercial teams opening new channels and growing accounts. The ecommerce teams making specialist products easier to discover and buy. The retail teams bringing expertise to the customer experience. And the supply chain keeping everything moving.

That’s where we come in.

Zachary Daniels recruits across pet and equestrian businesses, from specialist and operational roles through to head office and senior leadership, across the UK and internationally.

Pet & Equestrian recruitment across the whole business

When people think about recruitment in the pet and equestrian market, they might first think about specialist Product, Buying or Retail roles.

We recruit those people, but our experience goes much further.

We work across the functions that make pet and equestrian businesses successful, including Buying & Merchandising, Product, Design & Technical, Sales & Commercial, Marketing & Brand, Digital & Ecommerce, Retail Operations, Supply Chain & Logistics, Finance, HR & People, Technology, Data & IT, Legal, Compliance & Sustainability and Executive Search.

A growing brand might start out needing an Ecommerce Manager. As it develops, it may need people across Product, Buying, Marketing, Wholesale, Supply Chain and Finance, followed by the leadership team capable of taking the business through its next stage of growth.

A specialist retailer opening more stores might need Retail Operations talent alongside Buying, Merchandising, People, Property, Technology and Finance.

These functions rarely operate in isolation.

Our specialist recruitment teams work together, which means a client can come to ZD for one important appointment or use us to build talent across several areas of the business.

What makes Pet & Equestrian recruitment different?

Pet and equestrian isn’t one market.

A pet nutrition brand, specialist retailer, equestrian clothing business, saddlery brand and equine supplements company may all sit within the same broad sector, but their products, customers, routes to market and talent requirements can be very different.

Understanding those differences is an important part of getting the hire right.

Customers care deeply about their choices

Customers in pet and equestrian are often highly engaged and knowledgeable about the products they buy.

Quality, performance, safety, wellbeing, value and trust can all influence purchasing decisions, and customers may have strong relationships with the brands and retailers they choose.

That means businesses need people who understand the customer as well as the commercial opportunity.

Product knowledge matters

Food and nutrition. Supplements. Health and wellbeing. Apparel and footwear. Saddlery and tack. Equipment. Accessories. Care products.

Specialist knowledge can matter enormously in this market.

The experience required will depend on the role. A Buyer does not necessarily need the same depth of technical knowledge as someone working in Product Development, Quality or Technical, but understanding what somebody genuinely knows rather than simply looking at their job title can make a significant difference.

We look at the products, categories, customers and environments candidates have actually worked with.

Route to market

Specialist retail. DTC ecommerce. Marketplaces. Wholesale. Independent retailers. Major retail accounts. International distributors. Subscription.

Pet and equestrian businesses can reach their customers in very different ways.

Someone who has built a successful DTC brand may have very different experience from somebody managing major wholesale accounts or growing a specialist retail estate.

Both can be valuable. They’re not the same job.

Community, credibility and trust

Pet and equestrian customers often spend significant time learning, researching and talking about the products they use.

That creates opportunities for brands that can build genuine credibility and strong communities around what they do.

Content, social media, ambassadors, partnerships, events, education and customer experience can therefore play an important role alongside more traditional marketing.

For the people behind those functions, understanding the audience matters.

The market extends beyond products

The sector increasingly stretches beyond traditional physical products.

Grooming, veterinary-related services, wellbeing, subscriptions, technology, specialist services and experiences all create different customer relationships and different talent requirements.

As businesses diversify, the people and infrastructure behind them need to develop too.

Functions we recruit across

Executive Search

Senior and board-level appointments for pet and equestrian businesses at moments of growth, transformation or succession, managed through a discreet and research-led search.

Typical Roles: CEO, President, Managing Director, Chief Operating Officer, Chief Commercial Officer, Retail Director, Brand Director, Chief Financial Officer and People Director.

Explore ZD Search

Buying & Merchandising

Commercial teams who understand category, customer, price, margin, stock and the decisions behind successful specialist ranges.

Typical Roles: Buying Director, Head of Buying, Category Director, Category Manager, Senior Buyer, Buyer, Merchandising Director, Head of Merchandising, Merchandiser and Assistant Merchandiser.

Explore Buying & Merchandising

Product, design, technical & wholesale

Product, technical and wholesale specialists who understand development, quality, performance, suppliers and commercial partnerships across specialist pet and equestrian categories.

Typical Roles: Product Director, Head of Product, Product Development Manager, Product Manager, Technical Director, Technical Manager, Quality Manager, Wholesale Director, Head of Wholesale, National Account Manager and Business Development Manager.

Explore Product, Design, Technical & Wholesale

Retail Operations

Retail leaders who can build knowledgeable teams, create trusted customer experiences and deliver consistent commercial performance across stores and regions.

Typical Roles: Retail Director, Head of Retail, Regional Manager, Area Manager, Boutique Director, Store Manager, Assistant Store Manager, Client Advisor, Jewellery Sales Consultant and Watch Specialist.

Explore Retail Operations recruitment

Digital & Ecommerce

Digital specialists who make specialist ranges easier to discover and buy while improving customer experience, conversion, repeat purchasing and loyalty.

Typical Roles: Ecommerce Director, Head of Ecommerce, Ecommerce Manager, Digital Trading Manager, Performance Marketing Manager, CRM Manager, UX Manager, Conversion Rate Optimisation Manager and Ecommerce Executive.

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Marketing & Brand

Marketing professionals who can build brands, communicate product benefits and develop lasting relationships with highly engaged pet and equestrian communities.

Typical Roles: Marketing Director, Head of Marketing, Brand Director, Brand Manager, PR Manager, Communications Manager, Events Manager, Social Media Manager, Content Manager and Customer Insights Manager.

Explore Marketing & Brand

Supply Chain & Logistics

Supply chain specialists who can manage suppliers, planning, stock and distribution while maintaining availability across specialist and often complex product ranges.

Typical Roles: Supply Chain Director, Head of Supply Chain, Sourcing Manager, Procurement Manager, Demand Planner, Logistics Manager, Distribution Manager, Inventory Manager and Stock Control Manager.

Explore Supply Chain & Logistics

Finance & Accounting

Finance professionals who bring control and commercial insight to decisions around pricing, margin, stock, investment and growth.

Typical Roles: Chief Financial Officer, Finance Director, Financial Controller, Commercial Finance Manager, FP&A Manager, Finance Business Partner, Management Accountant and Financial Accountant.

Explore Finance & Accounting

HR & People

People specialists who help businesses attract, develop and retain capable teams while building the culture and leadership needed to grow.

Typical Roles: People Director, HR Director, Head of People, HR Business Partner, Talent Acquisition Manager, Learning & Development Manager, Reward Manager, Employee Relations Manager and HR Advisor.

Explore HR & People

Technology, Data & IT

Technology, data and systems specialists who support ecommerce, retail operations, customer experience, business intelligence and growth.

Typical roles: Chief Technology Officer, IT Director, Head of Technology, Product Manager, Business Analyst, Data Analyst, Systems Manager, Project Manager and Software Engineer.

Explore Technology, Data & IT Recruitment

Legal, Compliance & Sustainability

Legal, compliance and sustainability specialists who help businesses manage commercial risk, product responsibilities, responsible sourcing and environmental commitments.

Typical roles: General Counsel, Head of Legal, Legal Counsel, Company Secretary, Compliance Manager, Risk Manager, Product Compliance Manager, Sustainability Director, Head of ESG, Sustainability Manager, Responsible Sourcing Manager and Ethical Trade Manager.

Explore Legal, Compliance & Sustainability

Hiring talent for a pet & equestrian business

You may need a category specialist who genuinely understands your market. A retail leader who can develop knowledgeable teams. A product specialist with the right technical expertise. A commercial hire who can open new channels. A digital specialist who can accelerate ecommerce growth. Or a senior appointment to lead the next stage of the business.

Whatever the brief, we start by understanding what that person actually needs to achieve.

We look at your products or services, customers, channels, culture and commercial priorities, as well as the specialist knowledge, experience and behaviours the role demands.

Depending on the role and market, our support can include:

• A focused search for one specialist or business-critical appointment
• Recruitment across retail operations and multiple head-office functions
• Support for new products, services, stores, channels and periods of growth
• Discreet, research-led searches for senior or confidential appointments
• Direct access to established networks, including people who are not actively applying
• Screening, interview coordination, feedback, offer management and post-placement contact

You get a shortlist shaped around the reality of your business, not simply the keywords in a job description.

Every person we introduce will understand the opportunity and will have been assessed for capability, motivation and fit.

Talk to us about hiring

One relationship. Talent across the business.

Growth rarely stays in one function.

A new product range can affect Buying, Product, Supply Chain and Marketing. Ecommerce growth can create requirements across Digital, Technology, CRM and Fulfilment. New stores create opportunities across Retail Operations, People and Property. Moving into wholesale or international markets can change what a business needs from Commercial, Finance and Supply Chain.

Our specialists work together, so you don’t have to explain your business from the beginning every time a different requirement appears.

You get focused functional knowledge with one joined-up understanding of your customers, products and plans.

That continuity helps us move faster, represent the opportunity accurately and introduce people who make sense for the wider business as well as the role in front of us.

How we support Pet & Equestrian businesses

Specialist product and category hires

Specialist experience can be difficult to judge from a job title alone.

We look at the categories candidates know, the products they have worked with, the customers they understand and the channels they have experience in, then target people whose background genuinely fits the brief.

Retail, ecommerce and business growth

New stores, products, services, categories and digital channels can create requirements across several teams.

We can support individual appointments or wider recruitment projects while maintaining one joined-up view of the business.

Leadership and confidential search

ZD Search supports senior appointments that require discretion and detailed market mapping.

We identify relevant leaders, approach them carefully and manage the process from first conversation to appointment.

Long-term recruitment partnerships

The more we understand your products, customers and plans, the more useful we become.

We stay close between vacancies, share what we are seeing in the market and keep building relationships that can make the next search easier.

Pet & Equestrian markets we understand

Pet and equestrian covers a broad mix of products, services, channels and customer needs.

We support established businesses, specialist organisations and growing brands across areas including:

• Pet food & nutrition
• Pet accessories & care
• Pet health & wellbeing
• Specialist pet retail
• Grooming & pet services
• Veterinary-related retail & services
• Pet technology
• Equestrian apparel & footwear
• Saddlery, tack & equipment
• Equine nutrition & supplements
• Equine health & wellbeing
• Equestrian & country retail
• Equestrian equipment & accessories
• Ecommerce & subscription businesses
• Pet and equestrian brands
• Manufacturers, suppliers & distributors

The category only tells part of the story.

We take time to understand your products or services, customers, channels and commercial model before we begin.

Looking for your next role in Pet & Equestrian?

The right next move is about more than title and salary.

Product matters. Customer matters. So do the culture, pace of the business and opportunity to develop your expertise.

We want to understand what you have achieved, but also where you want to go next.

Greater category ownership? A larger retail operation? A growing consumer brand? More responsibility for product or commercial strategy? A move into ecommerce? Or the opportunity to take specialist experience into another part of the market?

We will be clear about the opportunity, prepare you properly and keep you informed.

If the right role isn’t available today, a good conversation means we know where to begin when it is.

Register your interest confidentially

Frequently Asked Questions

What Pet & Equestrian roles do you recruit for?

We recruit across Retail Operations and head-office functions, including Executive Search, Buying & Merchandising, Product, Design, Technical & Wholesale, Sales & Commercial, Digital & Ecommerce, Marketing & Brand, Supply Chain & Logistics, Finance & Accounting, HR & People, Technology, Data & IT and Legal, Compliance & Sustainability.

What types of Pet & Equestrian businesses do you work with?

We support retailers, brands, manufacturers, suppliers, ecommerce businesses and service providers across pet and equestrian, including food and nutrition, health and wellbeing, apparel, footwear, accessories, equipment, specialist retail, technology and services.

Do you recruit candidates with specialist Pet & Equestrian experience?

Yes. Where specialist category, product or customer knowledge matters, we look beyond job titles to understand the products, markets, channels and environments candidates have genuinely worked in.

We also recognise when experience from an adjacent consumer market can be relevant. The important thing is understanding what the role actually requires rather than assuming somebody needs a particular sector name on their CV.

Can you support growing Pet & Equestrian businesses?

Yes. We support individual hires and wider recruitment projects connected to new products, services, stores, channels, markets and periods of business growth.

Because our specialists recruit across different functions, we can also continue supporting a business as its hiring needs develop.

Do you recruit across ecommerce and physical retail?

Yes. We recruit across both, as well as the Buying, Product, Marketing, Commercial, Supply Chain, Technology and other teams connecting those channels.

Do you recruit senior and executive roles?

Yes. ZD Search supports senior, board-level and confidential appointments through a discreet, research-led search process.

Why use a specialist Pet & Equestrian recruitment agency?

Because businesses across pet and equestrian can differ significantly by product, customer, route to market and commercial model.

Understanding those differences helps us assess experience more accurately, represent opportunities properly and identify relevant people who may not be actively looking for a new role.

Ready to talk?

Hiring?

Tell us who you need and what you want them to change, build or improve.

We’ll bring the market knowledge, functional recruitment expertise, reach and persistence to help you find the right person.

Talk to us about hiring

Thinking about your next move?

Tell us where you are now and where you’d like your career to go.

We’ll help you find an opportunity that feels like progress, not simply a change of job.

Get in touch about your next role

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