At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a dynamic Buying team and manage product lifecycles in the beauty sector.
- Company: A leading UK retailer specialising in Korean beauty and skincare since 2019.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career development, and a vibrant work culture.
- Other info: Passion for beauty and collaboration is key; Korean language skills are a plus.
- Why this job: Join a fast-paced environment and shape the future of K-Beauty in the UK.
- Qualifications: 4+ years in Buying or Category Management with strong leadership skills.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 65000 € per year.
A leading UK retailer specialising in Korean beauty and skincare, offering a curated range of over 2,000 products across skincare, makeup, haircare, and body care through both ecommerce and physical stores. Since launching in 2019, the company has become a trusted destination for K-Beauty customers across the UK, supported by thousands of 5-star customer reviews and a rapidly expanding retail presence.
The Buying Manager will lead the Buying team and oversee the full product lifecycle across multiple categories, ensuring all activity supports the wider commercial strategy. The role involves managing key supplier relationships, overseeing onboarding and launch processes, and driving the commercial performance of both established and emerging brands within the UK market. This opportunity suits someone with strong leadership skills, commercial awareness, and experience working in fast-moving retail environments.
Key Responsibilities- Lead, mentor, and develop a team of Buyers across different experience levels, ensuring clear direction, strong execution, and continuous development.
- Work closely with Merchandising and wider business teams to support category planning and deliver commercially effective product strategies aligned with customer demand and business objectives.
- Manage supplier partnerships and lead commercial negotiations, including margins, funding agreements, and long-term partnership terms.
- Oversee contract reviews and renewals, ensuring agreements meet operational and commercial requirements while maintaining strong supplier relationships.
- Analyse sales, margin, stock flow, and promotional performance to identify opportunities and risks, using data to support commercial discussions with brands.
- Manage stock flow and supplier lead times, ensuring timely deliveries and resolving any supply chain issues that may impact product availability.
- Collaborate cross-functionally with Merchandising, Marketing, Supply Chain, and Retail Operations to ensure successful launches, promotions, and stock planning across all channels.
- Maintain accurate launch timelines and critical paths, ensuring all stages of onboarding, labelling, compliance, and product readiness are completed on schedule.
- Support suppliers with UK labelling and compliance requirements, ensuring all products meet regulations before launch.
- Take ownership of priority and exclusive brand accounts, ensuring they receive strong commercial focus and strategic support.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with international brand teams, providing regular updates on performance, opportunities, and market growth.
- Produce weekly and monthly reports for senior leadership, highlighting performance trends, opportunities, and recommendations.
- At least 4 years’ experience in Buying or Category Management within beauty, skincare, wellness, or fast-paced consumer retail.
- Proven experience leading and developing buying teams.
- Strong commercial awareness with a track record of driving sales and profitability.
- Experience managing supplier negotiations, commercial terms, and long-term partnerships.
- Strong analytical skills with advanced Excel capability and confidence interpreting sales and performance data.
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
- Highly organised with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines effectively.
- Passion for beauty, skincare, and evolving consumer trends.
- Experience working with international suppliers is advantageous.
- Korean language skills are beneficial but not essential.
- Collaborative and relationship-focused approach to working with brands and partners.
Buying Manager employer: Lime Talent
As a leading UK retailer in the vibrant world of Korean beauty and skincare, we pride ourselves on fostering a dynamic and inclusive work culture that champions creativity and collaboration. Our employees benefit from extensive growth opportunities, mentorship from experienced leaders, and the chance to make a significant impact in a rapidly expanding market. Located in London, our team enjoys a supportive environment where innovation thrives, and every member is encouraged to contribute to our mission of delivering exceptional products to our customers.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Buying Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the beauty and skincare industry on LinkedIn or at events. A friendly chat can lead to opportunities that aren’t even advertised yet.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your passion for K-Beauty! When you get the chance to meet potential employers, share your insights on trends and products. It’ll show them you’re not just looking for a job, but you genuinely care about the industry.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by researching the company’s product range and recent launches. Bring ideas to the table on how you could enhance their buying strategy. This will demonstrate your proactive approach and commercial awareness.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! We love seeing candidates who are enthusiastic about joining our team. Plus, it’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed!
We think you need these skills to ace Buying Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Beauty:When you're writing your application, let your love for beauty and skincare shine through! Share any personal experiences or insights that connect you to the industry. We want to see that you're not just looking for a job, but that you're genuinely excited about what we do.
Tailor Your CV and Cover Letter:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Buying Manager role. Highlight your relevant experience in buying or category management, especially in beauty or fast-paced retail. We appreciate when candidates take the time to align their skills with our needs!
Quantify Your Achievements:Use numbers to back up your achievements! Whether it's sales growth, margin improvements, or successful product launches, we love to see concrete examples of how you've made an impact in your previous roles. It helps us understand your potential contribution to our team.
Apply Through Our Website:Don't forget to apply through our website! It's the best way for us to receive your application and ensures it gets into the right hands. Plus, it shows that you're keen on joining our team at StudySmarter. We can't wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at Lime Talent
✨Know Your K-Beauty
Dive deep into the world of Korean beauty and skincare. Familiarise yourself with popular brands, trends, and products. This knowledge will not only impress your interviewers but also show your genuine passion for the industry.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples that highlight your experience in leading and developing teams. Think about specific challenges you've faced and how you guided your team to success. This will demonstrate your capability to mentor and inspire others.
✨Master the Numbers
Brush up on your analytical skills, especially with Excel. Be ready to discuss how you've used data to drive commercial decisions in the past. Highlight any specific metrics or KPIs you've improved through your strategies.
✨Build Relationships
Think about how you've successfully managed supplier relationships in previous roles. Prepare to discuss your negotiation tactics and how you've maintained strong partnerships. This will show your ability to collaborate effectively across functions.
