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; international supplier experience is 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 - 60000 € 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 work with a diverse range of innovative products in a fast-paced environment. Located in London, our team enjoys the excitement of a thriving retail scene while being part of a company that values employee contributions and prioritises professional development.
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, attend events, and connect on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your passion! When you get the chance to chat with potential employers, make sure to express your love for K-Beauty and the latest trends. It’ll help you stand out as someone who truly cares about the industry.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by researching the company’s product range and recent launches. Bring insights on how you can contribute to their buying strategy and improve supplier relationships. This will show you’re not just another candidate!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! We’ve got loads of opportunities waiting for you, and applying directly shows your enthusiasm for joining our team. Plus, it makes it easier for us to spot your application!
We think you need these skills to ace Buying Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the Buying Manager role. Highlight your experience in buying or category management, especially in beauty and skincare. We want to see how your skills align with our needs!
Showcase Your Leadership Skills:Since this role involves leading a team, don’t forget to showcase your leadership experience. Share examples of how you've mentored or developed teams in the past. We love seeing strong leaders in action!
Be Data-Driven:We’re all about using data to drive decisions. Include any relevant experience you have with sales analysis, stock flow, or performance metrics. Show us how you’ve used data to support commercial discussions!
Apply Through Our Website:Finally, make sure to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and keep track of it. We can’t wait to see what you bring to the table!
How to prepare for a job interview at Lime Talent
✨Know Your K-Beauty
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of Korean beauty products and trends. Familiarise yourself with the brands the company carries and be ready to discuss how you can contribute to their growth in the UK market.
✨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 motivated your team to achieve results, as this role requires strong leadership.
✨Master the Numbers
Since the role involves analysing sales and performance data, be prepared to discuss your analytical skills. Bring examples of how you've used data to drive commercial decisions and improve product strategies in previous roles.
✨Build Supplier Relationships
Think about your past experiences managing supplier negotiations and partnerships. Be ready to share how you've built strong relationships and navigated challenges, as this will be key in your new role as Buying Manager.
