Regional Senior Buyer - Beauty (APAC)

iHerb, LLC • Foxborough, MA

6d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Regional Senior Buyer - APAC leads the evaluation, curation, and expansion of iHerb’s product assortment for the APAC region. The role identifies high-potential brands, develops vendor partnerships, negotiates competitive commercial terms, and uses data-driven insights to support category and revenue growth. It is based in Seoul, Korea, with a hybrid work mode, and has a primary sourcing focus on Korea and potentially Japan.

The position combines commercial judgment, strategic thinking, and hands-on execution. The buyer manages brands that meet customer needs, comply with regional requirements, and align with APAC market trends. The role works with merchandising, in-market leadership, compliance, regulatory, inventory, planning, and marketing partners, and also supports and develops Assistant Buyers.

Requirements

• Strong, proven negotiation skills and the ability to secure competitive commercial terms.
• Advanced analytical, data-interpretation, and decision-making abilities.
• Strong understanding of retail pricing structures, margin dynamics, and key category commercial drivers.
• Deep familiarity with the Korean consumer goods and vendor landscape.
• Fluency in Korean and English, both written and verbal.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to influence internal and external stakeholders at all levels.
• Strong attention to detail, organizational skills, and project management capabilities.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, solve problems, and make sound judgments in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong cross-functional collaboration skills, particularly with Merchandising, Planning, Compliance, Regulatory, and Marketing.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in buying, category management, merchandising, or a directly related commercial role.
• Direct experience sourcing from Korean manufacturers or brands.
• Bachelor’s degree in a related field preferred, or a combination of education and equivalent work experience.

Nice To Haves

• Knowledge of the Japanese market.
• Japanese language proficiency.
• Experience with Google Workspace, including Gmail, Drive, Docs, Sheets, and Forms.
• Experience with EDI, WMS, SAP, Asana, or Tableau.
• Experience in an international or regional e-commerce environment.
• Experience sourcing from Japanese manufacturers or brands.

Responsibilities

• Work with the Senior Director, Merchandising and global Merchandising teams to align on business strategies, priorities, and category direction.
• Partner with in-market leadership to build and maintain an assortment relevant to the APAC market.
• Own and monitor category KPIs for new and existing brands, including pricing, costs, gross margin, markups, product mix, promotions, and product lifecycle, while driving continuous improvement.
• Navigate APAC-specific compliance, regulatory, and supply-chain requirements, primarily for Korea and potentially Japan, to ensure compliant buying practices.
• Partner with Compliance and Regulatory teams on regional catalog additions, documentation, and approvals.
• Procure products directly from manufacturers or authorized distributors, primarily in Korea and potentially Japan, in accordance with company policies and regional sourcing standards.
• Identify and develop high-potential Korean and Japanese brands with regional and global growth potential.
• Negotiate commercial terms, including everyday pricing, marketing budgets, rebates, accruals, delivery schedules, and volume agreements.
• Build and maintain vendor relationships, manage vendor contracts and product evaluations, and resolve issues with cross-functional partners.
• Drive new product and brand onboarding for timely and accurate integration into the APAC assortment.
• Partner with Inventory Management and Planning on forecasts, inventory turns, vendor performance, and order cycles.
• Collaborate with Marketing to develop profitable and effective promotional co-op activities.
• Use category reports and analytics to identify opportunities, guide decisions, and support long-term business growth.
• Follow company policies regarding safety, business ethics, and standards of conduct.
• Support and develop Assistant Buyers by providing guidance and tools for success.

Benefits

• Employee benefits programs designed to support employees and their families’ health, wellness, and financial future.
• Benefits may vary by country of employment; eligible benefits are reviewed by the Talent Acquisition Partner or local HR representative.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior