Assistant Buyer – China & Southeast Asia

Lotte Plaza Market Richmond • Full-time • Jessup, Maryland, United States • $57.20k / year • 2d ago

Company: Sungwon Distributor LLC / Lotte Plaza Market
Position: Assistant Buyer – China & Southeast Asia
Work Location: 8241 Sandy Court, Jessup, MD 20794
Job Type: Full-time

About the Role

We are seeking an organized and detail-oriented Assistant Buyer to support our purchasing operations for grocery and consumer products from China, Vietnam, and Southeast Asia.

This role focuses on day-to-day purchasing administration, including issuing purchase orders, creating store sales orders, coordinating vendor delivery schedules, and completing new product and vendor registration paperwork. The Assistant Buyer will work closely with Buyers, vendors, warehouse staff, and store teams to ensure accurate and timely order processing.

Key Responsibilities

Purchase Orders & Store Sales Orders

Create and issue routine purchase orders (POs) based on Buyer instructions and established ordering schedules
Create and process store sales orders (S/Os) according to approved allocations and store requirements
Verify item numbers, quantities, costs, and delivery information before processing orders
Update orders as needed and follow up on outstanding or incomplete orders
Maintain accurate order records in the company’s ERP system

Vendor Delivery Coordination

Communicate with vendors to confirm order receipt, product availability, and delivery dates
Maintain and update vendor delivery schedules
Coordinate delivery appointments with vendors and warehouse receiving teams
Follow up on late deliveries, shortages, substitutions, and other order discrepancies
Keep Buyers and relevant teams informed of delivery changes and order status

New Product & Vendor Registration

Collect and organize documents required for new product registration
Enter and maintain item information, including UPCs, descriptions, pack sizes, costs, and vendor details
Collect vendor registration forms, W-9s, payment terms, and other required documents
Coordinate new vendor setup with purchasing and accounting teams
Check submissions for completeness and follow up on missing information

Administrative & Team Support

Organize purchase orders, sales orders, vendor documents, and related correspondence
Maintain purchasing spreadsheets, order trackers, and vendor contact information
Assist Buyers with collecting quotations, product information, and samples
Respond to routine order and product inquiries from stores and internal teams
Provide other purchasing and administrative support as needed

Qualifications

Fluency in Chinese (Mandarin) is required
Proficiency in English or Korean is required
Experience in purchasing administration, order processing, sales support, or a related administrative role is preferred
Strong attention to detail and accuracy in data entry and documentation
Good organizational skills and the ability to manage recurring tasks and deadlines
Clear communication skills and consistent follow-through
Working knowledge of Microsoft Excel and other Microsoft Office applications
Ability to coordinate effectively with vendors, warehouse staff, and store teams

Preferred Experience