Company Description
At Lakeshore, we create innovative learning materials and world-class guest experiences for teachers, parents and children. Since 1954, we’ve grown into a global community—with a thriving e-commerce business, multiple catalogs, 60 retail stores, a peerless national sales force, plus international offices that support our preeminent supply chain division. But today we’re working better, smarter and faster than ever—and setting our sights even higher. We’re building an infrastructure designed for scalability, embracing data-driven decision-making and using technology to improve efficiency and ensure the best tools for the best work. Most importantly, we continue to invest in a diverse team of inquisitive top talent who fuel each other’s passions and curiosity, take risks, try new things, and believe that every new day brings opportunities for growth.
Job Description
We are seeking a Director of Learning Environments to secure new and repeat business by building strong relationships with key customers and stakeholders. In this role, you will visit schools, city/community colleges, architecture and design firms, and trade shows to assess emerging trends and ongoing needs. The position also requires prospecting new leads with city, county and state government officials, university administrators and community-based organizations. Applicants should possess sharp presentation skills and the ability to speak to customer needs at all levels. The ideal candidate also has robust project management skills, as well as a strong work ethic and team-player mentality.
A day on the job looks like this:
- Act as a Lakeshore brand ambassador, promoting our value proposition to customers at all levels
- Sell in the field with a focus on K–12 FF&E opportunities, cultivating relationships within school districts and school sites directly across all levels
- Take responsibility for a designated geographical area and own your business
- Attend bid openings and provide direction for bid responses
- Own projects through entire sales process from lead generation through installation
- Collaborate with managers to delegate tasks and responsibilities to project team members
- Host product presentations and events designed to familiarize customers with proprietary services
- Influence customers and other key stakeholders to specify Lakeshore furniture
- Initiate conversations and relationships with district leadership along with supporting Outside and Inside Sales team with their own regions
- Pursue bond opportunities and position Lakeshore where appropriate
- Work with Inside Sales team and Marketing group to fine-tune messaging and collateral materials to support your markets
- Partner with Sales, Retail and our Professional Development to support the needs of local educators
- Provide support to guide sales strategy, relationship management and mentorship based on specific region/territory
- Maintain an ongoing awareness of local, state and national trends and funding opportunities in K–12 FF&E
- Travel as needed to identify nuances of current/emerging markets within designated region and participate in conferences to promote the Lakeshore brand
- Manage your own sales pipeline opportunities throughout the entire sales process. Support sales pipeline opportunities identified by Outside and Inside Sales team and assist with account mapping to ensure all key stakeholders are identified and develop action plans when possible
Qualifications
Got the skills and experience? Here’s what we’re looking for:
- Bachelor’s degree strongly preferred; job-related experience may be substituted in lieu of degree
- 6 years of experience in sales, or equivalent work experience
- Background in K-12 furniture sales, A&D presentation experience (Product presentations, CEUs, etc). Strong understanding of how school districts and school sites make FF&E procurement decisions
- Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Outlook and Salesforce
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Excellent administrative, organizational skills, and timely follow up required.
- Ability to travel as needed with overnight stays 50% to 75% of time
- Located in: Los Angeles / Orange Counties (LA Metropolitan Area); San Diego; Riverside/San Bernardino
Additional Information
And here’s our end of the bargain!
- Salary: $100,000 - $115,000
- Uncapped commission structure
- Paid leave for new parents to support work/life balance and family bonding
- Excellent medical/dental and vision coverage—EPO, PPO and HSA
- 401(k) retirement plan with company contribution (because you will retire someday)
- Flexible benefit options—choose what you like, ignore the rest
- Generous employee discount on products
At Lakeshore, we know our diversity makes us stronger, and when everyone feels included and valued, we all win. We strive to embrace our differences and create an intentionally diverse and inclusive community that is representative of the teachers, families and children we serve.
We know we couldn’t do the extraordinary things we’re doing without the people on our team. Thanks to the passion and enthusiasm of this spectacular group, Lakeshore is more than a great place to work—it’s a great experience to be part of. Day in and day out, we give everything we’ve got to create products that instill a sense of wonder and foster a true love of learning. To help maintain this high bar for success, we’re constantly on the lookout for people to join us. So if you’re a down-to-earth professional who shares our desire for making a difference, we’d love to hear from you.
To learn more about Lakeshore, visit www.lakeshorelearning.com/careers
Equal Employment Opportunity Policy
People are selected to become members of the Lakeshore family based on skill, merit and mind-boggling talent—not based on race, color, creed, sexual orientation, gender or gender identity, marital status, domestic partnership status, military status, religion, age, national origin, ancestry, alienage, AIDS or AIDS-related complex status, genetic information, predisposition or carrier status, status as a victim of domestic violence, physical or mental disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. If things aren’t equal, we all lose.
To learn about how we collect and use Applicant information, please visit our Employee/Applicant Privacy Policy. INDRL1
Top Skills
What We Do
Lakeshore Learning Materials is one of the most innovative manufacturers of educational materials in the country. Specializing in top-quality products for the home and classroom, we are a thriving multichannel organization with a robust web business, multiple catalogs for early learning and elementary programs, 60 store locations, plus a sales force that is second to none. Thanks to the daily contributions of the amazing people on our team, Lakeshore has experienced continuous growth since the day it was founded in 1954.
Although we’ve been serving teachers and parents for decades, we believe our best days are still to come—thanks to the hard work and dedication of our team. We are creative thinkers and problem solvers who continuously challenge ourselves to do our best work, roll up our sleeves to get the job done and persevere until we reach our goals. Over the last few decades, our people have helped us grow from a single retail store into an international business that continues to expand—moving us even closer to our goal of ensuring every teacher and student has access to the best learning materials possible. Because of our team’s passion and drive, Lakeshore is more than a great place to work—it’s a great experience to be part of. So if you’re a down-to-earth professional who shares our desire for making a difference in the world, we’d love to hear from you.
