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, over 50 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 DescriptionWe are seeking a driven and analytical Product Developer to work on-site at our Carson, California, headquarters. In this role, you will evaluate and enhance legacy products with a strong attention to detail, improving functionality, aesthetics and overall quality while keeping customers’ needs top of mind. The position requires collaboration with domestic and overseas vendors across a variety of manufacturing modalities. Applicants should have at least one year of product development experience. The ideal candidate also has knowledge of the product creation process related to consumer goods.
Please note that this position is open to internal candidates only. External candidates who apply will not be considered for this role.
A day on the job looks like this:
- Validating key product lines with new manufacturers to support business growth
- Providing clear direction and collaborating effectively with in-house designers, engineers and quality teams to ensure alignment and progress
- Communicating project updates clearly across teams and levels of the organization, including identifying risks and escalating concerns as needed
- Developing and driving product improvement concepts to enhance existing products and better serve customers
- Partnering with PMs, Planning and Supply Chain teams to monitor timelines and inventory requirements
Got the skills and experience? Here’s what we’re looking for:
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience
- 1+ years of product development experience; product management experience a plus
- Early childhood or elementary teaching experience a plus
- Knowledge of product creation processes for consumer goods
- Basic understanding of various manufacturing modalities
- Strong Microsoft Office and Excel skills
What Sets You Apart
- Thoughtful decision maker who applies sound judgment to evaluate product challenges and make informed decisions with increasing independence
- Clear communicator who shares concise updates and tailors messaging to designers, engineers, quality teams and leadership
- Collaborative partner who works effectively across Product Enhancement, Design, Engineering, Quality, Planning and Supply Chain to move projects forward
- Accountable owner who takes responsibility for assigned product lines and delivers high‑quality outcomes while managing competing priorities and tight timelines
- Continuous learner who applies insights from past projects, adapts quickly to new situations and seeks opportunities to improve products, processes and skill sets
And here’s our end of the bargain!
At Lakeshore, we pay local market wages for employees that reside within Los Angeles and Orange Counties.
For this position, new employees joining Lakeshore who live within Los Angeles and Orange Counties are typically brought into the organization at a salary rate between $70,500-$95,500 depending on relevant experience & skillset.
This range is indicative of projected hiring range. The annual base compensation will take into account each candidate's relevant experience, location, and skillset.
- Bonus eligible
- 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 benefits—choose what you like, ignore the rest
- On-site preschool for our employees’ children
- On-site employee gym for all levels/fitness needs
- Generous employee discount
- Casual dress…and we really mean it
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.
Lakeshore is an E-Verify employer. We use E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees.
Please see the E-Verify Participation Poster and Know Your Rights Poster in English and Spanish for more information.
Skills Required
- Internal applicants only (external candidates will not be considered)
- Work on-site at Carson, California headquarters (hybrid role noted)
- Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience
- 1+ years of product development experience
- Knowledge of product creation processes for consumer goods
- Basic understanding of various manufacturing modalities
- Strong Microsoft Office and Excel skills
- Product management experience
- Early childhood or elementary teaching experience
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.
