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.

We are currently seeking a District Manager to join our team. In this role, you will lead a team in creating a hospitable environment for store associates and customers alike to ensure best-in-class guest experiences. This role drives consistency in operational execution, resulting in the achievement of sales and profitability goals within the assigned 13-store territory spanning Texas, Florida, Georgia, Oklahoma and North Carolina.

Reporting directly to the Vice President of Stores, the District Manager provides strategic leadership, guidance and direction to store managers, ensuring excellence in execution across all locations. The ideal candidate is a highly motivated retail professional with a passion for developing people and building strong, high-performing teams. This individual must possess exceptional communication skills, lead by example and consistently demonstrate a commitment to outstanding customer service.

The District Manager is a take-charge leader with a talent for achieving results through collaboration, accountability and engagement. This position requires regular travel between locations, working closely with dynamic and diverse store teams to assess performance, provide coaching and reinforce company standards. In partnership with senior leadership, this role plays a key part in planning, strategizing, and executing store and company goals.

This role focuses on three key business drivers: People, Service and Driving Revenue. The District Manager partners closely with the Senior Leadership and Field teams to ensure alignment across training, outreach and performance initiatives—delivering measurable results through operational excellence and leadership development.

A day on the job looks like this:

• Leading and driving a diverse talent pipeline by recruiting, onboarding and developing a team that embodies Lakeshore’s values and drives revenue results while ensuring top-tier customer experiences
• Leading teams to drive revenue through outreach, partnership with Sales Representatives and four-wall sales strategies that maximize every customer opportunity
• Proactively providing purposeful store visits that build strong, motivated teams by focusing on development, recognition and teamwork—creating a positive and supportive work environment across the assigned territories
• Coaching, inspiring and serving as the strategic driver of a customer-first culture, empowering store leaders and teams to deliver exceptional and consistent customer experiences by setting clear expectations, prioritizing daily execution and ensuring alignment with brand standards and customer-centric goals
• Leading with influence by challenging legacy practices, setting clear boundaries to protect store priorities, and empowering store managers to speak up and drive change; fostering a culture of strategic thinking, accountability and continuous improvement across the district
• Effectively managing time by prioritizing planning and follow-up tasks, ensuring long-term objectives remain on track and are not disrupted by short-term operational demands
• Assessing and planning labor, merchandising and team coverage needs in anticipation of key business drivers such as promotions, holidays and store events
• Partnering closely with store leadership to develop and execute territory-level strategies that drive revenue growth, profitability and operational efficiency by using data and insights
• Strategically aligning with cross-functional partners (e.g., Visual, Inventory, HR) ahead of initiatives to ensure seamless execution
• Recognizing and addressing recurring operational challenges (e.g., maintenance delays, staffing gaps) by determining appropriate escalation paths, clearly outlining the impact and proposing actionable solutions to drive resolution
• Acting as a strategic partner in planning and executing the division’s vision, contributing insights and feedback that shape the initiatives and priorities
• Be a trusted advisor to the store teams by leveraging customer insights, product knowledge and team engagement to ensure repeat and new sales opportunities
• Holding teams accountable for performance goals, operational standards and customer experience benchmarks—ensuring alignment with company-wide objectives

Got the skills and experience? Here’s what we’re looking for:

• 6+ years in a similar role (10+ preferred)
• 6+ years managing people or projects (10+ years preferred)
• 5+ years of related multi-unit retail sales management experience
• Ability to travel throughout assigned territory up to 75% of each week
• Capacity to work flexible schedules including some nights and weekends
• Proven track record of developing talent and succession planning
• Sincere desire to provide recognition and reward achievement
• Passion for providing excellent guest experiences
• Business acumen with an ability to identify sales opportunities through reporting analysis
• Capacity to provide transparent, consistent and clear feedback to team
• Ability to demonstrate company standards and reinforce them with entire team
• Outstanding leadership, communication and interpersonal skills
• Exceptional time management skills and ability to work productively from remote locations
• Proven track record that shows organizational and administrative abilities
• Proficiency in Word, Excel and Microsoft Office

And here’s our end of the bargain!

• Competitive compensation based on skills and experience
• 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 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. INDRLL1