RD&D Process and Operations Lead (Hybrid)

Lakeshore Learning Materials; Carson (CA); Hybrid; USD 118,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus eligible

Parental leave

Medical/dental/vision coverage

401(k) retirement plan

Flexible benefits

On-site preschool

On-site gym

Employee discount

Casual dress

Job summary

Lakeshore Learning Materials is seeking an RD&D Process and Operations Lead in Carson, CA to organize cross-functional product development work and build an operational backbone for better efficiency. The role is hybrid and focuses on standardized processes, data structures, and training to support teachers, parents, and children.

You’ll drive continuous improvement, implement an operations center of excellence, and lead cross-functional initiatives with the Director.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field.
• 5-8+ years of experience in operations and/or program management within product development organizations that specialize in the consumer product industry.
• Experience supporting new product launches and product development initiatives.
• Advanced skills in Microsoft Excel, including data analysis, reporting, and presentation development.
• Experience with SAP integrations and implementing other technologies.
• Familiarity with Workfront.
• Proven ability to support and navigate organizational change.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret systems and data to drive insights and informed decision-making.

Responsibilities

• Own and drive multiple cross-functional operational projects simultaneously - building project plans, tracking accountabilities and timelines, and leading continuous improvement based on results.
• Develop and implement the product development operations center of excellence, including the process optimization roadmap, documented process flows, role clarity, communication accountability, and change management plans.
• Lead the scoping, onboarding, and scaled implementation of inspection technology across cross-functional teams, partnering closely with the Director to ensure adoption and efficiency gains.
• Build and maintain the data structures, KPIs, and reports that give product development stakeholders the visibility they need to make confident decisions and stay ahead of risk.
• Design and deliver training and communications for internal teams and external vendor partners; facilitate working sessions that surface and resolve conflict, clarify expectations, and keep work moving.

Skills

Advanced Excel

Data analysis

Reporting

Presentation skills

SAP integrations

Workfront

Organizational change

Analytical skills

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

SAP

Workfront

Job 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, 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.

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 Description

Research, Design & Development moves fast - and keeping complex, cross-functional work organized, efficient, and on track takes someone who knows how to turn operational chaos into clear process. As our RD&D Process and Operations Lead, you’ll build the operational backbone that helps our product development teams do their best work: streamlined processes, smart data structures, and the technology and training that keep everyone aligned. It's hands-on, high-impact work that ultimately helps get better educational products into the hands of teachers, kids, and families. This role is hybrid, based in Carson, CA.

A day on the job looks like this:

• Own and drive multiple cross-functional operational projects simultaneously - building project plans, tracking accountabilities and timelines, and leading continuous improvement based on results.
• Develop and implement the product development operations center of excellence, including the process optimization roadmap, documented process flows, role clarity, communication accountability, and change management plans.
• Lead the scoping, onboarding, and scaled implementation of inspection technology across cross-functional teams, partnering closely with the Director to ensure adoption and efficiency gains.
• Build and maintain the data structures, KPIs, and reports that give product development stakeholders the visibility they need to make confident decisions and stay ahead of risk.
• Design and deliver training and communications for internal teams and external vendor partners; facilitate working sessions that surface and resolve conflict, clarify expectations, and keep work moving.

Qualifications

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

Required:

• This is a hybrid position based in Carson, CA. Candidates must be able to work onsite as required.
• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field.
• 5-8+ years of experience in operations and/or program management within product development organizations that specialize in the consumer product industry.
• Experience supporting new product launches and product development initiatives.
• Advanced skills in Microsoft Excel, including data analysis, reporting, and presentation development.
• Experience with SAP integrations and implementing other technologies.
• Familiarity with Workfront.
• Proven ability to support and navigate organizational change.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret systems and data to drive insights and informed decision-making.

Preferred:

• Experience with Workfront or similar project management platforms.
• Experience with inspection software implementation.
• Experience implementing a variety of software; Workfront experience; Kaizen knowledge.

What sets you apart:

• You make complexity legible - you can walk into a tangled cross-functional process and quickly see where the friction is, then build something that fixes it.
• You influence without authority. You earn trust across levels and functions by being well-prepared, clear, and consistent.
• You're a candid, constructive voice in the room. You push back when something doesn't add up, and you do it in a way that moves things forward rather than sideways.
• You treat a half-built process the same way you treat a finished one: there's always a next improvement, and you're already thinking about it.

Additional Information

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 $118,000-$140,000 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.

Some of the recruiting platforms and tools Lakeshore uses rely on artificial intelligence to help identify potential candidates. The people at Lakeshore review candidates and make all hiring decisions.

Please see the E-Verify Participation Poster and Know Your Rights Poster in English and Spanish for more information. INDRLL1