Vendor Manager (Hybrid)

Lakeshore Learning Materials; Carson (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus eligible

Paid parental leave

Medical/dental/vision insurance

401(k) retirement plan

Flexible benefits

On-site preschool for employees’ kids

On-site gym

Employee discount

Casual dress

Job summary

Lakeshore Learning Materials is seeking a Vendor Manager on our Global Sourcing team in Carson, CA. You will own complex cross‑functional sourcing projects, coordinate with Merchandising, Supply Chain, Quality and international partners to keep our vendor network and product pipeline on track.

You thrive solving layered supply chain problems, building partnerships that endure, and translating intricate information into clear, actionable direction for diverse audiences.

Qualifications

• 6+ years of experience in sourcing, procurement or supply chain, with demonstrated ownership of supplier relationships and negotiations in domestic and/or international environments
• Proven ability to lead cross‑functional projects independently—managing scope, timelines, stakeholder coordination and issue resolution without close supervision
• Strong analytical skills with hands‑on experience evaluating supplier costs, pricing strategies, margins and operational data to inform business decisions
• Working knowledge of supply chain operations, including inventory management, lead times, product life cycle changes, compliance requirements and import/export sourcing practices
• Proficiency with ERP systems and Microsoft Excel; comfortable working across business reporting tools to build and present data‑driven insights

Responsibilities

• Leading complex, cross-functional sourcing projects end-to-end—from planning and stakeholder alignment through execution and follow-up—ensuring deliverables land on time and support broader business priorities
• Serving as the primary point of contact for assigned domestic and import vendors, managing day-to-day communication, performance follow-up and escalation resolution across Import Merchandising, Domestic Merchandising and Domestic OEM categories
• Driving resolution of supplier issues—including quality concerns, lead‑time challenges, backorders, packaging changes, compliance requirements and cost negotiations—bringing clear recommendations and follow‑through to every escalation
• Evaluating retail and commercial business needs to support annual pricing strategies, co‑op negotiations and vendor cost reviews, balancing competing priorities to protect both the customer experience and business continuity
• Contributing to high‑impact sourcing initiatives such as ERP implementation, distribution center projects, vendor manual updates and process improvements—applying your sourcing expertise to shape better tools and workflows
• Partnering with global and domestic suppliers as well as internal teams across six or more functions, translating complex information into clear, actionable direction for diverse audiences

Skills

Sourcing

Procurement

Supply Chain

Cross-functional leadership

ERP systems

Excel

Data analysis

Vendor management

Negotiations

Project management

Tools

SAP

Power BI

Tableau

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.

Job Description

At Lakeshore, the products we bring to classrooms and homes start with the supplier relationships and sourcing decisions behind them. As a Vendor Manager on our Global Sourcing team, you’ll take ownership of complex, cross‑functional sourcing projects—coordinating across Merchandising, Supply Chain, Quality and international partners to keep our vendor network running smoothly and our product pipeline on track. If you’re someone who thrives on solving layered supply chain problems independently and building partnerships that hold up under pressure, this role is built for you.

A day on the job looks like this:

• Leading complex, cross-functional sourcing projects end-to-end—from planning and stakeholder alignment through execution and follow-up—ensuring deliverables land on time and support broader business priorities
• Serving as the primary point of contact for assigned domestic and import vendors, managing day-to-day communication, performance follow-up and escalation resolution across Import Merchandising, Domestic Merchandising and Domestic OEM categories
• Driving resolution of supplier issues—including quality concerns, lead‑time challenges, backorders, packaging changes, compliance requirements and cost negotiations—bringing clear recommendations and follow‑through to every escalation
• Evaluating retail and commercial business needs to support annual pricing strategies, co‑op negotiations and vendor cost reviews, balancing competing priorities to protect both the customer experience and business continuity
• Contributing to high‑impact sourcing initiatives such as ERP implementation, distribution center projects, vendor manual updates and process improvements—applying your sourcing expertise to shape better tools and workflows
• Partnering with global and domestic suppliers as well as internal teams across six or more functions, translating complex information into clear, actionable direction for diverse audiences

Qualifications

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

Required

• 6+ years of experience in sourcing, procurement or supply chain, with demonstrated ownership of supplier relationships and negotiations in domestic and/or international environments
• Proven ability to lead cross‑functional projects independently—managing scope, timelines, stakeholder coordination and issue resolution without close supervision
• Strong analytical skills with hands‑on experience evaluating supplier costs, pricing strategies, margins and operational data to inform business decisions
• Working knowledge of supply chain operations, including inventory management, lead times, product life cycle changes, compliance requirements and import/export sourcing practices
• Proficiency with ERP systems and Microsoft Excel; comfortable working across business reporting tools to build and present data‑driven insights

Preferred

• Experience with SAP, Power BI or Tableau in a sourcing or supply chain context
• Familiarity with RFQ/RFP administration, supplier onboarding or contract management processes
• Exposure to working with China‑based or other Asia‑Pacific suppliers and multicultural business partners
• Background in consumer products, educational materials or retail sourcing environments

What Sets You Apart

• You don’t wait to be asked—you spot a process gap or a supplier risk early and move to address it before it becomes someone else’s fire drill
• You can hold a productive conversation with a factory in Asia and a merchant in Carson in the same afternoon, adjusting your approach for each audience without losing the thread
• When a problem has no clean answer, you map it from multiple angles, make a call and communicate it clearly—you’re not paralyzed by ambiguity
• You treat cross‑functional partners as collaborators, not obstacles, and you know how to build enough trust to move work forward even when you have no formal authority over the outcome

Additional Information

And here’s our end of the bargain!

• 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.

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.