Retail Communications Manager (On-site)

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, 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

We are seeking a Retail Communications Manager to support the Lakeshore Retail Division. In this role, you will develop clear, consistent and engaging communications that keep field teams and internal partners informed, aligned and connected. This position is designed for a creative, detail-oriented communications professional with a strong understanding of retail operations and field execution. You are a proactive communicator and strategic problem solver who can translate business updates, operational priorities and leadership messages into effective content that drives clarity, consistency and engagement across the Retail team. You will partner closely with senior leadership, store managers, territory managers and cross-functional teams to deliver timely communications through newsletters, email updates, bulletins, templated messaging, social media and digital platforms. You will lead communication planning and execution to ensure messages are accurate, accessible and aligned with business priorities. Strong writing, proofreading, organization and workflow management skills are essential, along with the ability to manage multiple priorities and maintain a consistent voice across the  communication, and interpersonal skills to support day-to-day operations, resolve communication needs quickly and reinforce a consistent voice across the Retail division.

A day on the job looks like this:

• Managing the retail communications strategy to support business initiatives, daily operations, field alignment and engagement
• Partnering with cross-functional teams to plan upcoming store-facing initiatives, policy updates, training rollouts, store events and operational changes to ensure clear communication and smooth execution
• Maintaining communication routines including the retail communication calendar, master communication calendar production schedules and communication workflow to ensure messages are prioritized, accurate and timely
• Ensuring messaging is consistent across channels and tailored appropriately for different audiences
• Translating business priorities and leadership updates into clear, effective communication materials
• Writing, editing, proofreading and distributing content including newsletters, bulletins, emails, templates, talking points and scripts
• Maintaining and updating SOPs, policies and store resources to ensure teams can easily access current information
• Identifying communication needs, risks and opportunities that support retail operations
• Gathering feedback from field teams, identifying communication gaps and incorporating field insights into messaging
• Tracking communication deliverables, milestones and timelines to ensure projects move forward efficiently
• Supporting customer feedback tracking and coordinating responses to service issues and customer inquiries
• Collaborating with leadership to shape communication strategies and support key business initiatives
• Facilitating communication between field teams, leadership and cross-functional partners to share updates and reinforce alignment
• Supporting additional projects as assigned by the Senior Director of Retail Operations and Experience

Qualifications

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

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Marketing, Journalism, English, Business Administration, Retail Management or a related field, or equivalent experience
• 4+ years of experience in communications, retail communications, marketing communications or a related field
• 2+ years of experience developing business communication materials such as newsletters, emails, templates or bulletins
• 3+ years of experience managing communication projects and deliverables, timelines or cross-functional workflows
• Strong writing, presentation and interpersonal communication skil