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, 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.

Job Description

We are currently seeking an Infrastructure & Systems Administration Manager to join our team. In this role, you will lead a team of technology professionals who support the enterprise’s IT infrastructure, network and other shared Technology services. The position also requires close collaboration with other Technology teams, business stakeholders and vendors to drive stable, cost-efficient and scalable Technology solutions. Applicants should have proven experience managing complex projects with cross-functional teams. The ideal candidate also possesses strong expertise in network architecture, systems administration and cloud technologies.

A day on the job looks like this: 

Lead, mentor, and develop the Infrastructure & Systems Administration team, ensuring alignment with business and Technology objectives Develop and implement strategies to ensure that the systems within the team’s scope support current and future business requirements Drive team performance, manage resource allocation and develop talent through coaching and performance reviews Foster a culture of continuous improvement, collaboration and customer service within the team Oversee the design, deployment and maintenance of the organization’s physical and virtual infrastructure, including servers, storage and data center resources Ensure high availability, redundancy and disaster recovery for critical systems Manage cloud infrastructure, balancing on-premises and cloud-based solutions for optimal performance and cost-efficiency Manage all aspects of networking, including LAN/WAN, VPN, firewalls, routers, switches and wireless technologies Ensure the security, integrity and performance of the network through proactive monitoring and management Lead network design and architecture efforts to support business growth and scalability Lead the adoption of automation and scripting (e.g., PowerShell, Python, Ansible) to streamline infrastructure deployment, configuration and management processes Automate routine tasks such as system monitoring, network configuration, patch management and backup processes to reduce manual intervention and minimize errors Oversee the management and optimization of Microsoft 365 services, including Exchange, SharePoint, Teams, OneDrive and related tools Responsible for the organization’s Active Directory environment, including domain controllers, group policies, user access and permissions Collaborate with the Information Security team to ensure all systems are compliant with security best practices, policies and regulatory requirements Plan and manage projects from inception to completion, ensuring projects are delivered on time and within budget Coordinate with cross-functional teams and vendors to deliver successful implementations of new technology Manage relationships with vendors, including procurement, contracts and performance monitoring Evaluate and select new technologies and vendors to meet evolving business needs Establish and maintain high availability, fault tolerance and performance standards for systems Develop and track key performance metrics to ensure system reliability, uptime and cost-effectiveness Create and maintain detailed documentation for infrastructure architecture, configurations and processes 

Qualifications

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

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field; comparable experience is also welcome 10+ years of experience in Information Technology, including 7+ years of experience in IT infrastructure and networking, and at least 3 years in a leadership role Experience managing hybrid cloud and on-premises environments Knowledge of infrastructure security, disaster recovery and high-availability architecture Proven experience managing complex projects with cross-functional teams Excellent communication and leadership skills with the ability to collaborate across departments and influence at all levels of the organization Passion for building high-performing teams Strong problem solving, analytical and time management skills Ability to prioritize, task-switch and make sound judgments in a fast-paced environment Experience working with ticketing, monitoring and alerting tools in managing Information Technology operations 

Additional Information

And here’s our end of the bargain! 

Salary: $140,000-$165,000 with an annual bonus of up to 15%Paid leave for new parents to support work/life balance and family bondingExcellent medical/dental and vision coverage—EPO, PPO and HSA401(k) retirement plan with company contribution (because you will retire someday)Flexible benefits—choose what you like, ignore the restOn-site preschool for our employees’ childrenOn-site employee gym for all levels/fitness needsGenerous employee discountCasual 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. INDRLL11