Procurement Specialist - Corporate ; Hybrid

Procurement Specialist - Corporate Travel (Hybrid)

• Full-time

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 products that spark curiosity and help children learn — and getting our people where they need to be is part of making that happen. As a Procurement Specialist focused on corporate travel, you'll own the end-to-end travel experience for our organization: keeping costs in check, travelers supported, and our program running smoothly. You'll manage a multi-million-dollar travel spend, deepen vendor partnerships, and make sure every trip — from booking to expense reconciliation — reflects the care and efficiency Lakeshore is known for.

A day on the job looks like this:

• Manage day-to-day travel operations including bookings, changes, cancellations, and unused ticket tracking, ensuring travelers get the most cost-effective, policy-compliant options.
• Administer and troubleshoot our Concur platform — handling new-user setup, system issues, and training new team members so everyone can book with confidence.
• Own key vendor relationships (Travel store, National/Enterprise, Southwest for Business, Uber) and support contract renewals, negotiations, and compliance reviews.
• Track and reconcile travel spend, process monthly Visa card expenses and direct-bill accounts, and produce monthly and quarterly reports that give leadership a clear picture of program health.
• Monitor airline credits, Visa claims, and toll charges to make sure nothing falls through the cracks and savings opportunities are captured proactively.
• Update and communicate travel policy changes across the organization, serving as the go-to resource for employees who have questions about how to travel compliantly.
• Support vendor identification and logistics for large-scale corporate events, partnering with internal stakeholders to keep planning on track.

What you bring:

Required:

• 2–3+ years of experience in corporate travel management, travel operations, or a related procurement or operations role.
• Hands-on experience with a corporate travel or expense platform — Concur experience strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities independently, from routine bookings to vendor escalations, without close supervision.
• Strong attention to detail in financial reconciliation, reporting, and contract or credit tracking.
• Clear, professional communicator who can explain travel policies and processes to employees at all levels.
• Able to work onsite at our Carson, CA headquarters on a hybrid schedule.

Preferred:

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain, Hospitality, or a related field.
• Experience with SAP or similar ERP systems.
• Background in travel agency operations or GDS platforms, with working knowledge of airline rules, fare classes, and ticketing.
• Exposure to category management or vendor RFP processes.

What sets you apart:

• You notice the airline credit about to expire before anyone asks — proactive by default, not by…