Lead Horticulturist

Join an Award-Winning Garden Destination

Lauritzen Gardens—named Best Attraction in the 2025 Omaha Metropolitan Area Tourism Awards and ranked #3 by USA Today for Top Botanical Gardens in the United States—is a 100-acre urban oasis showcasing the beauty and diversity of the Nebraska landscape.

As a nonprofit organization, we are committed to conservation across the Great Plains, environmentally responsible horticulture, and creating meaningful, inspiring experiences for our community. Our team takes pride in maintaining a world-class destination where people can connect with nature year-round.

At Lauritzen Gardens, your work directly supports a beautiful, mission-driven environment—and we make sure our team is supported too.

Job Summary

The Lead Horticulturist is responsible for horticulture maintenance of several themed garden spaces and takes a lead role in seasonal display development. This position typically outlines the responsibility of leading and overseeing a team of horticulturists, ensuring proper care and maintenance of garden spaces. This role involves planning, implementing, and supervising various horticulture tasks, managing staff, and potentially collaborating with other professionals. Overall, the Lead Horticulturist plays a crucial role in ensuring the garden's health, beauty, and sustainability, while also leading and developing a team of horticulturists.

Primary Job Duties

• Develop and execute annual and seasonal maintenance plans for assigned gardens in collaboration with the Horticulture Manager, including scheduling, planting, maintenance, renovations, and seasonal transitions.
• Lead a team of horticulturists responsible for the care and maintenance of assigned garden spaces; establish priorities, assign work, monitor progress, and ensure work is completed to established horticultural standards.
• Provide day-to-day coaching and direction to horticulture staff; communicate expectations, provide feedback, and support employee development.
• Oversee the health, appearance, and sustainability of assigned garden spaces, ensuring appropriate practices for planting, weeding, watering, mulching, pruning, fertilizing, pest management, and other horticultural activities.
• Collaborate with the Horticulture Manager on garden renovation and redesign projects, including planning, implementation, plant selection, installation, and ongoing maintenance.
• Lead the development of installation of seasonal-themed exhibits and displays with assigned garden spaces.
• Ensure a safe work environment by following organizational safety procedures, identifying hazards, properly using equipment, and ensuring employees follow required safety practices.
• Interact professionally with garden guests, providing information about plantings, garden spaces, maintenance practices, and seasonal displays when appropriate.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Education, Experience, & Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in horticulture or related field or equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
• Minimum of 5 years of demonstrated knowledge of basic plant maintenance.
• Minimum of 5 years of demonstrated knowledge of safe operation of tools and equipment.
• Willingness to perform hands-on horticulture tasks in all weather conditions.
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds.
• Ability to work occasional evenings and rotating weekends with other horticulture team members.
• Customer service experience and the ability to work with diverse populations and volunteers.
• Ability to work under supervision, independently, and as part of a team.
• Valid driver's license required.

Work Environment

• Primarily on-site working indoors and outdoors across multiple facilities, gardens, and grounds.
• Exposure to a variety of weather conditions, including heat, cold, rain, and wind.
• May work around mechanical equipment, tools, vehicles, and power equipment.
• Frequent interaction with staff, volunteers, contractors, and occasionally the public.
• May be required to respond to maintenance issues, emergencies, or operational needs during evenings, weekends, and holidays.
• Work will involve standing, walking, bending, climbing stairs or ladders, and lifting or carrying equipment or materials up to 50 pounds.
• Tasks can include routine maintenance, troubleshooting, equipment, repairs, and setup or teardown for events and programs.

What We Offer

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Long-term & short-term disability insurance.
• Life insurance.
• 401 (k) with company match.
• Paid sick time.
• 8 Paid Holidays + 2 Paid Floating Holidays.
• Garden Membership.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
• Bereavement Leave.
• Opportunities for professional development.