Lead Horticulturist

Lake View Cemetery, one of Cleveland’s most historic and scenic landscapes, is seeking a Lead Horticulturist to help steward and enhance our living collections. This role blends hands‑on horticultural work, landscape design, team leadership, and public engagement in a setting where craftsmanship, care, and mission matter.

The Lead Horticulturist maintains and enhances Lake View Cemetery’s collection of trees, shrubs, and perennials while supporting the day‑to‑day operations of the Horticulture Department. Working closely with the Annual Horticulture Specialist and Director of Arboretum, this position plays a key role in seasonal planning, landscape design, and the ongoing beauty of the cemetery grounds.

This role also collaborates with clients and internal teams to design and install Premium Care lot plantings and other landscape enhancements throughout the cemetery.

• Supervise and support seasonal and full‑time horticulture staff; coordinate daily work activities.
• Design, install, and maintain landscape plantings, including Premium Care lot plantings and cemetery‑wide enhancements.
• Meet with clients to develop planting designs that reflect their preferences, site conditions, and best horticultural practices.
• Collaborate with sales staff on pricing and project timelines for Premium Care plantings.
• Assist with seasonal displays, including spring bulbs, summer annuals, and winter wreaths.
• Implement and maintain landscape plans involving trees, shrubs, perennials, bulbs, and annuals.
• Perform planting, pruning, transplanting, soil preparation, mulching, weed control, and related horticultural tasks.
• Utilize Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices and apply fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides as required.
• Coordinate with nurseries and contractors regarding plant availability and pricing.
• Support record keeping and data collection related to plantings and landscape assets.
• Participate in educational programming and tours in collaboration with Lake View Cemetery’s Foundation.

• Bachelor’s degree in Horticulture or a related field, or an associate degree in horticulture.
• 3–5 years of experience in horticulture maintenance and landscape design.
• Strong plant identification knowledge (trees, shrubs, perennials, and annuals).
• Experience designing and installing landscape beds and communicating design concepts to clients.
• Ohio Commercial Pesticide Applicator License and/or ISA Certified Arborist credential preferred.
• Strong organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills.

• Primarily outdoor work in varying weather conditions year‑round.
• Physical activity includes walking, standing, bending, lifting, and carrying materials up to 50 pounds.
• Exposure to plants, insects, and natural outdoor conditions.
• Occasional evening and weekend work may be required based on seasonal needs.

Lake View Cemetery is more than a workplace. It is a living landscape, an accredited arboretum, and a place of meaning for the community. This position offers the opportunity to combine horticultural skills, creativity, and service in a mission‑driven environment.