Horticulture Specialist

About Our Organization

Lauritzen Gardens, acclaimed as the Best Attraction in the 2025 Omaha Metropolitan Area Tourism Awards and voted #3 by USA Today among Top Botanical Gardens in the United States, is home to 100 acres of horticultural displays that showcase the diverse Nebraska landscape. Lauritzen Gardens is a non-profit organization that conducts conservation efforts across the Great Plains, promotes thoughtful, ecologically minded horticultural practices, creates educational and inspirational experiences, and offers a year-round schedule of tours, programs, and workshops that explore, explain, and celebrate the world of plants.

Lauritzen Gardens is dedicated to upholding its exceptional standards and providing joyful experiences for its visitors.

The Horticulture Specialist - Natural Native Plant Areas is responsible for the care, management, and stewardship of the natural native plant areas throughout the garden property, maintaining these spaces to a high standard of ecological horticulture excellence under the direction of a Horticulture Manager.

This position is responsible for the management and maintenance of tallgrass areas surounding parking lots and property edges, the 9-acre Woodland Forest and trail system, and interior tallgrass areas, including areas over the bale fill. The position works collaboratively with Horticulture Managers, the Grounds Superintendent, and other Horticulture & Grounds team members because responsibilities cross multiple areas of the garden.

The Horticulture Specialist will develop and maintain strong knowledge of native plant communities, ecological land management, and invasive plant identification and control. This position will monitor, document, and track invasive plant species and implement appropriate management practices to reduce invasive species while supporting the establishment and success of native plant communities.

The position will also educate and assist Horticulture and Grounds team members in currest best practices for native plant management, invasive species control, ecological stewardship, and natural-area maintenance. Once all required training, certifications, and qualifications are met, this position will serve as the lead for the prescribed burn team and assist with planning, preparation, implementation, and follow-up activities associated with prescribed burns.

The Horticulture Specialist contributes to the long-term health, biodiversity, appearance, and ecological function of the garden's natural areas while supporting the organization's commitment to conservation and ecolofically responsible horticultural practices.

• Manage and maintain natural, native, and tallgrass areas throughout the garden property using sound ecological horticulture and land-management practices.
• Maintain tallgrass areas surrounding parking lots, property edges, the Woodland Forest and trail system, and interior tallgrass areas, including areas surrounding the bale fill.
• Perform seasonal and routine land-management activities, including mowing, cutting, trimming, invasive plant removal, native plant establishment, brush management, and other vegetation management practices as appropriate for each area.
• Monitor natural areas regularly to assess plant health, vegetation conditions, invasive species presence, erosion, woody encroachment, and other land-management concerns.
• Identify native and invasive plant species and maintain accurate records of invasive species locations, populations, treatment methods, and management progress.
• Develop and implement appropriate invasive species control practices under the direction of the Horticulture Manager, using current and environmentally responsible methods.
• Support the establishment, health, and expansion of native plant communities by implementing management practices that encourage desirable native species to thrive.
• Assist with the planning and implementation of restoration and improvement projects within natural and native plant areas.
• Monitor and maintain trails, access areas, and other infrastructure within assigned natural areas, reporting safety hazards, maintenance needs, erosion, or other concerns to the appropriate supervisor.
• Operate and maintain horticultural equipment, vehicles, tools, and machinery safely and efficiently. Perform routin inspections, cleaning, and basic mainteance and report repare needs as appropriate.
• Apply herbicides and other approved treatments in accordance with organizational…