Job Opportunity: Director of Conservation at Lauritzen Gardens

[Shannon Fowler]

Director of Conservation at Lauritzen Gardens

Position type: Full time, exempt

Reports to: CEO

Position Purpose 

Every position at Lauritzen Gardens is essential to the organization’s success and contributes to accomplishing the strategic goals and achieving its vision for the future. This role encompasses every employee’s goal of engaging with colleagues, partners, and stakeholders to support the organization’s mission. Engagement includes:
– Participation on teams and committees.
– Exerting extra effort to help the organization succeed.
– Investing time in the guest experience.

Success in this position involves taking pride in working for this organization, committing to effective communication, being solution-focused, and embracing a culture of positive change. Lauritzen is continuously working to build a culture where employees each work with an enthusiastic desire to contribute their skills, wisdom, and ideas towards their team’s performance and to experience a sense of satisfaction in their essential role.

The Conservation Director leads the conservation initiatives and strategy for Lauritzen Gardens. They oversee all aspects of outreach, stewardship, and external relations while implementing plans and policies that are approved by the CEO and Board of Directors. We aspire to be the conservation Garden of the Great Plains, working to conserve plants at risk of extinction in Nebraska, the Great Plains region, and beyond.

Principal Responsibilities/Duties/Functions/Tasks
Conservation Research
1. Conduct conservation assessments of imperiled plants in their native habitat and monitor the ecological condition of existing populations.
2. Conduct ecological assessments of plant communities of conservation concern in the region.
3. Communicate research results through peer-reviewed scientific publications and presentations to conservation practitioners.
4. Implement restoration projects to re-establish imperiled plants in appropriate native habitats.

Conservation Horticulture
1. Establish seed banks or living collections for plants at risk of extinction in the region.
2. Conduct propagation studies of imperiled plants.
3. Manage Lauritzen Gardens conservation greenhouse and laboratory.

Environmental Stewardship
1. Conduct/coordinate ongoing surveys of the biodiversity of the 100-acre Lauritzen Gardens property.
2. Provide training in botany, ecology, and conservation practices to staff and volunteers.

Education and Public Engagement
1. Work with the Education Department to integrate conservation messaging into educational programming and garden interpretive information.
2. Facilitate visitor engagement with the conservation garden and greenhouse.
3. Foster and strengthen partnerships with conservation agencies, local universities, and organizations working in our region, a key aspect of our work that enhances our impact.
4. Be an active institutional participant in the Center for Plant Conservation and Botanic Gardens Conservation International and other relevant networks.

Resource Development
1. Work with Federal and State Funding agencies like NSF, ILMS, NFS, and Nebraska Game and Parks Commission to secure funding for program and future staffing needs.

Position Type, Expected Hours of Work, Travel
This is a full-time position, and the regular hours of work and days are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5 p.m.; however, flexible work hours are required to meet the needs of the Organization.

Working in the evenings and on holidays may be required.

Flextime is a work schedule arrangement that may or may not be appropriate for this position.

Work Environment
This job operates in a professional office environment. It routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, and filing cabinets. The position will also work outside conducting research in Nebraska climate conditions.

Required Education and Experience
Masters degree and 5-7 years of successful conservation research; records of scientific publications in relevant areas; record of successful grants or fundraising
– Knowledge of current trends and practices in relevant disciplines and regions
– Experience in partnership development with non-profit partners, community groups and government agencies
– Demonstrated expereince influencing, developing and implementing conservation policies and plans
– Advanced computer skills in MS Office, and plant databases.

Additional Eligibility Qualifications
– Work independently at times and collaboratively in a multi-faceted and demanding work environment
– Excellent communication skills with the ability to help staff and board members on how to best judge impact and speak on the conservation initiative both local and national
– Enthusiasm for brining the community together, concern for our natural resources
– Technical proficiency to meet the demands of the program
– Self-motivated individual that is comfortable speaking in front of diverse groups
– High ethical conduct to ensure credibility and effectiveness with others.

At Lauritzen Gardens, we strive to create a workplace that reflects the communities we serve and work with, where we all feel empowered to bring our full, authentic selves to work. We know creating a diverse and inclusive culture that champions equity and belonging is not only the right thing to do for our employees but is also critical to our continued success.

We welcome the unique background, culture, experiences, knowledge, innovation, self-expression and perspectives you can bring to our global community. Our recruitment team is looking forward to meeting you.

Application Instructions

Please submit your cover letter and resume to Ennis Anderson at e.anderson@omahabotanicalgardens.org 

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