Education Manager

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 the Top Botanical Gardens in the United States, is home to 100 acres of horticultural displays showcasing 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.

Job Summary

The Education Manager for School and Youth Programs is responsible for planning, coordinating, and delivering educational programming, including winter and summer day camps, school-year and summer field trips, homeschool programs, and Sofia's Play Garden. Working collaboratively with the Director of Education and other Education Department staff, this position develops engaging, mission-aligned programming, manages registrations and program logistics, and oversees seasonal staff and year-round Education & Play Facilitators. The role ensures effective scheduling, staffing, participant communication, and resource management while maintaining accurate program records, evaluating participant feedback, and monitoring budgets and revenue goals to support high-quality educational experiences for visitors of all ages.

This is a full-time position with regular work hours being Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM; including flexible hours to meet the organization's needs. Working evenings and holidays may be required.

Primary Job Duties

• Collaborate with the Director of Education and Education Department staff to develop and plan winter and summer camps, including themes, activities, materials, partnerships, and pricing structures.
• Manage camp registration, monitor enrollment and capacity, maintain camp rosters, coordinate lunch arrangements, and communicate program details with parents and guardians.
• Coordinate camp logistics and support the delivery of camp programming as needed throughout the camp season.
• Schedule, coordinate, and facilitate field trips and homeschool programs, including maintaining internal calendars and databases and coordinating transportation-related logistics.
• Partner with the Education Coordinator for Volunteers to develop and promote volunteer opportunities that support field trip and homeschool programming, including assisting with volunteer training materials.
• Train, supervise, and coach seasonal staff, including interns and play facilitators, to support camps, summer field trips, and Sofia's Play Garden programming.
• Coach and supervise year-round Education & Play Facilitators, coordinate staffing and coverage schedules for Sofia's Play Garden and field trip programming, and provide coverage when necessary.
• Delegate and coordinate tasks with Education & Play Facilitators, including activity planning, data entry, materials preparation, and other program support responsibilities.
• Collect and evaluate participant feedback to assess program effectiveness, identify opportunities for improvement, and inform future program development.
• Maintain accurate program records, registration information, participation data, and other documentation required for internal tracking and reporting.
• Assist with greeting and orienting groups and facilitating educational programming as needed.
• Cross-train with Education Coordinator positions to provide departmental coverage and support.
• Work with the Director of Education to monitor applicable program budgets, track expenses and revenue, and support the achievement of established financial goals.
• Assist with the effective use and management of program materials, supplies, staffing, and other resources to support quality programming and operational efficiency.

Education, Experience & Qualifications

• BA/BS degree in Education or science-related field.
• 1-2 years of supervisory experience.
• 1-2 years of experience in a public garden or other nonprofit education setting preferred.
• 1-2 years of experience with early childhood and/or elementary aged youth preferred.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a multi-faceted work environment.
• Excellent communication skills, including written and oral prsentation and tour settings.
• Enthusiasm for brining the community together.
• Attention to detail with a strong emphasis on excellent internal and external communication and customer service.
• Understanding of general environmental concepts.
• High ethical conduct to ensure credibility and effectiveness with others.

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 outdoors in Nebraska's climate, conducting tours, field trips, and other programming.

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.

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