Community Engagement Manager

Join an Award-Winning Garden Destination

About Our Organization

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.

Why You’ll Love Working Here

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

Job Summary

The Community Engagement Manager is a key role that is responsible for building, nurturing, and mobilizing relationships with community members, partner organizations, volunteers, and stakeholders. This role serves as the connection between the garden and the communities that we serve.

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 Gardens continuously works to build a culture where employees enthusiastically contribute their skills, wisdom, and ideas towards their team's performance and experience a sense of satisfaction in their essential role.

This is a full-time position. Regular work hours are Wednesday through Sunday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM; however, flexible hours are required to meet the organization's needs. Working evenings and holidays may be required. Flextime is a work schedule arrangement that may or may not be appropriate for this position. Occasional local travel may be necessary.

Primary Job Duties

• Work alongside the Director of Marketing and the Chief Executive Officer, ensuring all community engagement activities align with the garden's mission, values, and strategic goals.
• Develop and execute a comprehensive community engagement strategy to strengthen and enhance Lauritzen Gardens' community engagement through leadership, partnership, projects, communications, and events.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for community inquiries and partnerships, including outreach opportunities.
• Build and sustain positive relationships with community members, organizations, schools, and civic leaders. Collaborate with local advocates and internal teams to ensure community perspectives inform programs, services,and engagement initiatives.
• Identify gaps in services and recommend new initiatives to address community needs.
• Gather and analyze community feedback to inform strategy.
• Develop inclusive programs and partnerships that connect communities to plants and place through creative engagement, learning, and accessible pathways to visitation.
• Facilitate and represent the organization in various public events/exhibits hosted by the garden.
• Work with the marking team to amplify community stores and engagement efforts across all media.
• Track and report engagement metrics and partnership outcomes.
• Promote and strengthen a culture where staff are encouraged and supported to make meaningful contributions to their communities through volunteerism, community programming, and other forms of local engagement.

Education, Experience, & Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Social Work, Communications, Public Administration, Nonprofit Management, or related degree.
• Minimum 3 years of experience in community engagement and outreach.
• Knowledge of local community resources and networks.
• Demonstrated ability to build trust quickly in relationships across diverse communities.
• Knowledge of Blackbaud Altru is preferred.
• Must be able to work in a creative and collaborative environment and multitask, possess strong organizational skills with the ability to prioritize and meet deadlines to balance short-term needs with long-term strategic initatives.
• Comfortable with public speaking and facilitation.
• Relationship-driven with a genuine passion for the community.
• Strong guest relations expertise.
• Excellent verbal communication and interpersonal skills.
• Strong problem-solving and critical thinking skills.
• Strong leadership qualities.

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 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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