Public Horticulturist

Job Description

The Public Horticulturist serves as the primary public-facing interpreter of Rotary Botanical Gardens’ living plant collection. This role translates horticultural knowledge into accessible, engaging experiences for visitors, members, donors, and community partners, helping people understand the garden as a living, evolving ecosystem.

Balancing hands-on garden stewardship with interpretation and engagement, the Public Horticulturist plays a central role in shaping how the public experiences, learns from, and connects to the Gardens’ internationally themed, perennial-focused landscape.

About Us

Rotary Botanical Gardens is a 21-acre, internationally themed public garden in Janesville, Wisconsin, operating as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit since 1989. The Gardens steward a living collection of more than 4,000 plant species across 26 distinct garden areas, with a strong focus on perennial systems, sustainability, education, and community engagement. The organization welcomes approximately 150,000 visitors annually and is guided by a mission of Enriching Lives Through Natural Beauty, Education, and the Arts.

As a public garden with a deepening museum-aligned approach, Rotary Botanical Gardens is committed to long-term collections stewardship, thoughtful interpretation, and meaningful visitor experiences that connect people to plants, ecology, and place.

Duties & Responsibilities

Garden Stewardship
– Serve as primary steward for assigned garden zones within a shared stewardship model, under Curator oversight.
– Maintain assigned areas to established horticultural and ecological standards.
– Observe and communicate seasonal changes, plant performance, and visitor interactions to inform interpretation and planning.

Public Interpretation & Engagement
– Lead public-facing programs including What’s in Bloom walks, tours, talks, and donor experiences.
– Engage visitors in approachable, curiosity-driven conversations about plants, ecology, and seasonal change.
– Represent the Gardens confidently at community events, speaking engagements, and special programs.
– Help visitors understand ecological systems, native and regionally appropriate plant species, biodiversity, and sustainability in accessible ways.

Institutional Collaboration
– Collaborate with Education, Development, Community Engagement, and Visitor Experience to ensure consistent messaging and high-quality visitor learning.
– Participate in seasonal interpretation planning and cross-department alignment conversations.
– Support donor cultivation and stewardship activities through tours and special engagements.

Culture, Presence & Morale
– Bring an articulate, welcoming, and enthusiastic presence to the Gardens.
– Build positive rapport with visitors, volunteers, and staff.
– Contribute to team morale and a culture of curiosity, learning, and pride of place.

Education and Experience

– Background in horticulture, environmental education, botany, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
– Strong communication and public-speaking skills.
– Comfort engaging diverse audiences in both structured and informal settings.
– Experience in public gardens, museums, nature centers, or mission-driven organizations preferred.

Additional Information

Reports to: Collections Curator / Horticulture Manager
Works closely with: Executive Director, Associate Director, Education, Development, Community Engagement, and Visitor Experience
Pay Range: $20–25 per hour

Physical & Work Environment Requirements
– Ability to work outdoors in a range of weather conditions.
– Ability to stand, walk, and perform physical garden work for extended periods.
– Ability to lift up to 50 lbs as needed.
– Combination of hands-on garden work and public-facing engagement.

Application Instructions

Please submit a resume and cover letter to: development@rotarygardens.org