Lurie Garden – GGN Public Horticulture Apprenticeship

Job Description

About the Opportunity

The 2026 Lurie Garden – GGN Public Horticulture Apprentice will report to the Director of Horticulture and be a significant contributor to the Garden’s day-to-day horticultural operations. The Apprentice will also hone their public horticulture skills by participating in all aspects of operations with the Garden and across Millennium Park. The Apprentice will interact with Garden volunteers, contractors, visitors, and other stakeholders in accomplishing their horticulture duties. Through visits to local public gardens and nurseries, the Apprentice will gain insight into careers in the horticulture industry. The Apprentice is expected to begin work in April or May, continuing through August or September. Exact dates are negotiable.

Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion
Millennium Park Foundation and GGN wish to elevate diversity, equity, and inclusiveness in the public horticulture sector through the Lurie Garden – GGN Public Horticulture Apprentice program. As such, individuals who reflect such breadth and range of background, experience, and uniqueness are strongly encouraged to apply.

Millennium Park Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, neurodiversity status, status as a veteran, or basis of disability, or any other federal, state, or local protected class.

About Us

About Lurie Garden and Millennium Park Foundation

Lurie Garden, which opened in 2004, is located in the southeast corner of Millennium Park in Chicago, Illinois. The Garden was designed by Seattle-based landscape architecture firm GGN, and co-founders Shannon Nichol and Jennifer Guthrie continue to dedicate themselves to the Garden’s stewardship by supporting this apprenticeship. Alongside GGN, garden designers Piet Oudolf and Jacqueline van der Kloet created the Garden’s renowned perennial and bulb plantings, respectively.

Set within the contemporary design of Millennium Park and against the urban backdrop of downtown Chicago, Lurie Garden has earned a reputation as a premier example of naturalistic garden design. The perennial plantings, inspired by the prairies and woodlands historically characteristic of northeastern Illinois, are richly diverse and require thoughtful, adaptive care as this living work of art continues to evolve. Through ongoing collaboration with the designers, the Garden is curated in a manner which honors both the original vision for the space and its ongoing development.

The design and construction of the Garden was underwritten by the Millennium Park Foundation (MPF), a 501(c)3 nonprofit founded in 1998 as an organization dedicated to the stewardship of Millennium Park. MPF has the principal horticultural responsibility for the Garden.

Duties & Responsibilities

General Duties (including but not limited to):

• Plant, weed, water, prune, and perform other general horticulture tasks to the standards of Lurie Garden, under the supervision of, independent of direct supervision, and in support of the Director of Horticulture and Horticulturist.
• Assist in the care and maintenance of all hardscape elements (i.e., pathways, water feature, lighting, ornamental stonework, fencing) and irrigation systems within Lurie Garden.
• Assist in the collection and analysis of data including but not limited to mapping and phenology within Lurie Garden.
• Contribute to and collaborate with all staff to ensure quality of work for Lurie Garden’s community engagement and volunteer activities, which may include training and supervision of volunteers.
• Collaborate with the staff of Millennium Park Foundation, Lurie Garden, and GGN to document and share a first-person perspective of the experience of the apprenticeship.

Education and Experience

Skill, Knowledge, and Ability Requirements:

• Strong interest in public horticulture, landscape/garden design, perennial plant production, and ecologically informed horticulture.
• Combination of education and experience in horticulture, landscape/garden design, perennial plant production, ecologically informed horticulture, and/or related fields.
• Dependability, punctuality, willingness to learn, and attention to detail.
• Ability to work collaboratively, take & give direction, work independently, and accomplish tasks effectively and efficiently in public garden, outdoor, and office settings.
• Ability and willingness to engage with the public through speaking and writing.
• Ability to lift up to 25 pounds without assistance.
• Ability to kneel, sit, and bend for extended periods of time.
• Ability to work in a shared office environment.
• Ability to work outdoors in varied weather conditions.
• Computer skills including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.

Additional Information

Position Details

• Full-time, seasonal, 40 hours per week, occasional evening and/or weekend hours.
• Position begins in April/May and ends in August/September 2026 (15-20 weeks).
• Benefits ineligible.
• Hourly pay rate $18/hour.
• Monthly housing stipend of $1,300.
• Direct reports: None.
• Reports to: Director of Horticulture

Application Instructions

To Apply:

Please submit a resume and letter of introduction that, together, address your qualifications with respect to the general duties of this position. Your letter of introduction should also demonstrate your passion for public horticulture and gardens.

Submit all materials and/or questions to jobs@mpfdn.org. Evaluation of materials will begin immediately and continue on an ongoing basis.

Application deadline: January 26, 2026

No phone calls please.

Individuals reflecting underrepresented and underserved communities in the public horticulture industries are strongly encouraged to apply.

This position is open to domestic candidates only; international candidates will not be considered.

Disclaimer
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature, scope, and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this job classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and qualifications required of individuals so classified.