Science & ResearchISCO 2131

Botanist

A botanist is a person who conserves a range of plants from around the world, in a botanical garden for the most part, and who is responsible for maintaining and developing that garden.

Check yourself in a minute: botanist

Rate 5 of the 25 essential skills of this occupation (European ESCO data). No account needed.

manage supplies

advise on acquisitions

represent the organisation

manage budgets

liaise with local authorities

About botanist

Botany is the science of plants. The botanist conducts scientific research and travels to study wild plants in the places they grow, and brings what is learned back into a living collection that has to survive in a climate it did not come from.

Running the garden is management work. The botanist manages a recreational facility, which a botanical garden also is, sets daily priorities, manages budgets and manages supplies, and follows company standards in how the institution is run.

The botanist liaises with local authorities, for example on nature conservation, and prepares economic forecasts for the garden, estimating its future income and costs. The botanist also takes corporate social responsibility into account: a botanical garden holds plants that may no longer exist in the wild, and decisions about collecting, exchanging and propagating them carry obligations beyond the institution. The role asks for plant science and administration together, and formal requirements are set by the garden or the university that runs it.

European Skills Framework

Skills and knowledge areas required for this occupation based on European classification.

Essential (25)

variety of botanicalsvariety of botanicalsPrinciples of botanicals with a primary focus in herbaceous and annual plants in raw form.botanybotanyThe taxonomy or classification of plant life, phylogeny and evolution, anatomy and morphology, and physiology.evolution of economic forecastsevolution of economic forecastsThe ecological and economical changes in society and the way these factors evolved during the past, present and future economic forecasts.corporate social responsibilitycorporate social responsibilityThe handling or managing of business processes in a responsible and ethical manner considering the economic responsibility towards shareholders as equally important as the responsibility towards envir...recreation activitiesrecreation activitiesThe field and characteristics of recreational activities for customers.biologybiologyTissues, cells, and functions of plant and animal organisms and their interdependencies and interactions with each other and the environment.characteristics of plantscharacteristics of plantsThe varieties, characteristics and structural and functional features of plants, depending on their habitat.ecologyecologyThe study of how organisms interact and their relation to the ambient environment.manage suppliesmanage suppliesMonitor and control the flow of supplies that includes the purchase, storage and movement of the required quality of raw materials, and also work-in-progress inventory. Manage supply chain activities ...advise on acquisitionsadvise on acquisitionsProvide advice based on existing and planned acquisitions and investigate acquisition options.represent the organisationrepresent the organisationAct as representative of the institution, company or organisation to the outside world.manage budgetsmanage budgetsPlan, monitor, report on the budget and prepare set production budgets.liaise with local authoritiesliaise with local authoritiesMaintain the liaison and exchange of information with regional or local authorities.manage staffmanage staffManage employees and subordinates, working in a team or individually, to maximise their performance and contribution. Schedule their work and activities, give instructions, motivate and direct the wor...schedule recreation facilitiesschedule recreation facilitiesSchedule the use of recreational facilities.monitor grounds maintenancemonitor grounds maintenanceSupervise ground operations, such as mulching, weeding, bush-hogging, sweeping all walk areas, removing snow, repairing fences, and picking up trash.establish daily prioritiesestablish daily prioritiesEstablish daily priorities for staff personnel; effectively deal with multi-task workload.set organisational policiesset organisational policiesParticipate in setting organisational policies that cover issues such as participant eligibility, program requirements, and program benefits for the service users.supervise daily information operationssupervise daily information operationsDirect daily operations of different units. Coordinate program/project activities to assure the respect of costs and time.manage logisticsmanage logisticsCreate logistic framework for transporting goods to customers and for receiving returns, execute and follow up the logistics processes and guidelines. Adapt the production processes to the contingenci...develop recreation programmesdevelop recreation programmesDevelop plans and policies which aim to provide the desired recreation activities to a target group or in a community.manage recreational facilitymanage recreational facilityManage the daily operations of a cultural facility. Organise all activities and coordinate the different departments functioning within a cultural facility. Develop a plan of action and arrange the ne...collect biological datacollect biological dataCollect biological specimens, record and summarise biological data for use in technical studies, developing environmental management plans and biological products.promote recreation activitiespromote recreation activitiesPromote the implementation of recreation programs in a community, as well as recreation services provided by an organisation or institution.follow company standardsfollow company standardsLead and manage according to the organisation's code of conduct.
Optional (6) — show
aquatic ecologyaquatic ecologyAquatic ecology is the study of aquatic organisms, how they interact, where they live, and what they do.forest ecologyforest ecologyThe ecosystems existing in a forest, starting from bacteria to trees and soil types.educate people about natureeducate people about natureSpeak to a variety of audiences about e.g. information, concepts, theories and/or activities related to nature and its conservation. Produce written information. This information may be presented in a...employ habitat survey techniquesemploy habitat survey techniquesApply sampling strategies and employ a range of habitat survey techniques, such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Global Positioning Systems (GPS), aerial photography, records and maps.conduct ecological surveysconduct ecological surveysConduct field surveys to collect information about the numbers and distribution of organisms.educate the public about wildlifeeducate the public about wildlifeSpeak with groups of adults and children to teach them how to enjoy the forest without harming it or themselves. Speak in schools or with specific youth groups if called upon. Develop and teach progra...

Related Occupations

Occupations that need many of the same essential skills, so the move between them is shortest.

Frequently asked questions

What does a botanist do?

Botanists are occupied with the maintenance of a range of plants from around the world, often in a botanic garden. They conduct scientific studies and travel in order to study plants growing in the wild. Botanists are responsible for the maintenance and development of the botanic garden.

What skills does a botanist need?

A botanist needs 25 essential skills, including variety of botanicals, botany, evolution of economic forecasts, corporate social responsibility, recreation activities.

Will AI replace botanist jobs?

The AI disruption score for botanist is 21/100 (low risk). Skills most exposed to automation: schedule recreation facilities, manage budgets, manage supplies. Most resilient: represent the organisation, educate the public about wildlife, variety of botanicals.

Quick Facts

ISCO GroupScience and engineering professionals
Essential Skills25

Is botanist right for you?

Take the free 10-minute Career Portrait to see which career direction fits your motivations and strengths.

Take the free test