Caretaker Manager

Virginia Information Technologies Agency•Amelia, VA

13d•$65,000 - $67,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Caretaker Manager is a hands-on, on-site position at the Virginia Veterans Cemetery in Amelia. Reporting directly to the Virginia Veterans Cemeteries Superintendent in Amelia, the manager leads and supervises Cemetery Caretakers (Senior/Team Leads) and a Maintenance Technician, maintains operational ground equipment, and oversees cemetery operations. The position follows cemetery standard operating procedures and operational policies and is part of the Virginia Veterans Cemeteries Management Team, supporting safe grounds operations and burial processes in coordination with the Cemeteries Director, Cemetery Superintendent, and Cemetery Administration Manager. The manager verifies grave, cremation, and memorial sites before opening; verifies temporary memorial marker placement and documents completion; and trains staff in using section maps and carrying out site and memorial procedures. The role also involves maintaining cemetery equipment and grounds, supervising daily work, training and documenting staff qualifications, and personally operating heavy equipment to dig grave sites at least one busy burial day per week. Additional duties may be assigned, including emergency support for the agency or state government.

Requirements

Basic knowledge of daily cemetery grounds operations, including burials and grounds maintenance.
Experience and ability supervising two to six grounds employees at a medium-size cemetery with 400 to 700 annual burials.
Knowledge of daily cemetery operations, including grave and cremation site location and grounds, tree, and bush-bed maintenance.
Working knowledge of cemetery irrigation and sprinkler systems, including basic computer programming, sprinkler head and line repair or replacement, seasonal start-up, and winterization.
Understanding of concrete slab work for benches, including mixing, pouring, and finishing concrete.
Knowledge of gasoline and diesel equipment preventive maintenance and ability to enforce maintenance and pre-use practices with the grounds crew.
Ability to perform general repairs to cemetery operational heavy equipment and verify appropriate documentation for on-site and off-site repairs.
Ability to operate all cemetery grounds equipment.
Ability to train subordinate personnel and maintain training documentation.
Knowledge of building maintenance and ability to oversee minor repairs.
Basic understanding of OSHA equipment requirements.
Ability, with help from one additional person, to lift or maneuver a 220-pound grave marker.
Ability to maintain qualifications as the leading cemetery heavy-equipment operator, trainer, and grounds-team equipment qualifier on full-size and medium-size backhoes, tractors, dirt haulers, and other equipment.
Expected to operate equipment and dig grave sites at least one busy cemetery burial day per week.
Ability to coordinate and supervise snow and ice removal.

Responsibilities

Lead, supervise, and manage Cemetery Caretakers (Senior/Team Leads) and a Maintenance Technician.
Maintain operational ground equipment and oversee the operational aspects of the Amelia cemetery in accordance with standard operating procedures and policies.
Support safe cemetery grounds operations and burial processes in coordination with the Cemeteries Director, Cemetery Superintendent, and Cemetery Administration Manager.
Verify each grave, cremation, and memorial site before opening; verify temporary memorial marker placement and document completion.
Train staff to use section maps to locate, verify, and open or close sites and to place memorials in accordance with cemetery procedures.
Supervise direct subordinates in safely completing daily tasks, maintaining operational tempo, and using cemetery light and heavy equipment.
Train subordinate personnel and create and maintain general training documentation for cemetery caretakers.
Oversee preventive maintenance, pre-use practices, repairs, and documentation for cemetery operational equipment.
Oversee irrigation and sprinkler system operation and repairs, including seasonal start-up and winterization.
Oversee building maintenance and minor repairs; perform or oversee concrete slab work for benches.
Coordinate and supervise snow and ice removal from the cemetery.
Maintain qualifications as a heavy-equipment operator, trainer, and grounds-team equipment qualifier; operate equipment to dig grave sites at least one busy cemetery burial day per week.
Complete equipment and irrigation repairs and participate in leadership, IT, and HR classes.
Travel to other veterans cemeteries to identify ideas for improving Amelia operations.
Perform other assigned duties, including duties outside DVS/Cemeteries and assistance during a Governor-declared emergency.