Cemetery Caretaker

National Cemetery Administration • Dixon, CA

1d • Onsite

About The Position

This position is located at Sacramento Valley National Cemetery in Dixon, California. The Cemetery Caretaker performs manual work requiring physical strength to maintain cemetery grounds and facilities. Duties include operating small tractors and riding lawn mowers; transplanting shrubs; digging graves to the proper level; cutting and removing sod; tamping and leveling dirt with hand and power tools; digging and squaring graves with pneumatic equipment, picks, and shovels; assisting with lifting and placing caskets on lowering devices; loading and unloading materials; aligning headstones; clearing debris; landscaping; removing snow and ice; cleaning headstones; and cleaning service and administrative areas.

Work is generally scheduled Monday through Friday, with occasional weekends. Because the cemetery cannot be closed for more than two consecutive days, staff may need to work on a Federal holiday or Saturday when a holiday falls on a Monday or Friday. All staff are required to work Memorial Day each year. Overtime, weekends, holidays, and occasional emergency call-backs may be required. A compressed or flexible schedule is not available.

The position requires a valid state driver's license and the ability to perform landscaping, groundskeeping, or related trade duties using hand tools, power tools, and machinery safely and with no more than normal supervision. It involves heavy physical effort, including operating equipment, carrying and moving items, walking over varied terrain, and lifting up to 50 pounds; heavier items may occasionally be lifted with assistance. Work is outdoors in all types of weather and may involve exposure to noise, heat, cold, precipitation, dirt, dust, fumes, mud, water, pesticides, insecticides, and fertilizers. Appropriate protective equipment must be worn.

The full performance level is WG-06. Relocation expenses and relocation or recruitment incentives are not authorized. A one-year probationary period applies. Applicants must be U.S. citizens and may be subject to a suitability investigation, drug testing, and a pre-employment medical examination. No education qualification requirement is listed.

Requirements

• Demonstrate the potential to perform landscaping, groundskeeping, or related trade duties, including using hand tools and power tools and safely operating machinery and equipment used in cemetery caretaking.
• Ability to do the job without more than normal supervision.
• Possess and maintain a valid state driver's license.
• Be a U.S. citizen.
• Pass a pre-employment medical examination.
• Meet background and suitability investigation requirements; designated and/or random drug testing may be required.
• Register with Selective Service if a male born after 12/31/1959.
• Complete the required application package and online onboarding process.
• Complete a one-year probationary period; continued employment is contingent on written certification that it advances the public interest.
• Meet the physical requirements, including heavy physical effort, walking on hilly, flat, or rolling terrain, and lifting up to 50 pounds; items heavier than 50 pounds may occasionally be lifted with coworker assistance.
• Work outdoors in all types of weather and wear appropriate protective equipment.

Responsibilities

• Operate small tractors and riding lawn mowers.
• Transplant shrubs; weed, mulch, and apply fertilizer; and prune shrubs and low-level dead branches.
• Dig graves to the proper level; cut and remove sod; tamp and level dirt using hand and power tools; and dig and square graves using pneumatic equipment, picks, and shovels.
• Assist in lifting and placing caskets on lowering devices, and carry caskets or urns as needed.
• Load and unload materials.
• Align headstones and set headstones.
• Clean and clear cemetery grounds of debris using power trimmers, chainsaws, axes, shovels, rakes, blowers, vacuums, and other equipment.
• Remove snow and ice.
• Clean headstones using a sprayer and hand brush.
• Clean service and administrative areas.
• Work overtime, weekends, holidays, Memorial Day, or emergency call-backs when required to meet cemetery needs.

Benefits

• Federal employees and their families have access to a range of benefits; specific benefits depend on position type and should be confirmed with the hiring agency.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed