Cemetery Caretaker

National Cemetery Administration•Bakersfield, CA

2d•Onsite

About The Position

This position is located at Bakersfield National Cemetery in Arvin, California. The Cemetery Caretaker performs mainly manual work requiring physical strength in support of cemetery grounds and operations. Duties include operating small tractors and riding lawn mowers; transplanting shrubs; preparing graves; cutting and removing sod; tamping and leveling dirt; assisting with casket placement; loading and unloading materials; aligning headstones; clearing debris; maintaining landscaping; removing snow and ice; cleaning headstones; and cleaning service and administrative areas. The work is primarily outdoors in all types of weather and may involve exposure to noise, heat, humidity, cold, snow, rain, wind, dust, fumes, mud, water, and areas where pesticides, insecticides, and fertilizers are applied. Appropriate protective equipment is required. The position involves heavy physical effort, including lifting up to 50 pounds and occasionally lifting heavier items with assistance. A valid state driver's license is required. The cemetery must remain operational, so work may include occasional weekends and holidays, including Memorial Day each year. Overtime may be required, and employees may occasionally be called back for emergency overtime. A compressed or flexible schedule is not available. The position is WG-06, with a one-year probationary period. Relocation expenses and recruitment or relocation incentives are not authorized.

Requirements

Be a U.S. citizen.
Pass a background or suitability investigation.
Pass a pre-employment medical examination.
Submit to designated and/or random drug testing when required.
Register for Selective Service if required for males born after December 31, 1959.
Complete the required application package and online onboarding process.
Provide acceptable identification for pre-employment requirements; beginning May 7, 2025, a non-REAL ID-compliant driver's license or state identification card cannot be used as acceptable identification for employment.
Serve a one-year probationary period and receive written certification of continued employment to remain employed after the period.
Demonstrate potential to perform landscaping, groundskeeping, or related-trades duties, including using hand tools and power tools and safely operating relevant machinery and equipment.
Demonstrate the ability to perform the job without more than normal supervision.
Possess and maintain a valid state driver's license.
Meet the physical requirements, including frequent heavy effort, walking on varied terrain, and lifting up to 50 pounds; heavier items may occasionally be lifted with assistance.
Be able to work outdoors in all types of weather and wear appropriate protective equipment.

Responsibilities

Operate small tractors, riding lawn mowers, and related grounds-maintenance equipment.
Transplant shrubs and perform landscaping and groundskeeping tasks.
Dig graves to the proper level, cut and remove sod, and tamp and level dirt using hand and power tools.
Dig and square graves using pneumatic equipment, picks, and shovels.
Assist with lifting and placing caskets on lowering devices.
Load and unload materials.
Align headstones and clean them using a sprayer and hand brush.
Clear cemetery grounds of debris using equipment and tools such as trimmers, chainsaws, axes, shovels, rakes, blowers, and vacuums.
Weed, mulch, apply fertilizer, and prune shrubs and low-level dead branches.
Remove snow and ice.
Clean service and administrative areas.