Senior Cemetery Caretaker

State of Virginia • Suffolk, VA

47d • Onsite

About The Position

Serve Virginia's veterans and their family members by ensuring they receive the benefits, support, quality care, and recognition they have earned through service and sacrifice. The Senior Cemetery Caretaker maintains cemetery grounds and prepares graves, including and not limited to gravesite assignment, gravesite verification, grave excavation; burial functions (utilizing maps, opening/closing interments, entombments, inurnments, disinterment); lawn sodding, seeding, fertilizing; memorial monument/temporary marker inspection, verification and setting; manual and mechanical earth moving and lawn care equipment operation; cemetery cleanup. Knowledge of irrigation systems and the ability to troubleshoot in the absence of the Maintenance Technician/Grounds Manager. This position will lead and oversee the work of the Cemetery Caretakers, ensuring day-to-day assignments are carried out according to cemetery operations and general National Cemeteries Association (NCA) standards and regulations. This position is considered a "working leader" responsible for both leadership duties while performing job tasks along with the Caretaker and in the absence of staff, as mission dictates. The Senior Cemetery Caretaker will supervise staff during periods of absence or leave of the Grounds Manager. Performs additional duties as assigned by the Grounds Manager, Cemetery Superintendent, and/or Cemeteries Director in all matters concerning the cemetery.

Requirements

• Knowledge of cemetery maintenance and operations, grounds maintenance, irrigation system maintenance and repair, building trade skills, section mapping, gravesite pinning/number, gravesite verifying, and safety
• Skill in general maintenance, including but not limited to landscaping, mowing, planting, weeding, irrigation, fertilization, sprinkler systems, and pest and weed control
• Skill in maintenance and repair of cemetery tools and equipment
• The ability to operate equipment, e.g., excavator, loader, backhoe, soil compactor, spray rig, lowering devices, etc
• The ability to oversee maintenance and cemetery operations and lead the work activities of staff
• Ability to lift/maneuver a 220-pound grave marker with the help of one additional person
• Demonstrated knowledge and skill in all OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) safety measures, including health codes, regulations, and building safety
• The ability to perform all duties in accordance with cemetery policies and procedures ensuring personal safety and that of others
• The ability to communicate clearly and provide clear instructions to staff

Responsibilities

• maintains cemetery grounds and prepares graves, including and not limited to gravesite assignment, gravesite verification, grave excavation
• burial functions (utilizing maps, opening/closing interments, entombments, inurnments, disinterment)
• lawn sodding, seeding, fertilizing
• memorial monument/temporary marker inspection, verification and setting
• manual and mechanical earth moving and lawn care equipment operation
• cemetery cleanup
• lead and oversee the work of the Cemetery Caretakers
• supervise staff during periods of absence or leave of the Grounds Manager
• Performs additional duties as assigned by the Grounds Manager, Cemetery Superintendent, and/or Cemeteries Director in all matters concerning the cemetery.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Industry: Executive, Legislative, and Other General Government Support
• Education Level: No Education Listed
• Number of Employees: 101-250 employees