Cemetery Caretaker.

About the role

The Cemetery Caretaker performs jobs requiring mainly manual skills and physical strength. Performs a variety of tasks, such as operating small tractors and riding lawn mowers; transplanting shrubs; digging graves to the proper level; cutting and removing sod, tamping and leveling dirt using hand and power tools; digging and squaring graves using pneumatic equipment, picks and shovels; assisting in lifting and placing caskets on lowering devices; loading and unloading materials; aligning headstones; cleaning and clearing cemetery grounds of debris using power trimmers, chainsaws, axes, shovels, rakes, blowers, vacuums etc.; weeding, mulching, and applying fertilizer; pruning shrubs and low level dead branches; removing snow and ice; cleaning headstones using sprayer and hand brush; and cleaning service and administrative areas.

Responsibilities

• Operating small tractors and riding lawn mowers
• Transplanting shrubs
• Digging graves to the proper level
• Cutting and removing sod, tamping and leveling dirt using hand and power tools
• Digging and squaring graves using pneumatic equipment, picks and shovels
• Assisting in lifting and placing caskets on lowering devices
• Loading and unloading materials
• Aligning headstones
• Cleaning and clearing cemetery grounds of debris using power trimmers, chainsaws, axes, shovels, rakes, blowers, vacuums etc.
• Weeding, mulching, and applying fertilizer
• Pruning shrubs and low level dead branches
• Removing snow and ice
• Cleaning headstones using sprayer and hand brush
• Cleaning service and administrative areas

Schedule

May be required to work Monday through Friday to include occasional weekends. Due to the mission of the National Cemetery, the cemetery cannot be closed for more than 2 consecutive days at any given time. Additionally, when a Federal holiday falls on a Monday or Friday, staff may be required to work on that holiday or a Saturday. All staff is required to work Memorial Day each year. Staff will be required to work overtime, weekends and holidays when necessary to meet the needs of the cemetery. Occasionally staff may be called back to the facility to perform emergency overtime work.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this job
• Subject to a background/suitability investigation
• Designated and/or random drug testing may be required
• Pass a pre-employment medical examination
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement. Your background must demonstrate work involved in landscaping, grounds keeping, or other related trades experience that includes the use of hand tools and/or power tools, and the safe operation of related machinery and equipment used in cemetery caretaking practices, as described in the duties section of the announcement.

• Ability to do the job without more than normal supervision
• Must possess and maintain a valid REAL ID state driver's license
• Dexterity and Safety
• Interpret Instructions, Specifications (includes blueprint reading)
• Technical Practices
• Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment
• Without more than normal supervision

Physical Requirements

This position requires heavy physical effort with reaching, bending, turning, and moving hands, arms, feet and legs to operate the different sets of controls while operating the equipment and attachments. The Incumbent may be subjected to considerable strain caused by vibration, jerking, and jolting of the equipment over rough surfaces and the need to operate controls in awkward positions. Heavy effort is frequently exercised when performing duties such as tamping, carrying caskets/urns, lifting/moving grave planks, setting headstones, etc. Incumbent must be able to walk on hilly, flat, or rolling terrain. This position requires the employee to lift weights up to 50 lbs. Occasionally items weighing more than 50 lbs are lifted with assistance from co-workers. Employee may be exposed to noise levels exceeding 85 dBA for up to eight (8) hours per day. This exposure may adversely affect hearing.

Working Conditions

Work must be performed outdoors, and incumbent will be exposed to all types of weather throughout the year. Incumbent will be exposed to the sun, noise, extreme heat, and humidity, cold, snow, rain, wind, and is subject to dirt, dust, fumes (from motor and exhaust) mud, and water. Work is performed in areas where pesticides, insecticides, and fertilizers are applied. Appropriate protective equipment will be worn. The operator is exposed to injury from mishaps that may be involved in the operation of grounds maintenance equipment.