Cemetery Caretaker.

About the role

The Cemetery Caretaker performs jobs requiring mainly manual skills and physical strength. The position involves operating small tractors and riding lawn mowers, transplanting shrubs, digging graves to the proper level, cutting and removing sod, tamping and leveling dirt, and using hand and power tools. The role also includes assisting with casket placement, loading and unloading materials, aligning headstones, cleaning and clearing cemetery grounds, weeding, mulching, applying fertilizer, pruning shrubs, removing snow and ice, cleaning headstones, and maintaining service and administrative areas.

Responsibilities

• Operate small tractors and riding lawn mowers
• Transplant shrubs
• Dig graves to the proper level using pneumatic equipment, picks, and shovels
• Cut and remove sod; tamp and level dirt using hand and power tools
• Assist in lifting and placing caskets on lowering devices
• Load and unload materials
• Align headstones
• Clean and clear cemetery grounds of debris using power trimmers, chainsaws, axes, shovels, rakes, blowers, vacuums, etc.
• Weed, mulch, and apply fertilizer
• Prune shrubs and low-level dead branches
• Remove snow and ice
• Clean headstones using sprayers and hand brushes
• Clean service and administrative areas

Work schedule

The position may require working Monday through Friday, with 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. 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. Overtime, weekends, and holidays may be required to meet the needs of the cemetery, and staff may be called back for emergency overtime work.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship
• Subject to a background/suitability investigation
• May be required to pass a pre-employment medical examination
• Selective Service Registration required for males born after 12/31/1959
• Must possess and maintain a valid state driver’s license
• Ability to perform the job without more than normal supervision

Qualifications

Applicants must demonstrate experience or potential in landscaping, grounds keeping, or related trades, including the use of hand tools, power tools, and the safe operation of machinery and equipment used in cemetery caretaking practices. Evidence of this potential can be shown through work, training, or relevant activities.

Physical Requirements

This position requires heavy physical effort with reaching, bending, turning, and moving hands, arms, feet, and legs to operate equipment and attachments. The role involves exposure to vibration, jerking, and jolting from equipment over rough surfaces, operating controls in awkward positions, and lifting weights up to 50 lbs (occasionally more with assistance). The incumbent must be able to walk on hilly, flat, or rolling terrain and may be exposed to noise levels exceeding 85 dBA for up to eight hours per day. The position also requires working outdoors in all weather conditions, exposure to sun, noise, extreme heat and humidity, cold, snow, rain, wind, dirt, dust, fumes, mud, and water. Appropriate protective equipment will be worn.