Cemetery Operative

Essential Employment; Sutton Coldfield; On-site; GBP 17,908 - 20,664; Full time

Job summary

Essential Employment in Birmingham is seeking a Cemetery Operative to support burial operations and grounds maintenance across the city’s cemeteries and crematoria. The role involves grave excavation and preparation for interment, including the provision of mats, ropes and related tasks.

The position is full-time on a temporary contract basis, based at Sutton New Hall Cemetery. It requires operating several vehicles and performing maintenance duties to ensure a high-quality bereavement service.

Qualifications

• Experience in cemetery maintenance or associated grounds work.
• Ability to assist with grave excavation and interment prep.
• Familiarity with operating cemetery vehicles safely.

Responsibilities

• Location, preparation, shoring and excavation of graves for a set day and time.
• Backfilling of graves after interment and tidying of immediate area.
• Ground maintenance tasks beyond contracted cemetery grounds work.
• Unlocking/locking cemetery gates and reporting security issues.
• Driving and operation of vehicles: Van/Car, Tractor, Mini Tractor and Trailer, Dumper, Excavator, Roadsweeper.

Skills

Grave excavation

Grounds maintenance

Vehicle operation

Teamwork

Safety awareness

Tools

Van/Car

Tractor

Dumper

Excavator

Job description

Cemetery Operative needed in Birmingham, £13.45ph PAYE - Reference: 476963

Based at Sutton New Hall Cemetery

Required to work at any of the city’s cemeteries or crematoria; to work as part of a team to provide a high quality service to the bereaved and associated agencies. To excavate, backfill and prepare graves for interment and to perform other associated duties as required to include grounds maintenance tasks and crematoria attendant duties.

Responsibilities

• Location, preparation, shoring and excavation of graves for a set day and time. Preparation of excavated graves for interment to include provision of artificial grass mats, lower ropes, stretchers etc. Backfilling of graves after interment and tidying of immediate area.
• To perform ground maintenance tasks not included in the grounds maintenance contract as detailed in the document Non-Contracted Cemetery Grounds Maintenance.
• Responsible for the unlocking/locking of cemetery gates as instructed. All issues regarding cemetery security must be reported to the Cemetery Foreperson or Bereavement Officer.
• Driving and operation of the following vehicles: Van/Car, Tractor, Mini Tractor and Trailer, Dumper, Excavator, Roadsweeper.

This is a full time role on a temporary contract basis