Caretaker Manager

Commonwealth of VA Careers; Virginia; On-site; USD 65,000 - 67,000; Full time

Job summary

Commonwealth of VA Careers in Virginia Beach? actually Amelia, VA, seeks a Caretaker Manager to oversee Cemetery Caretakers and Maintenance Technicians on-site, ensuring all cemetery operations run safely and efficiently. You will verify grave locations, manage equipment, train staff, and enforce SOPs.

This hands-on role requires heavy equipment operation, irrigation knowledge, and the ability to lead a small team across daily burial operations. Some travel and audit preparation may be required.

Qualifications

• Must supervise two to six grounds employees at a medium-size cemetery (400–700 annual burials).
• Experience in cemetery grounds operations including grave locations and memorial placement.
• Basic irrigation system knowledge and ability to program and repair sprinklers.
• Ability to operate and maintain cemetery heavy equipment safely.
• Knowledge of concrete slab work for benches and general maintenance.
• Ability to train subordinate personnel and document training.

Responsibilities

• Directly reports to Cemetery Superintendent; lead, supervise, and manage Caretakers and Maintenance Technicians on-site.
• Verify graves/cremations/memorial sites before opening; document memorial placements.
• Train staff on section maps for locating sites and placing memorials per SOPs.
• Supervise daily tasks and manage cemetery equipment and operations to ensure on-time service.
• Perform other duties as assigned by Cemetery Superintendent/Director.

Skills

Supervision

Grounds operations

Irrigation systems

Equipment maintenance

Heavy equipment operation

Staff training

OSHA safety knowledge

Concrete work

Safety compliance

Snow removal coordination

Job description

Title:

Caretaker Manager

State Role Title:

Trades Technician IV

Hiring Range:

$65,000-$67,000

Pay Band:

4

Agency:

Dept of Veterans Services

Location:

Virginia Veterans Cemetery

Agency Website:

www.dvs.virginia.gov

Recruitment Type:

General Public - G

Job Duties

Directly reports to the Virginia's Veterans Cemeteries Superintendent in Amelia. This hands-on, working on-site position is responsible for leading, supervising, and managing Cemetery Caretakers (Senior/Team Leads) and Maintenance Technician; maintains all operational ground equipment and all operational aspects of the cemetery in Amelia. Complies with the cemeteries standard operating procedures (SOPs) and the cemeteries operational policies.

• This position is a member of the Virginia Veterans Cemeteries Management Team, responsible for the safe operation of the cemetery grounds and burial processes in coordination with the Cemeteries Director, Cemetery Superintendent and Cemetery Administration Manager.
• Responsible for verification of each grave/cremation/memorial site located at the cemetery prior to opening, in addition will verify placement of the temporary memorial marker and document completion.
• Responsible for training staff in the proper utilization of section maps to locate, verify and open/close grave/cremations sites and proper placement of memorials as directed in the cemeteries standard operating procedures (SOPs).
• Responsible for the supervision of direct subordinates to safely perform all daily tasks while maintaining operational tempo and utilizing all cemetery light and heavy equipment for the purpose of making the cemetery function in a methodical manner.
• Performs additional duties as assigned by the Cemetery Superintendent/Cemeteries Director in matters concerning the veteran's cemetery.

Minimum Qualifications

• Must have basic knowledge of all daily operations of the cemetery grounds operation, to include burials and grounds maintenance.
• Must be capable and experienced in supervising two to six grounds employees at a medium-size burial numbers cemetery (400 to 700 annual burials).
• Versed in all aspects of the cemetery daily operations to include grave/cremation site location, grounds/tree and bush bed maintenance.
• Working knowledge of the cemeteries irrigation and sprinkler system to include basic computer programming and general sprinkler head and line repair/replacement, to include turning the system on each spring and securing the system each fall, blowing out the lines ensuring no valves, heads or lines freeze.
• Understanding of concrete slab work for benches, including concrete mixing, pouring and finish smoothing the slab.
• Understanding of gasoline and diesel equipment preventive maintenance and enforcement with the grounds crew, knowledge/enforcement of equipment prior to use practices to include all general repairs to each piece of cemetery operational heavy equipment and appropriate documentation verification for all cemetery equipment repairs made on site or off site.
• The Cemetery Caretaker Manager must be fully functional with operating of all cemetery grounds equipment.
• Must be able to train all subordinate personnel.
• Personally, creates and maintains general training/documentation of all cemetery caretakers.
• Knowledge of building maintenance and the ability to oversee minor repairs.
• Basic understanding of OSHA equipment requirements and able to lift/maneuver with the help of one additional person a 220-pound grave marker.
• Coordinates and supervise snow and ice removal from the cemetery.
• In your need for perfection as the Cemetery Caretaker Manager you will be expected/required to retain your qualifications as the leading cemetery heavy equipment operator, trainer and grounds team employee equipment only qualifier on all full size and medium-size backhoes, tractors, dirt haulers, ETC. To accomplish this and retain the needed experience you will be expected to have hands on (actually operating the equipment itself) digging grave sites as a minimum one busy cemetery burial day per week.

Additional Considerations

PREPARE FOR THE 2026 NCA AUDIT.

1. Equipment Repair
2. Irrigation Repair
3. Participates and completes LEADERSHIP, IT, and HR classes.
4. Travel to other veteran cemeteries to generate ideas that can assist Amelia to improve its operations.

May be required to perform duties outside of DVS/Cemeteries: other duties as assigned. May be required to assist the agency or state government generally in the event of an emergency declaration by the Governor.

In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter. Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at 800-552-5019.

Note : Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1, 2022- February 29, 2024, can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.