Cemetery Administrator

City of Santa Monica; Santa Monica (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Santa Monica seeks a seasoned administrator to plan and supervise Woodlawn Cemetery, Mausoleum and Mortuary operations. You will lead maintenance staff, manage budgets, and coordinate services with vendors and contractors.

Responsibilities include policy development, staff performance evaluations, and ensuring compliance with applicable laws and safety standards. Engagement with the public and officials is a key part of the role.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business or public administration or related field.
• Four years of recent cemetery/public facilities operations experience, with two years in financial management and staff leadership.
• Valid Class C driver license; Funeral Director license within six months.

Responsibilities

• Plan, supervise, and coordinate operation of Woodlawn Cemetery, Mausoleum, and Mortuary.
• Select, train, supervise, and evaluate staff; assign schedules and prepare performance reviews.
• Manage budgets, revenues, and expenditures; ensure fund deposits per policy.
• Develop marketing and community outreach for funeral products and services.
• Oversee compliance with laws, safety rules, and hazardous materials handling.
• Represent the City in meetings with groups and authorities; present information as needed.

Skills

Public administration

Cemetery maintenance

Business principles

Program development

Budget development

Accounting principles

Contract administration

Laws & regulations

Safety practices

Supervision

Training techniques

Customer service

Education

Bachelor's degree in business or public administration

Job description

Plans, develops, organizes and coordinates the operation of City-owned Woodlawn Cemetery, Mausoleum and Mortuary. Supervises, assigns and reviews the work of staff engaged in maintenance duties and office support. Prepares, administers and maintains Woodlawn’s budget.

Develops, recommends, and implements administrative, operational, and maintenance policies and procedures for the City’s cemetery, mausoleum, and mortuary. Coordinates, supervises, and monitors office, grounds, and facilities maintenance activities.

Selects, trains, and supervises and reviews the work of maintenance and office support staff. Assigns, schedules, and monitors work. Prepares employee performance evaluations.

Reviews, analyzes, and evaluates the efficiency and effectiveness of cemetery operations, mortuary services, and related customer service functions. Recommends and develops methods and programs to improve service delivery and business operations.

Prepares and administers Woodlawn’s budget. Analyzes financial data, maintains administrative and internal control systems, and monitors revenues and expenditures.

Ensures deposits of funds generated from the sales of interment spaces, funeral services, merchandise, and various fees in accordance with City policy.

Conducts market research and community outreach to promote a variety of funeral products and services; develops marketing strategies and promotional materials; and establishes and coordinates customer service information, public relations, and marketing programs.

Provides information to prospective clients on funeral service options, products, and merchandise.

Develops, implements, and coordinates procedures for the sale of grave sites, mausoleum crypts, niches, and related goods and services. Reviews and recommends rate changes.

Supervises interments and disinterments. Identifies location of grave site boundaries and positioning of graves, markers, and related items. Identifies decedents and confirms services performed by contractors.

Assists in the planning and delivery of services, including pre-need planning and at-need mortuary, funeral and burial arrangements, and memorial services. Orders necessary supplies and coordinates service arrangements with vendors and contractors.

Procures death certificates, burial permits, and other documents from government agencies. Maintains accurate records.

Enforces safety rules, provides safety training programs, and ensures staff complies with laws and regulations regarding the handling and disposal of hazardous materials.

Develops and maintains liaison with local law enforcement, health department, coroner’s office, government officials, hospital staff, and hospice organizations.

Interprets and applies policies and procedures. Reviews and approves requests by private groups for special accommodations.

Serves as the City’s representative for Woodlawn Cemetery, Mausoleum and Mortuary at meetings with community groups, governmental organizations, professional associations, City Council and the general public. Makes oral and written presentations as necessary.

Responds to inquiries and resolves escalated complaints and concerns.

Performs other related duties as assigned.

Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of public administration
• Practices and procedures of cemetery/facilities maintenance operations
• Business principles and practices
• Program development and implementation
• Budget development and administration
• Accounting principles and financial methods
• Methods and techniques of contract administration
• Applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations
• Safe work practices and procedures
• Principles of supervision and management
• Effective training techniques
• Effective customer service techniques

Ability to:

• Plan, manage and coordinate the operation of a cemetery and mortuary
• Select, train, supervise and evaluate the work of staff
• Develop and implement processes and procedures
• Develop and implement innovative strategies and programs
• Analyze problems and develop effective solutions
• Prepare and present clear, concise and comprehensive oral and written reports
• Conduct research and develop informational materials
• Develop and promote community outreach and marketing strategies
• Prepare and maintain accurate administrative and financial records and reports
• Read and interpret maps, plans, sketches and drawings
• Locate and plot interment spaces, markers and related items
• Interpret and apply policies, laws and regulations
• Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing
• Establish and maintain effective and cooperative working relationships with outside agencies, contractors, vendors, City staff and the general public
• Provide effective customer service

Skill in:

• Handling sensitive matters with tact and discretion
• Effective written and verbal communication
• Using a personal computer and applicable software applications

Education, Training, and Experience:

Education: Graduation from an accredited college with a bachelor's degree in business or public administration or a closely related field. Additional qualifying work experience may substitute for the educational requirement on a year for year basis. (Successful completion of 30 units is equal to one year of the additional required work experience.)

Experience: Four years of recent, paid work experience in the administration and operation of a cemetery and/or increasingly responsible experience in the administration and operation of public facilities operations and maintenance. At least two years of the recent work experience must have included responsibility for financial management and leading and coordinating the work of staff. Work experience performing mortuary services or closely related funeral establishment responsibilities is desirable.

Licenses and Certificates:

Possession of a valid Class C driver license or the ability to utilize an alternative method of transportation when needed to carry out job-related essential functions.

A Funeral Director’s License from the State of California must be obtained within six months of date of hire.

Testing may consist of a combination of any of the following and is subject to change as needs dictate: written test, performance test, evaluation of qualifications, oral interview.

If three or more qualified City employees apply and pass the examination, a promotional list will be established in addition to an open-competitive list. If fewer than three qualified City employees pass the examination, the appointing authority, in accordance with the City's civil service rules and regulations, can decline to use a promotional list, in which case a promotional list will not be established for this position.

Note: Internal staff who submit transfer applications must notify the analyst in charge of the recruitment, via email, upon submission of their transfer application.

Background Investigation:

Candidates who have successfully completed all prior phases of the selection process will be subject to a thorough background investigation.

Inclusion & Diversity Statement

The City of Santa Monica is a progressive, inclusive and culturally rich community. As leaders in public service, we strive to be an employer of choice by attracting and retaining a highly talented workforce where people of diverse races, religions, cultures and lifestyles thrive. Our goal is to create a welcoming and inclusive environment where our staff are empowered to perform at their highest level and where their differences make a positive impact.

The City is an equal opportunity employer and strives to build balanced teams from all walks of life without regard to race, color, ethnicity, religion, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, ancestry, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other status protected under federal, state and/or local law. We aim to create a workplace that celebrates and embraces the diversity of our employees. Join us!

Special assistance with the application and examination process is available, upon request, for persons with disabilities. Call [phone], TDD [phone] (Hearing Impaired Only).

Please note the request for reasonable accommodations must be made to Human Resources at least three work days prior to the examination.