Cemetery Caretaker

National Cemetery Administration; Natchez (MS); On-site; USD 30,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

National Cemetery Administration is seeking a Cemetery Caretaker Technician at Natchez National Cemetery, Natchez, MS. The role involves manual ground maintenance, interment support, and light administrative tasks related to the interment process.

The incumbent will operate small tractors and mowers, assist in digging and preparing graves, and help with headstone alignment and grounds cleanup. Weekend and holiday work may be required.

Qualifications

• No formal specialized skills listed in the ad.

Responsibilities

• Operate and maintain grounds equipment (tractors, mowers, power tools).
• Dig graves to proper level and prepare interment sites.
• Assist in handling caskets and lowering devices; coordinate with next-of-kin.
• Greet visitors and perform interment paperwork; oversee committal services.

Job description

• Hiring Agency: National Cemetery Administration
• Department: Department of Veterans Affairs

This position is located at the Natchez National Cemetery in Natchez, Mississippi.

Key Responsibilities

The Cemetery Caretaker Technician 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.

In addition, the Cemetery Caretaker Technician performs administrative functions, to include greeting visitors, responding to requests and answering questions, and preparing paperwork related to the interment process. The incumbent must also perform Cemetery Representative functions which include meeting with next-of-kin and overseeing committal services and entering data to generate interment records.

Work 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. Compressed/Flexible Schedule: Not Available Position Description Title/PD#:Cemetery Caretaker/PD131140 The full performance level of this position is WG-06.

Relocation Expenses: Not Authorized Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required

Which agency is hiring for this position?

This position is with National Cemetery Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs.

What is the salary for this position?

The posted pay range is $21.98 – $25.67/hr.

What is the application deadline?

Applications close on 2026-11-09.

Who is eligible to apply?

This position is open under the 'Fed Transition' hiring path.