Cemetery Maintenance and Service

Harrisburg Diocese Catholic schools; Mechanicsburg (Cumberland County); On-site; USD 17,000 - 25,000; Part time

Job summary

Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Mechanicsburg is seeking a part-time cemetery maintenance and service employee. The role requires skills in grounds maintenance and the ability to operate a backhoe is highly desirable. You will work with tractors, pickups, mowers and other cemetery equipment.

Applicants must be a good team player able to take direction and operate under tight deadlines. A PA driver’s license is required; resume and cover letter should be sent to [e-mail].

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent and PA driver’s license.
• Valid spray applicator license and heavy equipment experience.
• One year of grounds keeping and cemetery experience.

Responsibilities

• Follow all safety rules and regulations.
• Maintain cemetery grounds and buildings including mowing, pruning, and irrigation.
• Assist with interments and ensure accuracy of records.
• Operate backhoe, tractor, pickups and mowers as needed.
• Provide input on supplies and equipment; respond to work orders.
• Coordinate with Cemetery Manager and staff to meet deadlines.

Skills

Grounds maintenance

Backhoe operation

Team player

Interpersonal skills

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Spray applicators license

Tools

Backhoe

Tractor

Mowers

Small equipment

Job description

Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Mechanicsburghas a part-time vacancy for a cemetery maintenance and service employee. Applicants must have skills in grounds maintenance. The ability to operate a backhoe is highly desirable. Other equipment that will be used: tractor, pickup, mowers and a variety of small equipment related to cemetery maintenance and operation. Must be a good team player who is able to take direction and demonstrate tact, courtesy and diplomacy. Applicant must have a valid, clean PA driver’s license. Work is performed both indoors and outdoors. This is a manual position requiring physical fitness with the ability to lift (up to 50 lbs. regularly and 100 lbs. occasionally), bend, stoop, climb and be mobile (on your feet) for most of the day. Applicants must be able to work in all weather conditions to tight deadlines. Resume and cover letter should be sent to [e-mail]. See full job description below.

GENERAL STATEMENT OF DUTIES:

Responsible for all aspects of cemetery maintenance, including assisting with interments. Works in a cooperative, self directed, team environment.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS/MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

All Diocesan Employees represent the Catholic Church, and are expected to conduct themselves according to the goals and mission of the church in performing their work. All Cemeteries employees are expected to employ customer service techniques and a team management approach in conducting their day-to-day duties. It is essential for all employees to seek input and/or consider the impact on other employees and customers whenever making any decisions or recommendations or taking any actions

(The essential functions/major responsibilities listed are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position. Duties and responsibilities are also subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.)

• 1. Follows all safety rules and regulations.
• 2. Brings safety concerns to the attention of the Cemetery Manager.
• 3. Maintains all aspects of Cemetery grounds and buildings including mowing, pesticide and herbicide applications, pruning, planter bed maintenance, irrigation system repair, painting, and light custodial work.
• 4. Ensures accuracy of interment and entombment.
• 5. Digs and sets up graves. Opens and closes niches and crypts. Closes graves, crypts, niches and sets markers, crypt bars and niche bars.
• 6. Provides input regarding needed supplies and equipment. Purchases supplies within established procedures and guidelines.
• 7. Works cooperatively with the Manager to ensure all record keeping is done within established procedures and with adequate safeguards to ensure accuracy.
• 8. Responds to work orders generated by office staff.
• 9. Assists customers with location of gravesites.
• 10. Performs all duties related to one or more “Special Assignments” outlined on Special Assignment descriptions.
• 11. Performs a variety of duties related to the operation of the Cemetery as requested.

SPECIFIC JOB SKILLS:

Knowledge of grounds and building maintenance; basic safety practices; interment and grounds maintenance principles and procedures. Skills in grounds maintenance; Operation of: backhoe, tractor, pickup, mowers, and a variety of small equipment related to cemetery maintenance and operation. Ability to work within and create a team atmosphere; interpersonal skills including tact, courtesy and diplomacy; provide input to the Cemetery Manager and Director of Cemeteries regarding the operation and maintenance of the Cemetery; train staff not directly supervised in areas of Special Assignments; effectively communicate; develop and maintain effective working relationships; and evaluate problems and institute changes to ensure problems do not recur.

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE:

High school diploma or equivalent. Valid Pennsylvania Drivers license. One year previous grounds keeping and cemetery experience. Spray applicators license and heavy equipment operation experience.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to stand, walk, talk, reach, sit, finger, hear, handle, and lift, crawl, dig, etc. Lifts and moves items up to 100 pounds.

JOB CONDITIONS:

Work is performed both indoors and outdoors, under continual, tight deadlines. Work is often performed under harsh weather conditions. Relate to patrons with empathy and concern.The physical demands and work environment characteristics described above are representative of the physical capabilities that must be met by an employee and the working conditions that an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED:

May provide direction and training to summer help, or to other employees in areas of specific skills and talents as requested