Cemetery Services Coordinator - City Cemeteries Division

City of Savannah; Savannah (GA); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Savannah seeks a Cemetery Services Coordinator to plan and coordinate interment services in municipal cemeteries. You will serve as the primary liaison between families, funeral homes, and cemetery operations, ensuring burial arrangements comply with regulations.

The role includes maintaining burial records, directing crews, and supporting revenue operations, with on-call duties during evenings, weekends, and holidays as needed.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree plus three years progressively responsible work experience in cemetery or funeral industry.
• Knowledge of cemetery and funeral industry standards and city regulations.
• Ability to supervise personnel and coordinate interment services.

Responsibilities

• Oversees burial services; meets with bereaved families to arrange funeral details and coordinates with funeral homes and monument companies.
• Facilitates cemetery lot sales; issues deeds and transfers; maintains ownership and burial records; handles inquiries.

Skills

Public relations

Oral and written communication

Planning and coordination

Supervisory skills

Customer service

Education

Bachelor's degree in Funeral Science, Family Counseling, Psychology, or related field

Job description

If you are up for the challenge and are seeking a rewarding career in a fast-paced work environment, career progression and the chance to learn from the best, then we want you! Get ready to join our awesome Cemeteries team, supporting the City of Savannah historical cemeteries.

Of the nearly 80 cemeteries located in Chatham County, Georgia, the Cemeteries Division maintains five existing cemeteries which are owned and operated by the City of Savannah to include Bonaventure, Colonial Park, Greenwich, Laurel Grove North and Laurel Grove South. Each cemetery has a unique character and is historically significant to the City of Savannah!

As a Cemetery Services Coordinator, you will plan and coordinates interment services at the municipal cemeteries. This role serves as the primary liaison between families, funeral homes, and cemetery operations, ensuring all burial arrangements are conducted professionally, accurately, and in accordance with city regulations. Responsibilities include the sale and documentation of cemetery lots, directing burial crews, maintaining detailed burial and ownership records, and supporting the department’s revenue operations.

We offer an excellent medical, dental and vision benefits, deferred benefit contribution (457B), 12 paid holidays, wellness programs, fitness reimbursement, educational reimbursement, home purchase assistance, employee referral program, and more!

Women, Minorities and Veterans Are Encouraged to Apply!

• Oversees burial services; meets with bereaved families to make funeral arrangements; reviews burial instructions; inspects burial sites; serves as the primary contact between the department, families, funeral homes, vault companies, and monument companies.
• Facilitates cemetery lot sales, issues deeds and transfers, maintains ownership and burial records, and handles customer inquiries or complaints related to cemetery services.
• Performs on-call duties; responds to after-hours emergencies and prepares cemetery services on weekends and holidays, as needed.
• Prepares cemetery records and maintains records database; maintains records of burials and gravesite locations.
• Ensures compliance with cemetery policies regarding monument installation and engravings; monitors vendor and contractor activity on cemetery grounds.
• Maintains accurate records of burials, grave ownership, and transactions, and prepares monthly and quarterly reports.
• Responds to after-hours calls and emergencies as needed.
• Participates in disaster response as assigned, including coordination of cemetery services during emergency events.
• Supervises a small field crew and assists with administrative duties related to payroll entry, credit card transactions, and deed processing.
• Assists in emergency response during disaster incidents.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Additional Requirements

Requires a Bachelor’s Degree in Funeral Science, Family Counseling, Psychology, or related field supplemented by three years of progressively responsible work experience in the cemetery or funeral industry; or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience that provides the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities.

Must possess and maintain a valid state driver’s license with an acceptable driving history.

Background investigation, including supervised drug screen, post offer/pre-employment medical screen; and verification of education, certifications, and licenses required prior to employment.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Knowledge of cemetery and funeral industry standards.
• Knowledge of city, bureau, and department policies and procedures.
• Knowledge of modern office practices and procedures.
• Knowledge of computers and other modern office equipment.
• Skill in developing short- and long-range plans.
• Skill in establishing priorities and organizing work.
• Skill in the training and supervision of personnel.
• Skill in the operation of computers and other modern office equipment.
• Skill in public and interpersonal relations.
• Skill in oral and written communication.

Minimum Standards

SUPERVISORY CONTROLS: Work is performed under the limited supervision of the Division Director, Cemetery Operations, who assigns work in terms of very general instructions. Completed work is spot-checked for compliance with procedures and the nature and propriety of the final results.

GUIDELINES: Guidelines include the Georgia Cemetery and Funeral Services Act of 2000, the city code of conduct, the city code of ethics, city customer service standards, and cemetery, department, bureau, and city policies and procedures. These guidelines require judgment, selection, and interpretation in application.

COMPLEXITY: The work consists of varied duties in the coordination of cemetery services. Requires the application of a variety of procedures, policies and/or precedents, and moderate analytic ability in adapting standard methods to fit facts and conditions. The sensitivity of issues related to death and dying contribute to the complexity of the position.

SCOPE AND EFFECT: The purpose of this position is to coordinate the department’s interment services. Daily actions or services affect individual clients/citizens; activity has a moderate impact on specific cases in the service area. Successful performance in this position results in the successful delivery of services.

PERSONAL CONTACTS: Outside and inside contacts to carry out organization programs or occasional contacts with officials at higher levels on matters requiring cooperation, explanation, and persuasion, or work requiring enforcement of laws, ordinances, policies, and procedures. Contacts are typically with co-workers, funeral directors and funeral home personnel, vault and monument company personnel, families of the deceased, and members of the general public.

PURPOSE OF CONTACTS: Contacts are typically to give or exchange information, motivate personnel, provide services, and resolve problems.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The work is typically performed while sitting at a desk or table or while intermittently sitting, standing, stooping, walking, bending, or crouching. The employee occasionally lifts light and heavy objects, climbs ladders, and uses tools or equipment requiring a high degree of dexterity. This is light work requiring the exertion of up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work is typically performed in an office and outdoors. The employee may be exposed to noise, dust, dirt, grease, machinery with moving parts, contagious or infectious diseases, irritating chemicals, and occasional cold or inclement weather. The work requires the use of protective devices such as masks, goggles, or gloves. Involves occasional exposure to some disagreeable elements (dust, heat, fumes, cold, noise, vibration, or wetness), and accidents are improbable, other than minor injuries.

SUPERVISORY AND MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITY: Supervision may be exercised over assigned personnel.