Cemetery Superintendent

Security National Financial Corporation; Santa Fe, Northern (NM, KY); Hybrid; USD 32,000 - 74,501,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical (with HSA and FSA options)

Dental and vision

401(k) with company match

Paid vacation, sick leave and holidays

Year-round, full-time position

Schedule: Monday-Friday

Job summary

Santa Fe Memorial Gardens is seeking a hands-on Grounds Supervisor to operate backhoes, manage a small crew, and maintain irrigation systems and ponds in Santa Fe, NM. You will ensure burial locations align with maps and requests, set markers, and coordinate with funeral staff with care and respect.

This full-time, on-site role requires 3+ years backhoe experience, 2+ years of supervision, and strong record-keeping. We offer competitive pay, health benefits, a 401(k) plan, and a weekday schedule.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of backhoe or excavator operation
• 2+ years supervising a crew (cemetery, golf course, parks, landscape or construction)
• Hands-on irrigation repair and troubleshooting, including main and lateral line repair, valves and controllers
• Experience with work orders, maps or job records
• Valid driver's license with an acceptable driving record
• Ability to pass a pre-employment drug screen and background check

Responsibilities

• Open and close graves with a backhoe, and handle cremation interments and graveside setups
• Verify every burial location against cemetery maps, work orders and authorizations before digging
• Set, level and reset markers, monuments and foundations, and correct sunken or uneven graves
• Operate and maintain the irrigation system, including the well and pump, main and lateral lines, valves, controllers and heads
• Maintain ponds and water features, including pumps, water levels, circulation and water quality
• Manage water use carefully in Santa Fe's high-desert climate
• Supervise and train a small grounds crew: set daily priorities, assign work and check quality
• Keep accurate interment records, work orders, equipment logs and supply inventories
• Maintain turf, trees, landscaping, roads and walkways, and plan seasonal grounds work
• Perform preventive maintenance on equipment and coordinate repairs
• Enforce safe practices for excavation, equipment and PPE
• Coordinate with funeral home and office staff, and treat families and visitors with respect

Skills

Backhoe operation

Crew supervision

Irrigation repair

Maps/work orders reading

Valid driver’s license

Drug screen/background check pass

Job description

Description

Please read before applying. This role requires:

• Backhoe experience: you can safely dig and backfill graves, trenches or utility cuts
• Irrigation experience: you can troubleshoot and repair a well-fed system with main and lateral lines, ponds and water features
• Crew supervision: you have led a small crew, assigned work and held people accountable
• Records and work orders: you can read maps and work orders and keep accurate records
• Pre-employment screening: offers depend on passing a drug screen, a background check and a driving record review

ABOUT THE ROLE

Every service at Santa Fe Memorial Gardens depends on the grounds being ready. The grave must be opened in the right place, the setting must be peaceful, and each family must be met with care. You'll run that operation hands-on, from the backhoe seat to the crew schedule.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

• Open and close graves with a backhoe, and handle cremation interments and graveside setups
• Verify every burial location against cemetery maps, work orders and authorizations before digging
• Set, level and reset markers, monuments and foundations, and correct sunken or uneven graves
• Operate and maintain the irrigation system, including the well and pump, main and lateral lines, valves, controllers and heads
• Maintain ponds and water features, including pumps, water levels, circulation and water quality
• Manage water use carefully in Santa Fe's high-desert climate
• Supervise and train a small grounds crew: set daily priorities, assign work and check quality
• Keep accurate interment records, work orders, equipment logs and supply inventories
• Maintain turf, trees, landscaping, roads and walkways, and plan seasonal grounds work
• Perform preventive maintenance on equipment and coordinate repairs
• Enforce safe practices for excavation, equipment and PPE
• Coordinate with funeral home and office staff, and treat families and visitors with respect

Requirements

REQUIRED

• 3+ years of backhoe or excavator operation
• 2+ years supervising a crew (cemetery, golf course, parks, landscape or construction)
• Hands-on irrigation repair and troubleshooting, including main and lateral line repair, valves and controllers
• Experience with work orders, maps or job records
• Valid driver's license with an acceptable driving record
• Ability to pass a pre-employment drug screen and background check

PREFERRED

• Cemetery or grounds maintenance experience
• Experience setting markers, monuments or foundations
• Experience with well pumps, pond pumps or water features
• Bilingual in English and Spanish preferred
• Pesticide applicator license preferred
• Cemetery or work-order software

Coming from a golf course? If you've run a crew, managed a well-fed irrigation system with ponds, and can operate a backhoe, you already have the core skills. We'll train you on cemetery operations.

WHAT WE OFFER

• $23-26, depending on experience
• Medical (with HSA and FSA options), dental and vision
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid vacation, sick leave and holidays
• Year-round, full-time position with a steadier schedule than typical golf course hours
• Schedule: [Monday-Friday, with weekend and holiday service coverage as needed]

WORK ENVIRONMENT

This safety-sensitive role involves heavy equipment, outdoor work in all seasons, uneven terrain, digging and lifting. We provide reasonable accommodation as required.

Security National is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Offers depend on successful completion of a background check, drug screen and driving record review.