Grave Digger (Parks)

City of Boston; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Boston is seeking a Cemetery Grounds Worker to perform routine grounds maintenance and grave digging in municipal cemeteries under supervision. You will break frozen ground, install liners and vault covers, move coffins, and prepare sites for burials with care and precision.

Additional duties include operating equipment, maintaining grounds in all weather, interacting with the public, and adhering to safety, CORI/SORI, and licensing requirements.

Qualifications

• Valid Massachusetts driver's license is required and must be maintained.
• Boston residency is required.
• Pre-employment physical, drug test, CORI and SORI checks required.
• Hours per week: 40; union/Salary Plan/Grade AFSCME/RA1-09L.

Responsibilities

• Dig graves and maintain grounds in City cemeteries under supervision.
• Breaks frozen ground with a pick, pneumatic hammer, and other tools.
• Install liners and vault covers, remove liners when required.
• Coffins moved from hearses to gravesites and disinterments performed as needed.
• Operate hand and riding mowers; perform grounds maintenance and seasonal tasks.
• Set grave markers and prep equipment for burials; interact with public.
• Work in various shifts and locations; follow safety procedures.

Skills

Ability to lift heavy materials

Manual groundskeeping

Public interaction

Attention to detail

Ability to follow instructions

Job description

INDIVIDUALS WISHING TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS POSITION MUST COMPLETE THE CIVIL SERVICE LABOR SERVICE REGISTRATION PROCESS FOR THE POSITION AT http://www.mass.gov/hrd/macs IN ADDITION TO COMPLETING THE CITY OF BOSTON CAREER CENTER APPLICATION.

Under immediate supervision, performs work of routine difficulty, digging graves and maintaining grounds in the City's cemeteries, and does related work as required.

• Breaks frozen ground with a pick, pneumatic hammer, and various other manual tools.
• Installs concrete sectional liners with covers in graves, installs one- or two-piece vault covers, and removes liners when required.
• Carries coffins from hearses to gravesites.
• Removes coffins when disinterment orders are received.
• Transfers coffins from the holding tomb to the gravesites.
• Required to operate hand and riding mowers.
• Cleans/maintains grounds, i.e., shovels snow, rakes leaves, picks up broken branches, etc.
• Sets grave markers and prepares all equipment and grounds for burials.
• Disinter remains for removals and/or reburials as required.
• Raises sunken graves.
• Requires groundskeeping, seeding, fertilizing, etc.
• Performs related work as required.

• Working ability to understand routine oral and written instructions.
• Ability to lift and transport heavy materials to the designated area.
• Ability to work under adverse weather conditions.
• Ability to interact with the public.
• Ability to exercise good judgment and focus on detail as required by the job.

Must be able to work any assigned shift/any assigned location.

Pre-employment physical, drug test, CORI, and SORI are required of selected applicants.

MUST HAVE AND MAINTAIN A VALID MASSACHUSETTS DRIVER'S LICENSE.

BOSTON RESIDENCY REQUIRED

Terms:

Union/Salary Plan/Grade: AFSCME/RA1-09L

Hours per week: 40