Job Description

The Arizona Veterans\xe2\x80\x99 Memorial Cemetery is looking for and interment caretaker who will work Under the general supervision of the Interment Supervisor, the Interment Caretaker is responsible for operating digging equipment and preparing graves for burial.
The ideal candidate will operate maintenance equipment and perform various task to include driving site dumper to transport dirt, stones, trash, and tools to and from designated locations within the cemetery. The candidate will also operate other ground maintenance equipment to include mowers, buggy, golf cart, excavator, tractor, pickup truck with or without a snowplow. They will lay out gravesites, set and aligning headstones and markers. They will monitoring performance of irrigation equipment, planting, transporting and performing routine maintenance on trees, shrubs and grass. The selected candidate will also perform minor facility maintenance such as painting and repairing ground equipment.
The candidate will also learn and participate in the Arizona Management System (AMS) for problem solving, process improvement, and work efficiencies and perform other job-related duties as assigned.
Job Duties:

• Operates grave digging equipment including, but not limited to, an excavator, site dumper, tractor equipped with a back hoe and front end loader; digs graves according to required dimensions; removes dirt and dumps beside grave or in site dumper; and operates other equipment as needed.
• Must be certified proficient by an Interment Supervisor in order to operate any equipment on the cemetery property.
• Drives a site dumper, golf cart, buggy and pickup truck to transport dirt, stones, trash, tools and light equipment to and from designated locations within the cemetery; operates all other grounds maintenance equipment to include utility vehicles, riding mowers, chain saws, hedge trimmers, earth tampers, snow plows and other equipment/tools as needed; performs minor repairs and preventative maintenance to equipment such as changing tires, oil changes, replacing filters to ensure proper operation.
• Unloads headstones/markers from truck by hand or with a forklift; inspects headstones/markers for damage or wrong information and transports from storage to the grave-site; assists in setting the headstones/markers in containment boxes of the grave liners; for graves without grave liner, assists in setting the headstone/marker to ensure alignment using lines, levels and measuring tape; repairs sunken graves and either re-sods or re-seeds grave-sites, as needed.
• Aligns grave-sites with other established graves or according to specified dimensions; lowers casket into grave and or grave liner and replaces dirt over grave-site either by hand or by using an excavator; tamping as necessary with a hand or powered tamper; removes excess dirt and transports to dump area.
• Performs miscellaneous janitorial tasks in restrooms, utility rooms, administrative building, maintenance building; sweeps and mops floor, cleans restrooms and replenishing restroom supplies, as needed. Performs minor facility maintenance such as painting and incidental carpentry tasks such as replacing handles on tools, door knobs, hinges, posts, signs, etc.; utilizes common carpentry tools such as hammer or drill; patches gutters, storm sewer and traps, using asphalt gravel or shale.
• Monitors performance of irrigation equipment to ensure efficient water usage and utilizes best practice techniques.
• Plants, transplants and performs routine maintenance on trees/shrubs/grass and applies compound to trees where limbs are removed; rakes leaves and grass to present a neat appearance of grounds; plants grass areas that need grass or places sod; broadcasts seed and applies fertilizer and lime by hand or mechanical devices; cleans headstones and markers using power washer; cleans flower vases to ensure a clean environment.
  

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities (KSAs):
Knowledge of:

• Basic principles and practices of grounds maintenance
• Proper use of power and hand tools
• Common occupational safety practices and procedures
• Use of plumb lines and stakes
• Sprinkler systems and water pumps

Skills in:

• Operating 1.5 to 3.0 ton dump truck
• Operating tractors, excavators, site dumper, riding mower, bush hog, and other associated equipment used in cemetery ground maintenance
• Utilizing various carpentry tools and equipment, such as a hammer, drill, chainsaw, weed whacker and push mower, etc.

Ability to:

• Learn the procedures in performing burials and headstone and marker setting and aligning
• Learn the Arizona Management System (AMS) to ensure procedures are the current best way of doing tasks
• Assist families and the public in locating specific grave-sites
• Lift and carry up to 90 pounds; push and pull up to 50 pounds (e.g. headstones/markers, grounds equipment, etc.)
• Identify and address routine ground maintenance issues, including safety concerns
• Work in the outdoors and associated elements on a continuous basis
• Work independently, under minimal supervision

Selective Preference(s):

• The ideal candidate will possess at least one year experience in grounds maintenance, gardening work, nursery work, and tree care operations, to include proper use of power and hand tools and equipment.

Pre-Employment Requirements:

• This position requires driving vehicles. Requires possession of and ability to retain a current, valid state-issued driver\'s license appropriate to the assignment. Employees who drive on state business are subject to driver\'s license record checks, must maintain an acceptable driving record and must complete any required driver training (see Arizona Administrative Code R2-10-207.12).
• Requires an active State of Arizona Office of Pest Management Applicators License or the attainment of such license within six months of appointment. This license must be maintained as a condition of employment.
• Required to pass a background check through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Benefits:
The Arizona Department of Administration offers a comprehensive benefits package to include:

• Sick leave
• Vacation with 10 paid holidays per year
• Health and dental insurance
• Retirement plan
• Life insurance and long-term disability insurance
• Referral Incentives available for qualifying positions
• Optional employee benefits include short-term disability insurance, deferred compensation plans, and supplemental life insurance

For a complete list of benefits provided by The State of Arizona, please visit our benefits page
Retirement:

• Positions in this classification participate in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS).
• Please note, enrollment eligibility will become effective after 27 weeks of employment.

Contact Us:

• If you have any questions please feel free to contact Human Resources at recruiting@azdvs.gov and 602.781.7032 for assistance.