Equipment Operator Craftsman

Summary

Under the direction of the Cemetery Operations Manager, serve as an operator of heavy and light motorized equipment. Scope of duties to include: maintain cemetery grounds and grave areas, including, but not limited to, irrigation and grave excavation; burial functions (opening/closing for interments, entombments, inurnments, disinterment); lawn sodding, seeding, fertilizing; monument and marker setting; manual and mechanical earth moving and lawn care equipment operation.

Facilitates special events, services, and programs for Veteran’s Cemetery.

• Determines workloads and schedules, interpreting and implementing policies and procedures.
• Plan, coordinate, and conduct a wide variety of services provided by the Veterans Cemetery, including the maintenance and landscaping of grounds, safety, irrigation repair/efficiency, facilities, and cemetery medians.
• Make daily/periodic inspections of heavy/maintenance equipment to ensure proper operation and employee safety.
• Prepare a variety of reports, including operational, activity, and equipment maintenance reports, and recommend purchase requisitions, purchase orders, check requests, invoices, and other reports as needed.
• Communicate effectively with fellow workers, contractor personnel, and client families, and ensure that procedures and rules are followed at the facility.
• Additional duties assigned.

• Two years of heavy equipment experience preferred.
• Previous heavy equipment experience in a cemetery field is preferred.
• Must be at least 18 years of age.

• A high school diploma or a GED is required.
• A valid Texas driver’s license; the ability to obtain one within ninety (90) days of employment, or a military waiver is required.
• Physical Exam is required.

• Operate mechanical/heavy equipment, including and not limited to: excavator, dump truck, tool cat, skid steer, utility vehicle, tilt bed trailer, jackhammer, and tamper.
• Materials, methods, practices of casket lowering devices, irrigation repair, and equipment used in all facets of cemetery maintenance activities.
• Use of hand-held tools such as shovels, pick, rake, sledgehammer, lawn mower, weed eater, leaf blower, and chainsaw.
• Methods and techniques used in estimating time and materials for grounds maintenance activities.
• Procedures and techniques of plant material identification, selection, planning, cultivation, and pruning.
• Principles of understanding first aid practices and techniques; general safety protocol; understanding policies and guidelines for dealing with an emergency.

• Crew lead/train ground crew during opening & closing internment, inurnments, and heavy equipment operations.
• Recommend and implement goals, objectives, and practices for providing effective and efficient cemetery maintenance services.
• Respond quickly in an emergency situation; follow and enforce rules; verbally communicate with the public and staff effectively.
• Understand and follow oral and written instructions.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and written.
• Become familiar with the National Cemetery Administration’s and Texas Veterans Land Board regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Become familiar with the VA/NCA/VLB guidelines regarding veterans’ data and information sharing, placement and tracking of remains, placement and tracking of government headstones/markers, and overall aesthetics of the cemetery.

• Essential duties require the following physical skills and work environment:
• Heavy work. Exerting up to 100lbs. of force frequently to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects.
• Repetitive motion. Substantial movements (motions) of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers, knees, and back.
• Employee is required to have dexterity to perform kneeling, crouching, bending at the waist, and occasional overhead work; extensive physical labor.