Executive Summary

Historic Oakwood Cemetery seeks a well-rounded and dynamic Superintendent of the Grounds to

oversee the overall maintenance program at Raleigh’s oldest non-profit Cemetery. Historic Oakwood

Cemetery, a beautiful 155-year-old park-like sacred space of 72 acres. An Arbnet certified Level 1

Arboretum, Oakwood is home to over 900 trees, including many specimen and champion varieties.

Historic Oakwood Cemetery proudly continues to serve families for burial services, as well as a noted

outdoor museum. Oakwood continues to be a Cemetery full of life—an active burial ground, a certified

wildlife habitat, and sacred grounds which host educational programs and community events.

Oakwood Cemetery's Superintendent’s work will continue within the

tradition of the Cemetery’s long history, but also bring a

new and modern perspective to overseeing the historic

grounds. They will be a leader, able to manage and direct

the grounds crew as they work year-round to maintain the

grounds. They will be a strong communicator, acting as

the ambassador on the grounds to families and visitors

alike. A self-starter, the Superintendent will look at the

cemetery grounds from both the big picture and in the

details, ensuring the cemetery is as welcoming and

comforting as it has been throughout its history.

The Superintendent reports to the Executive Director at

Oakwood Cemetery, but has the primary responsibility of

the outside operation of the Cemetery and any other

related functions. All grounds crew, property, tools, and

equipment are under control of the Superintendent. This

position also steps in to assist the Executive Director inside- working with families and selling grave

space when needed.

Job duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Supervising, working with, and motivating grounds crew members including training reviews and

discipline. The grounds crew consists of a foreman and 6 other full-time employees who handle

different functions of grounds maintenance and grave preparation.

• Maintenance of all cemetery equipment, including records of repair and recommendations for

new purchases

• Groundskeeping including mowing, leaf and decoration removal, maintenance of cemetery

plantings, overall grounds upkeep. The Superintendent and Foreman work together to

determine daily job plans, larger projects, and seasonal work. The superintendent is a working

position, while cross training does exist, this candidate must be flexible enough to jump in to

mow or dig, when necessary.

• Entering burial data into lot books; this information is prepared by office staff.

• Assisting families with pre and at need sales and the necessary paperwork to complete that task.

The Organization

A place of unique significance, meaning and value to Raleigh,

Wake County, the state of North Carolina, and thousands of

citizens for more than 155 years, Historic Oakwood Cemetery

provides a beautiful park-like setting for the final resting

place of a fascinating cross section of over 25,000 of the

area’s citizenry, including many prominent city, state and

national leaders.

Among the many beautiful monuments and statuary within the cemetery are those of seven governors,

five United States Senators, eight Supreme Court Chief Justices of North Carolina, four Civil War

generals, two Secretaries of the United States Navy, numerous Raleigh mayors, and thousands of other

individuals, some widely known and others known only to their families, but each life’s story constitutes

a part of the interesting and colorful history of Raleigh, Wake County and North Carolina.

Oakwood Cemetery encompasses 72 acres, of which 30 acres remain for future needs. Oakwood

Cemetery contains over three miles of paved roadways, several thousand feet of wrought iron fencing, a

Visitor and Information Center constructed in 1910 of local granite, a Memorial Cremation Garden for

cremation burials and a beautiful Chapel Mausoleum for above-ground full body and cremation

entombments.

The diversity of the Raleigh area, with its wide variety of languages, cultures, religions, and traditions is

not lost at Oakwood. Historic Oakwood Cemetery honors all those buried in the cemetery and remains

open to all without preference or discrimination relating to race, religion, or national origin.

Valuing the heritage and people of the city, county, and state it serves, the staff at Oakwood Cemetery

has conducted detailed research relating to the lives of many of the most notable and colorful

individuals buried on its grounds. The Cemetery also preserves interesting information about hundreds

of unique monuments, statues, and decorations which dominate the cemetery. This information is

readily available to family members, historians, and interested individuals and is presented to student

groups and visitors.

Oakwood is widely recognized as an outstanding example of the evolution of 19th Century garden

cemeteries from the grid-like church graveyards to spacious, beautifully landscaped gardens and parks

located away from fast paced city life. These “modern” cemeteries were designed to be resting-places

for the deceased which could be enjoyed by the living and a place designed to “pay respects to the dead

while celebrating life.”

Like only a handful of garden cemeteries in other major metropolitan areas, Historic Oakwood is

beautifully landscaped and filled with a wide variety of oaks, cedars, maples, azaleas, dogwoods, hollies,

and other attractive shrubs and flowers that it presents a most serene setting. In addition, the

excellence and diversity of the carvings, statues, bas reliefs works, and other decorations on its many

memorials and monuments make the grounds an impressive sculpture garden of exceptional artistic

interest.

A true Raleigh, Wake County and North Carolina treasure, one to be enjoyed by everyone who visits.

Historic Oakwood Cemetery is not just a place to come to at the time of an interment but also on special

memorial days, celebrations, and remembrances. Whether on guided tours or on casual visits to see the

statues and study the inscriptions, or to simply enjoy a beautiful day, Oakwood Cemetery is for all.

Minimum Requirements

Ability to lift up to 75 lbs

Preferred experience with operation and maintenance of

heavy equipment, back hoe, skid steer, tractor, etc (or

willingness to learn). Training provided if necessary.

Preferred experience with basic landscaping, maintenance of

plants, or willingness to learn.

Ability to supervise and lead team of grounds crew.

Starting salary range is $65,000-70,000. Health care

provided for employee; no monthly premiums charged to employee. 1 week of sick time and 2 weeks

paid vacation per year.

Work hours are 7-4 M-Th, 7-3 on Fridays. Director and superintendent alternate Saturdays if funerals

are scheduled.

Please send resume and cover letter to Robin Simonton, Executive Director robin@historicoakwood.com

Questions? Call 919.832.6077

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $65,000.00 - $70,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Health insurance
• Paid time off

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Rotating weekends
• Year round work

Ability to Relocate:

• Raleigh, NC 27601: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person