Cemetery Caretaker I - City of Plant City

Cemetery Caretaker I - Groundskeeper

Pay Rate: $21.00/hr.

Plant City, FL

11 Paid Holidays, PTO and Benefits offered.

Schedule: Monday - Friday 7am to 4pm

Grounds maintenance and cemetery operations experience preferred. 

 Position Summary:

Performs semi-skilled and manual work involving the maintenance of City property, cemetery grounds and monuments, as well as the preparation of grave sites for interments.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: The following duties are illustrative and not exhaustive. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position.

• Performs routine grounds and road right-of-way clearing and maintenance, including cutting grass with power mowers such as push-type, zero-turn, and tractor mowers; operating string trimmers, edgers, hedge trimmers, and blowers; cleaning and maintaining grounds maintenance equipment; cutting, and spraying weeds; trimming and pruning shrubbery and trees; raking leaves and other debris; edging curbs; laying sod or seed as required; loading trash and trimmings onto a trailer or truck; sweeping or blowing sidewalks and monuments; cleaning restrooms, shop areas; removing litter; inspecting and repairing irrigation systems; and preparing areas for public use.
• Performs basic cleaning and routine maintenance of City vehicles and equipment, including washing, vacuuming, checking fluid levels, and refueling as needed; reports mechanical problems or needed repairs to the appropriate supervisor.
• Performs routine grave preparation for interments, including assisting with grave location and layout; excavating graves to specified dimensions using a pick, shovel, and/or backhoe; positioning the lowering device over the grave; erecting the canopy; laying carpet; and arranging folding chairs in preparation for funeral services.
• Performs routine grave activities during and after funeral services, including assisting with lowering the casket into the vault; removing the lowering device; backfilling the grave; tamping and smoothing the grave site soil; arranging flowers; and leaving the site clean, orderly, and professional in appearance.
• Handles deceased individuals, caskets, vaults, and cremated remains in a professional manner and with dignity, respect, and sensitivity toward the deceased and their families.
• Performs routine cemetery monument maintenance: spraying and cleaning monuments; resetting or repairing monuments as required.
• Inspect cemetery grounds, facilities, equipment, and work areas for unsafe conditions, damage, or maintenance needs and report concerns to the appropriate supervisor.
• Reports damaged or vandalized monuments, gravesites, fences, gates, irrigation systems, and other cemetery property to the appropriate supervisor.
• Applies insecticides, herbicides, and fertilizers as required.
• Informs and assists public in the use of facilities.
• Follows OSHA requirements, City safety policies, and applicable cemetery procedures.
• For declared disasters, position is considered “essential”; works with City crews during preparation and recovery operations (road clearing, debris removal from rights of way and city properties, inspection of facilities, etc.).
• Performs other job duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of grounds maintenance techniques, practices, and principles.
• Knowledge of tools and equipment to do related work.
• Ability to perform heavy manual labor under varying weather conditions.
• Ability to follow written and verbal instructions.
• Skill in the operation and preventative maintenance of equipment and related tools.
• Positive customer service skills. 
• Ability to work well with others or work independently, task oriented.
• Self-starter, shows initiative, able to follow instructions.

Education and Experience:

• High school graduation or possession of an acceptable equivalency diploma.   
• Grounds maintenance and cemetery operations experience preferred. 

Certificates and Licenses:

• Possession of a Florida driver’s license and be insurable by the City’s current insurance carrier.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• N/A