State of Maryland

A Veterans Cemetery Caretaker is the full performance level of grounds keeping and building services work involving the care, beautification and maintenance of State cemetery grounds.  Employees in this classification perform a variety of duties necessary to create a positive impression of the cemetery grounds and facilities.  Employees in this classification do not supervise other positions.

Employees in this classification receive general supervision from a Veterans Cemetery Supervisor.  Employees may be subject to call-in on a 24 hour basis.  Employees may be assigned to shifts to include weekends and holidays.  Employees may be subject to limited time restrictions for completion of duties, especially when preparing for scheduled events, such as Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Veterans Day memorial services.  Employees will occasionally interact with and assist veterans, veterans’ family members and the general public during their visits to cemetery grounds.  The work may require the use of protective equipment, such as goggles and ear protection when operating machinery and power tools, and back braces, safety shoes and gloves when performing grounds work.  The duties may also require working in confined spaces at various heights and moving heavy objects.

Positions in this classification are evaluated by using the classification job evaluation methodology.  The use of this method involves comparing the assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work sections of the class specification.

Performs grounds keeping and building services work involving the care, beautification and maintenance of State cemetery grounds;

Transports casket from the committal chapel, lowers casket at the gravesite, and maintains gravesite area;

Locates and measures gravesites for future interments, sets initial grave markers, fills gravesites and installs permanent headstones;

Operates large landscaping vehicles, pick-up trucks and dump trucks;

Operates large power lawn mowers, power edgers and manual grounds equipment and tools;

Performs minor maintenance and repair on equipment, tools and buildings;

Removes snow and ice from designated areas, including roofs, sidewalks and roads;

Maintains roads, storm drains and parking areas on cemetery grounds;

Plants, waters and prunes trees, shrubs and flowers;

Sprays for weeds and insects, in compliance with Maryland State Pesticide Law, using unrestricted chemicals as required;

Removes debris from cemetery grounds and ensures that lawns and grounds are properly manicured;

May assist in opening and closing graves;

May operate varied snow removal equipment, including those that are motorized;

May load and unload supplies and equipment from trucks, and move and arrange furniture and equipment for meetings, special events and memorial services;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of the safe use and maintenance of manual and power tools and equipment used in the care, beautification and maintenance of grounds and buildings;

Knowledge of the methods, materials and techniques used in routine equipment maintenance and repair;

Ability to perform cemetery caretaker tasks, such as placement and alignment of grave markers, placement of sod, handling of caskets and repair of sunken gravesites;

Ability to apply the methods and materials used in the care, beautification and maintenance of State cemetery grounds;

Ability to safely operate grounds equipment, such as power lawnmowers and trimmers;

Ability to move heavy items, including headstones weighing up to 230 pounds using motorized or power equipment;

Ability to clean and maintain State cemetery grounds and buildings;

Ability to use and maintain manual and power tools and equipment;

Ability to remove snow and ice from outdoor areas;

Ability to read warning labels and directions for safe use of supplies, materials and equipment;

Ability to follow instructions.

Education:   Completion of the Sixth grade.

Experience: None.

Note: Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a non-commissioned officer in general maintenance classifications or cemetery caretaking specialty codes in the general maintenance field of work on a year-for-year basis for the required experience.

Class specifications are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies. Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

This is a Skilled Service classification in the State Personnel Management System.  All positions in this classification are Skilled Service positions.  Some positions in Skilled Service classifications may be designated Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.

This classification is assigned to Bargaining Unit A, Labor and Trades classes.  As provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial and confidential employees are excluded from collective bargaining.  Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.

Employees in this classification are eligible to receive overtime compensation.  An employee who works more than the normal workweek is entitled to be compensated for that overtime as provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 8-305.