State of Maryland

A Veterans Cemetery Superintendent is the full performance level of work directing the operation and maintenance of a State veteran’s cemetery.  Employees in this classification interact with the public, funeral directors and staff, veterans' organizations and elected officials to provide information and resolve concerns.  Employees in this classification supervise building and grounds workers, heavy equipment operators, security and clerical support staff at a State veteran’s cemetery.

Employees in this classification receive general supervision from the Veterans Cemetery Program Director or the Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs.  Employees may be subject to call-in 24 hours a day and may be required to work on evenings, weekends and holidays.  The work requires the use of protective equipment such as hard hats, safety shoes, and ear and eye protection when inspecting work at the cemetery.

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.

The Veterans Cemetery Assistant Superintendent is differentiated from the Veterans Cemetery Superintendent in that the Veterans Cemetery Assistant Superintendent assists the Superintendent in directing the operation and maintenance of a State veteran’s cemetery and has supervisory responsibility for the staff of the cemetery while the Veterans Cemetery Superintendent has supervisory responsibility for Veterans Cemetery Assistant Superintendent, directs the operation and maintenance of a State veteran's cemetery and has responsibility for the staff of the cemetery.

Directs the operation and maintenance of a State veterans cemetery;

Plans, coordinates and supervises the work of building and grounds workers, heavy equipment operators, security and clerical staff at a State veteran’s cemetery;

Verifies that eligibility for interment in a State veteran’s cemetery has been met by reviewing documents concerning military service and dependent eligibility;

Reviews required interment documents for accuracy and assigns interment sites;

Schedules interment services and makes arrangements for the opening and closing of graves;

Plans and coordinates cemetery ceremonies conducted by veteran, civic, fraternal or patriotic organizations and groups;

Receives and accounts for dependent interments fees;

Provides information and addresses questions and complaints concerning eligibility criteria for interment and other requirements and benefits of the State Veterans Cemetery Program to veterans and their families, government officials, military personnel, veterans’ organizations, civic groups, funeral directors and the public;

Secures competitive bids on contracts for services and supplies;

Oversees the purchasing, storage and issue of supplies and equipment for the cemetery;

Maintains interment records and prepares reports concerning the operation and maintenance of a State veteran’s cemetery;

Participates in the formulation and implementation of cemetery policies and procedures;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of the operation and maintenance of a cemetery, park or forest land;

Knowledge of the principles and practices of supervision;

Knowledge of the safe use of the equipment and tools used in constructing and maintaining the buildings and grounds of a cemetery, park or forest land;

Ability to interpret and apply the laws, rules and regulations governing the operation of a State veteran’s cemetery;

Ability to review military service documents and forms to verify eligibility for interment in a State veteran’s cemetery;

Ability to plan, coordinate and supervise the work of lower-level staff;

Ability to schedule, plan and coordinate interment services and ceremonies;

Ability to communicate effectively with veterans and their families, government officials, military personnel, veterans’ organizations, civic groups, funeral directors and the public concerning eligibility criteria for interment and other benefits and services of the State Veterans Cemetery Program;

Ability to maintain interment records and prepare reports concerning the operation and maintenance of a State veteran’s cemetery.

Education:   Graduation from an accredited high school or possession of a high school equivalency certificate.

Experience: Two years of operations management experience in cemetery operations, national or State park operations, golf course management, grounds maintenance, or construction; or two years of operations management experience in customer service, retail or hospitality.  Operations management experience must include two or more of the following responsibilities:  supervision of staff, public relations, project management, vendor management, equipment and facilities maintenance management, or inventory management. 

Notes: 

1. Candidates may substitute additional experience as defined above on a year-for-year basis for the required education.

2. Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience at the rank of Corporal/Petty Officer or higher 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 not assigned to a bargaining unit, as indicated by the designation of S (Supervisor), M (Manager), T (Agency Head), U (Board or Commission Member), W (Student), X (Used by Agency or Excluded by Executive Order), or Z (Confidential).  As provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial and confidential employees are excluded collective bargaining.  Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.