Summary This position is located at the Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne, Massachusetts. This cemetery is working under a flexible concept wherein the incumbent will perform both field and administrative functions Responsibilities Field Operation Duties: The Cemetery Caretaker in this position performs a variety of cemetery interment and maintenance tasks involving manual labor. The incumbent will operate a variety of equipment including, but not limited to operating utility vehicles, riding mowers, tractors, spreaders, forklifts, power pressure washers, and ugers. Must be able to operate equipment including backhoe, excavator and Bobcat. Operates licensed vehicles on public roadways to pick up and/or deliver supplies and equipment. Drives a variety of equipment which has an assortment of towed or attached accessories powered by take-off, hydraulic pumps or by direct drive from wheels. Prepares for daily interment of casketed or cremated remains, using the daily interment schedule showing names of decedents, assigned grave locations, @type and depth of grave and grave liner. Administrative Operations: Performs cemetery administration specialist functions. Incumbent greets visitors including family members and general public; responds to requests and answers questions. Prepares all paperwork related to the interment process, checking work in progress and assuring that all deadlines, necessary information and procedures are met. Verifies eligibility for burial using military discharge papers and/or access to the Beneficiary Identification & Resource Locator System (BIRLS) and enters data to generate Records of Interment (ROI) in the National Cemetery Administration's Burial Operation Support System (BOSS). Coordinates burial services between National Cemetery staff, volunteers, and funeral home directors to ensure the needs are met with respect to the next-of-kin. Work schedule: May be required to work Monday through Friday to include occasional weekends. Due to the mission of the National Cemetery, the cemetery cannot be closed for more than 2 consecutive days at any given time. Additionally, when a Federal holiday falls on a Monday or Friday, staff may be required to work on that holiday or a Saturday. All staff is required to work Memorial Day each year. Staff will be required to work overtime, weekends and holidays when necessary to meet the needs of the cemetery. Occasionally staff may be called back to the facility to perform emergency overtime work. Compressed/Flexible Schedule: Not Available Position Description Title/PD#:Cemetery Caretaker Technician/PD1573511 WG-None The full performance level of this position is WG-06 Relocation Expenses: Not Authorized Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this job Subject to a background/suitability investigation Designated and/or random drug testing may be required Pass a pre-employment medical examination. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 A complete application package; including Resume, Transcripts, etc. is required Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 07/13/2026. Candidates must demonstrate the potential to perform the duties involved in landscaping, groundskeeping, or related trades, including the use of hand tools, power tools, and the safe operation of machinery and equipment used in cemetery caretaking practices. This can be shown through work experience, training, education, or other relevant activities that establish the potential to carry out these responsibilities. Additionally, candidates must demonstrate the potential to perform administrative tasks in an office environment, such as gathering data, coordinating meetings, establishing and maintaining filing systems, using automated data processing tools to generate reports, and effectively managing priorities to meet deadlines. Evidence of this potential can be shown through work, training, or relevant activities that indicate the potential to perform these duties effectively. EXPERIENCE: Candidates must demonstrate the potential to perform the duties involved in landscaping, groundskeeping, or related trades, including the use of hand tools, power tools, and the safe operation of machinery and equipment used in cemetery caretaking practices. Evidence of this potential can be shown through work, training, or relevant activities that indicate the potential to perform these duties effectively. SCREEN-OUT ELEMENT: Your qualifications will first be evaluated against the prescribed screen out element, which usually appears as question 1 in the on-line questionnaire. Those applicants who appear to possess at least the minimal acceptable qualification requirement are considered for further rating; those who do not are rated ineligible and are eliminated. The potential eligibles are then rated against the remainder of the Job Elements. The screen-out element(s) for this position is/are: Ability to do the job without more than normal supervision. Must possess and maintain a valid state driver's license. JOB ELEMENTS: Those who meet the minimum level of experience and training for the screen-out element will then be evaluated in each of the following job elements: Interpret Instructions, Specifications (includes blueprint reading) Technical Practices Use and Maintain Tools and Equipment Without more than normal supervision Dexterity and Safety Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. Physical Requirements: This position requires heavy physical effort with reaching, bending, turning, and moving hands, arms, feet and legs to operate the different sets of controls while operating the equipment and attachments. The Incumbent may be subjected to considerable strain caused by vibration, jerking, and jolting of the equipment over rough surfaces and the need to operate controls in awkward positions. Heavy effort is frequently exercised when performing duties such as tamping, carrying caskets/urns, lifting/moving grave planks, setting headstones, etc. Incumbent must be able to walk on hilly, flat, or rolling terrain. This position requires the employee to life weights up to 50 lbs. Occasionally items weighing more than 50 lbs are lifted with assistance from co-works. Employee may be exposed to noise levels exceeding 85 dBA for up to eight (8) hours per day. This exposure may adversely affect hearing. Working Conditions: Work must be performed outdoors, and incumbent will be exposed to all @types of weather throughout the year. Incumbent will be exposed to the sun, noise, extreme heat, and humidity, cold, snow, rain, wind, and is subject to dirt, dust, fumes (from motor and exhaust) mud, and water. Work is performed in areas where pesticides, insecticides, and fertilizers are applied. Appropriate protective equipment will be worn. The operator is exposed to injury from mishaps that may be involved in the operation of grounds maintenance equipment. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drugs use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Education Additional Information This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.
