Grounds Specialist - San Fernando Mission Cemetery

**Location: San Fernando Mission Cemetery****Status: Non \- Exempt, Full Time**
**POSITION SUMMARY**
Grounds Specialist operates tractor driven hydraulic digging machine, making all necessary working adjustments and minor maintenance and repairs and operates heavier equipment and does a variety of other cemetery tasks as assigned.
**ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS**
Because all Archdiocesan employees represent the Roman Catholic Church, they are expected to conduct themselves according to the goals and mission of the Church in performing their work.
* Safely operate heavy equipment, the backhoe, mower, sweeper, trimmer, dump truck or other cemetery equipment.
* Makes certain that equipment is clean and maintained in good operating condition to ensure safety.
* Sets up graves for interment services, seals vault, backfills and tamps graves, replaces sod; trims all memorials and monuments on cemetery grounds.
* Sets up tents as necessary; handles and stores dirt sheets and greens.
* Mow, edges, sweeps lawns.
* Removes flowers, cares for vases.
* Prunes, fertilizes, and waters the grounds.
* Cares for flowerbeds and areas around buildings.
* Raises graves and memorials, levels lawn.
* Cleans office and performs janitorial maintenance.
* Gathers and removes trash.
* Acts as funeral attendant; assists priests, patrons and funeral directors as necessary.
* May train other ground workers and is responsible for safe and careful handling of all cemetery property and equipment; makes certain of its proper use and security.
* Inform Manager/Supervisor of needed maintenance or repairs to equipment, or buildings and submits monthly inspection reports.
* Performs other minor maintenance work. Evaluates and recommends the need for equipment and sprinkler system maintenance and repairs.
* Maintains accurate records and reports and inventories of all supplies and submits them to Manager/Supervisor monthly.
* Maintains good personal appearance; conducts self in a manner befitting funerals and respect for the dead.
* Follows, enforces, and maintain safety rules and regulations. May instruct other grounds personnel in cemetery safety procedures and policies; maintains accurate records and a safe work environment.
* Maintains cooperative and positive work relationships with management and co\-workers.
* May assist a Manager/Supervisor in the reviewing and evaluation of other grounds personnel.
* Works with management to accommodate special circumstances with patrons.
* Performs other related duties as assigned.

Requirements:
**MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS**
**Education and Experience**
Any combination of experience and education likely to provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities, typically:
* Class “A” License required for driving heavy duty equipment
* General education sufficient to understand and observe written and oral instructions, directions, and safety rules.
* Two years' experience in cemetery grounds care, operation.
* Courses or training in operation of heavy equipment, lawn maintenance, landscaping, basic mechanics, and equipment operation.

**Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities**
*Knowledge of:*
* Basic English language usage.
* Application of training in procedures and safety practices relative to interments/entombments and disinterment's/disentombments.
* Excavating, hauling, dumping, edging and trimming equipment operation and repair.
* Lawn, grounds, and equipment maintenance.

*Skill in:*
* Interpersonal relations.
* Training, coaching, and directing the work of others
* Maintaining positive public relations with patrons, funeral directors, priests, and vendors.
* Safe and efficient use of required machinery and equipment.

*Ability to:*
* Understand and follow written and oral instructions.
* Plan and complete job on own initiative.
* Train, assign and delegate workload, as needed.
* Lift heavy objects and equipment's.
* Handle grave set\-ups, tins and sod carefully.
* Dig and Backfill graves, transport vaults and layout graves on own after initial instruction from supervisor/Assistant Supervisor.

**Physical and Environmental Requirements:**
* Lift objects weighing a minimum of 50 pounds unassisted and be able to lift heavier objects with the aid of other grounds workers.
* Sit for sustained periods of time on a daily basis.
* Perform tasks requiring intermittent bending, stooping and walking.
* Sustain frequent movement of the fingers, wrists, hands, waist and arms.

Compensation: $21\.97\-$26\.92