This position is located at the Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Duties

This is a bargaining unit position. This position is represented by AFGE. Please note that as provided for in the AFGE/VA Master Agreement the FIRST area of consideration for this position will be permanent employees of the local facility in which this position is being filled, the SECOND area of consideration will be employees at other VA facilities, and the THIRD area of consideration will be all other eligibles. The Cemetery Caretaker Leader is responsible work assignments, tracking workload and reports regarding ground maintenance, headstones, markers, and niche covers. Relays instruction to other employees received from the Cemetery Foreman and is responsible for getting work started. Works along with other employees, demonstrating and instructing on proper work methods, habits, and safety, as well as setting production pace. Ensures that drawings, plans, blueprints, materials, and tools are available for all facets of cemetery work. This position requires the incumbent to perform and train employees in all tasks related to ground maintenance, headstones, markers, and niche covers; such tasks are, but not limited to, expansion of existing graves, verification of existing maps/drawings for accuracy, development of new maps/drawings as needed, monument installation procedures, safety procedures, GIS and GPS verification and data collection procedures, cemetery best practices, standards, and measures. The Cemetery Caretaker Leader directs planning, scheduling, and prioritizing assignments from seasonal to long range for accomplishment of cemetery programs and projects for grounds maintenance. Leads cemetery caretakers or contractors in the performance of daily grounds maintenance activities to include filling sunken graves, developing work orders, renovating burial sections, mowing, and trimming grass using riding mowers, string trimmers and edgers in the maintenance of established turf. The incumbent also plans for grounds and monument maintenance operations on a week-to-week basis or as needed due to operational requirements of the facility. Leads cemetery caretakers or contractors in the performance of headstone cleaning, fine tune alignment (FTA), raise & realignment (R&R) projects that have been identified by cemetery leadership. Establishes deadlines, priorities, and work sequences and plans work assignments based on general work schedules, methods, and policies set by higher-level supervisors. Incumbent reviews work processes directly related to the unloading of upright headstones, flat markers, niche covers, and memorial niches. Coordinates daily distribution of workload with the Cemetery Caretaker Foreman. 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 Leader/ PD1592515 The full performance level of this position is WL - 08. Relocation Expenses: Not Authorized Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required

Requirements

• Subject to a background/security investigation.
• Designated and/or random drug testing may be required.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this job.
• Pass a pre-employment medical examination.
• Must possess a valid state driver's license.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement,02/01/2024. Your background must demonstrate work involved in leading work pertaining to landscaping, grounds keeping, or other related trades experience that includes the use of hand tools and/or power tools, and the safe operation of related machinery and equipment used in cemetery caretaking practices, as described in the duties section of the announcement. EXPERIENCE: A specific length of training and experience is not required, but you must show evidence of training or experience of sufficient scope and quality of your ability to do the work of this position. Evidence which demonstrates you possess the knowledge, skills, and ability to perform the duties of this position must be supported by detailed descriptions of such on your resume. Applicants will be rated in accordance with the OPM Qualification Standard Handbook X-118C ( www.opm.gov/qualifications/x-118c). 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 are/is: 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)Lead or SuperviseOperate Safely (Non-Motor Vehicle)Technical PracticesUse and Maintain Tools and Equipment 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 hear, 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

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Contacts

• Address Fort Snelling National Cemetery 7601 34th Avenue, South Minneapolis, MN 55450 US
• Name: NCA Human Resources Center
• Phone: (317)916-3660
• Email: [email protected]