Senior Grounds Foreman

Job Overview

Under direct supervision, responsible for the overall appearance and maintenance of cemetery, buildings and equipment. Coordinates schedules and delegates work of Grounds Service Department employees in close collaboration with Office Administrator and General Manager and applies leadership skills to train and oversee activities of Grounds Service Department employees. Facilitates ordering of supplies and materials and maintains inventory. The successful candidate will have a strong work ethic and previous experience in a general labor or grounds keeping-type position, including supervision of at least 2 direct reports.

Responsibilities and Duties

• Coordinate schedule and daily / weekly tasks for Grounds Service Department working collaboratively with Office Administrator to ensure customer satisfaction and priority tasks are successfully completed in a timely fashion.
• Apply leadership skills to train and oversee all activities of Grounds Service Department employees.
• Acknowledge and reward the good work of GSD employees.
• Assigns the following tasks to direct reports and assists as needed and ensures successful completion : Cut grass, maintain lawn, trim around trees, walkways and memorial markers, spread seed, move and remove flowers to and from chapel and graveside.
• Clear debris and maintain drives and walkways in safe condition; assess roadways and put cold patch in potholes each spring.
• Carefully locate correct grave sites, layout area to open following proper procedures every time and safely open gravesites using backhoe without damaging surrounding vaults, markers and monuments in advance of scheduled service.
• Set vault and prepare grave sites for interments by assembling tents and arranging chairs for graveside ceremony or preparing interment chapel for committal service, ensuring personal appearance and demeanor are presented professionally and with compassion for families, funeral directors and anyone attending the service or visiting the cemetery.
• Provide professional assistance to funeral processions by guiding them to the proper location and aid pallbearers with placement of caskets on lowering device; stand at attention during service and provide service to funeral director as needed.
• Maintain professional appearance and demeanor at all times.
• Direct preparation and setup for opening and closing of entombments in mausoleums and inurnments in columbariums and provide professional service to families.
• Ensure correct installation of memorials such as grave markers and bronze memorials and pour concrete foundations for monuments.
• Maintain and repair existing markers and other cemetery features.
• Cut down and remove sickly or dead trees and bushes.
• Maintain overall appearance and cleanliness.
• Clean and maintain facility and machinery, perform minor repairs, basic mechanical maintenance, painting, etc.
• Identify mechanical and structural concerns and report to Superintendent of Grounds Operations for assessment and repair.
• Properly place cemetery decorations in spring and fall.
• Facilitate ordering of supplies and materials and maintain inventory.

Qualifications