Groundskeeper - Linn Grove Cemetery - Seasonal

Salary Range: $13.65 - $17.28 hourly

Hiring Range: $15.00 - $17.28 hourly

Job Summary

The Groundskeeper - Cemetery ensures the physical aspects of the Linn Grove Cemetery are maintained and standards are met regarding the grounds, amenities, and overall curb appeal of the City of Greeley. This individual will work with a diverse team on a variety of projects and assignments. Incumbent may facilitate with burial services on a regular basis.

The Groundskeeper role is a hands-on, hardworking individual who must be willing to drop anything and everything for an emergency; big or small. The City relies on the Groundskeeper - Cemetery to follow safety protocols, while being responsive, thorough, and a resourceful self-starter with a customer focused mindset.

Scheduling for this position varies and may include working evenings, weekends, and holidays, as followed by State and Federal law.

Experience, Knowledge, And Skills

• Ability to work a variety of small and large events and venues;
• Small scale turf equipment and rollers used for cemetery grounds;
• Possess good manual dexterity to perform painting and refurbishment work (i.e. picnic tables, trash receptacles and buildings);
• Ability to safely operate around sensitive areas and expensive obstacles:
• Must be 18 years of age or older;
• Ability to identify most common native vs. non-native plant species;
• Power equipment, such as sod cutters, buffalo blowers, edger’s, and hand blowers;
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to take both written and verbal instructions;
• 3’-6’ wide riding mowers;
• Ability and willingness to assist others with questions about facilities operations, hours, and general regulations;
• Ability to identify native and non-native plants of concern in open spaces and make informed decisions on the actions based on each species.
• Ability to operate golf carts, turf utility vehicles, and two-stroke engine tools including string trimmers, hand and backpack blowers; hand power tools, push mowers, shop equipment, etc.
• Brush weed-eater, rototiller, snow throwers, and backpack blower;
• 1+ year of experience in grounds maintenance or similar field desired but not required;
• 1-2+ years of experience in park grounds, cemetery, golf course, horticulture or arboriculture, open space management, Rights of Way or similar fields required;

Essential Functions

• Perform other duties as assigned.
• Apply fertilizer, pesticide, and insecticide chemical applications using manual and ride-on spreaders, hand held and backpack sprayers, and vehicle mounted sprayers;
• Perform hand watering for lawns and landscape beds;
• Assist as a pallbearer during burial services occasionally on an as needed basis;
• Perform marker leveling;
• Assist with marker setting;
• Assist with setup of wayfinding signage for services;
• Assist in proper loading and securement of equipment in the field;
• Assist in the setup and teardown for burial services on uneven terrain;
• Direct visitors to plot locations throughout cemetery in search of specific plots;
• Assist with concrete foundation forming and finish work;
• Assist with Cemetery cleanup days;
• Perform irrigation tasks, including roller base set up and tear down, hand watering, sprinkler adjustment, soil moisture identification and management;
• Responsible for operating utility vehicles, tractors and large turf equipment including mowers, backhoe and loaders;
• The safe operation of riding turf mowers up to 5’ wide around headstones, markers and various obstacles;
• Assist with herbicide application and other more technical weed management tasks;
• Assist with plot layout and excavation;
• Pull weeds in landscape beds;
• Operate string trimmers around markers and headstones and vegetation in a safe manner;
• Assist with repairs and maintenance to grounds and facilities, while inspecting building and grounds sites for vandalism and graffiti;
• Empty trash receptacles regularly;
• Assist with Cemetery Special events such as Memorial Day and Wreaths Across America;
• Clean and remove debris from turf areas, around headstones and markers;
• Assist with laying sod on new grave sites and watering to establishment;
• Perform more technical irrigation work to include mainline repair, system redesign, and valve replacements;
• Perform vegetation management of non-turf and turf areas; including utilization of hand work on native and non-native/noxious species;
• Safe operation of light duty tractors in and around headstones and markers on cemetery grounds;
• Perform other duties as assigned;
• Clean and maintain around markers and head stones;

Work Environment And Physical Requirements

• Mix and use chemicals for weed and grass control following label and local regulations.
• Manual dexterity enough to operate hand and power tools.
• Ability to lift arm above shoulder level and to move objects.
• Long periods of time involved in planting, hand weeding and maintaining grounds using a shovel, rake and other tools.
• Extended hours operating grounds equipment - i.e. poly cord trimmers, mowers, & a multitude of other equipment.
• Manual labor, prolonged standing, kneeling, bending and walking, climbing ladders and stairs.
• Hours may be flexible depending on assigned area, 20-40 hours per week, with weekends and holidays as assigned.
• Handle difficult situations using tact, patience and good judgment.
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds on a frequent basis.
• Exposure to vegetation that can cause punctures, biting insects, wildlife, off-leash dogs.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with supervisors, co-workers and general public.
• Incumbent may be exposed to loud amplified sound equipment while working grounds.
• Vision enough to perform above functions and to read printed instructions.
• Follow workplace safety rules at all times.
• Work outside with exposure to all weather elements

Conditions of Employment: Candidates must successfully complete all pre-employment screenings and employment eligibility verification. Pre-employment screenings include a drug test, a background and national sex offender search, a motor vehicle record search, and for some positions, a physical demands evaluation. For more information about City policies and practices during the recruitment process, including but not limited to EOE, Reasonable Accommodation, and pre-employment screenings, please visit our career page HERE.