Job Description

Location: Calvary Cemetery - Santa Barbara Status: Non - Exempt, Full Time

Backhoe/Heavy Equipment operator 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.

Qualifications 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.