This position is located at the Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio, Texas.
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement,07/16/2025. Your background must demonstrate work involved in supervising 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: Drive Safely Interpret Instructions, Specifications (includes blueprint reading) Lead or Supervise Technical Practices Work Practices 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.
The incumbent serves as the general supervisor over interment operations at the Ft Sam Houston National Cemetery Complex that includes Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, and Kerrville National Cemeteries. He/she is responsible for an estimated 4,200 casket and cremation burials annually. He/she has oversight for additional grounds maintenance activities assigned to caretakers, and all interment (including review and supervision of crypts). Incumbent will be responsible for functional establishment of selected portions of the cemetery's annual operating budget which pertain to field operations and supervision of government purchase cardholders. Incumbent will act as Cemetery Administrator in his/her absence. Incumbent will also share COR duties with the Cemetery Administrator and supervise COR's for various contracts that are set up to accomplish selected tasks within the cemetery. Responsible for establishing, directing, and planning a full perpetual interment program for all burials; including pre-placed crypts, traditional casket burials, in-ground cremation, and columbaria. He/she will assist in the maintenance of over 120,000 existing gravesites, headstones, markers, niche covers; 208 acres of trees and turf; and all equipment and vehicles. Plans daily, weekly, monthly, seasonal and preventative maintenance work schedules to accomplish all field activities. Establishes deadlines, priorities and work sequences, and plans work assignments based upon general work schedules, methods and guidelines set by the Cemetery Administrator. Directs and redirects individual workers and resources to accomplish unanticipated work. Changes schedules, priorities and work sequences as necessary and makes deviations in procedures or redirects resources under his/her direction to overcome problems such as equipment failures, material delays, or unplanned absences. Assures that adequate protective services are available and that the flag is always properly displayed. 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 Supervisor/ PD137330 The full performance level of this position is WS - 10. Relocation Expenses: Not Authorized Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required