Cemetery Caretaker Technician

SummaryThis position is located at the Georgia National Cemetery, with duties also at the satellite cemetery, Marietta National Cemetery. The primary mission of the cemetery is to meet the needs of veterans and their eligible dependents by providing dignified burials and maintaining the cemetery as a national shrine. This is a temporary position not to exceed 6 months.ResponsibilitiesThe person occupying this position performs a variety of cemetery interment and maintenance tasks involving manual labor. Under the direction of the Cemetery Caretaker Supervisor, the incumbent will operate a variety of equipment including, but not limited to, vehicles with manual transmissions. utility vehicles, tractors, spreaders, forklifts, power pressure washers and augers. Power equipment used may include compressors, generators, jackhammers, drills, chain saws, roto-tillers, sod-cutters, etc. Also uses hand tools such as shovels, rakes, picks, pry bars, hand tampers, sanders and wheelbarrows. Cemetery Technician in this position performs duties normally associated with a Cemetery Representatives functions. Incumbent greets visitors including family members and general public; responds to requests and answers questions. Prepares all paperwork related to the interment process, checking work in progress and assuring that all deadlines, necessary information and procedures are met. Coordinates burial services between Georgia and Marietta National Cemetery staff, volunteers, and funeral home directors to ensure the needs are met with respect to the next-of-kin. Folds and presents U.S. flag to closest family member in the absence of military honors. Handles questions from family members in an empathetic manner.Is responsible for entering current data into Grave Locator and Burial Register. Updates and maintains current cemetery layout maps. Responsible for input and retrieval of computer data and routine reports. May also be responsible for the collection of data obtained through daily, weekly, monthly, semi-annual and annual checklists in support of NCA Organizational Assessment and Improvement (OAI) program. 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 Technician/PD12731A Physical Requirements: Heavy physical effort is required in constantly lifting, reaching, bending, kneeling pushing, pulling, turning and moving hands, arms, feet, and legs to handle controls for operation of equipment and attachments. Strain from reaching, jerking, jolting by operation over rough surfaces can be experienced. The physical effort will be done over ground that is not level, in uncomfortable positions for long periods of time.RequirementsConditions of EmploymentQualificationsYour background must demonstrate work involved in 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. You must also show experience in an office environment. Examples would be administrative work experience that includes work such as gathering data, coordinating meetings, establishing and maintaining an efficient filing system, using automated data processing equipment to generate a variety of reports, and establishing priorities and meeting deadlines. To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this 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 Federal Wage System Qualification Standards. 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: 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.EducationAdditional InformationThe Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be well-qualified, applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors if applicable, and must be proficient in most of the requirements of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website which can be found at https://www.opm.gov/. Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. If you are unable to apply online view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application.