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Summary
This position is located at the Willamette National Cemetery in Portland, Oregon.
Responsibilities
Coordinates, leads, and trains cemetery caretaker personnel and engineer equipment operator personnel in the performance of interment tasks and marker installation. Coordinates with the cemetery foreman, and passes on instructions to other workers received from the foreman, and starts work (e.g. by assigning the immediate tasks to be performed by individual members of the group led). Insures that needed plans, equipment, material, and tools are available, and that needed stock is obtained from supply locations. Checks work in process and when finished, checks for compliance with supervisor's instructions on work sequence, procedures, methods, and deadlines. Ensures other employees follow supervisor's instructions to meet deadlines; demonstrates proper work methods. Answers worker's questions regarding procedures, policies, written instructions, and other directives (e.g. technical orders); obtains needed information or decisions from the supervisor on problems that come-up during the work. Provides information to the foreman on the status and progress of work, causes of delays, and overall work operations and problems (e.g. additional on-the-job training requirements for individual employees). Provide oral and written progress reports, prepares production reports, maintains records of work accomplished and time expended using computer and various word processing programs. Assures that safety and housekeeping rules are followed. Incumbent works along with other workers, setting the pace. Incumbent will be required to operate equipment assigned to the cemetery for operation during normal cemetery operations, and emergency situations. 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 Leader/PD1605568 WL-WL-8 The full performance level of this position is WL-08. Relocation Expenses: Not Authorized Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required
Qualifications
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 10/09/2026. Candidates must demonstrate the potential to lead and perform work related to landscaping, groundskeeping, or related trades, including the use of hand tools, power tools, and the safe operation of machinery and equipment used in cemetery caretaking. Evidence of this potential can be shown through work, training, or relevant activities that indicate the potential to perform these duties effectively. EXPERIENCE: Candidates must demonstrate the potential to perform the duties involved in landscaping, groundskeeping, or related trades, including the use of hand tools, power tools, and the safe operation of machinery and equipment used in cemetery caretaking practices. Evidence of this potential can be shown through work, training, or relevant activities that indicate the potential to perform these duties effectively. 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: 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: Ability to lead a crew of cemetery and grounds maintenance workers Technical Practices Ability to interpret Instructions, Specifications, and Directives Ability to maintain tools and equipment Ability to Operate Safely 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: Moderate to heavy exertion is required in the operation of large vehicles and equipment, to include attaching or removing implements from a tractor. Incumbent will be exposed to frequent walking, kneeling, stooping, bending and lifting more than 100 pounds. Working Conditions: Work is primarily performed outdoors under prevailing weather conditions, which may result in exposure to cold, rain, fog, heat and dampness. Incumbent will also be exposed to dirt, dust and mud in the performance of his/her duties. 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.
Requirements
You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this job Subject to a background/suitability investigation Designated and/or random drug testing may be required Pass a pre-employment medical examination. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 A complete application package; including Resume, Transcripts, etc. is required Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.