Cemetery Caretaker
National Cemetery Administration · Department of Veterans Affairs
This job in plain English
This full-time, permanent job is a cemetery caretaker position at Natchez National Cemetery in Natchez, Mississippi, run by the National Cemetery Administration, part of the Department of Veterans Affairs. It has 1 vacancy and is filled through direct hire, which lets the agency skip some standard steps. The work is mostly outdoors and physical, and it can include weekends, holidays, and overtime.
Can you apply?
Yes, if you are a U.S. citizen: this job is open to everyone.
- Open to everyoneAny U.S. citizen or national can apply. Some jobs also accept non-citizens; the announcement says so.
- Displaced federal employeesFederal employees who lost or are losing their job through a reduction in force (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL).
Other groups listed above may get extra consideration, for example veterans' preference.
This job is open to the public, but only U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, or people who owe allegiance to the U.S. can apply. Federal employees whose job or agency was eliminated (career transition programs CTAP, ICTAP, or RPL) get priority over other applicants.
What you would do
- Operate small tractors, riding mowers, and other grounds equipment.
- Dig and prepare graves, and help lift and place caskets.
- Align and clean headstones, and clear debris from cemetery grounds.
- Weed, mulch, prune shrubs, and remove snow and ice.
- Greet visitors, answer questions, and prepare interment paperwork.
- Meet with next-of-kin and oversee committal services.
Do you qualify for WG-6?
With experience: You must show you can do groundskeeping work, including using hand and power tools and running machinery safely. You must also show you can handle office tasks such as gathering data, keeping files, using computer tools to make reports, and meeting deadlines. This can come from paid work, volunteer work, training, school, or other activities, and the announcement does not list a grade level for this requirement.
With education: This job does not have an education requirement.
Licenses and certifications you need:
- Valid state driver's license
How to apply well
What to send:
- Resume, no more than two pages
- Cover letter (optional)
- References (optional)
- DD-214 or Statement of Service if you claim veterans' preference
- Disability letter (Schedule A or VA) if it applies to you
- SF-50 or separation notice (RIF) if you are a displaced federal employee
How you will be rated: You are first checked on two screen-out items: working without more than normal supervision, and having a valid state driver's license. Those who pass are rated on job elements such as working without close supervision, technical practices, using tools and equipment, interpreting instructions, computer skills, oral communication, and writing. The agency does not assume your experience, so if your resume does not clearly show it, you will not get credit.
Tips for this job:
- Keep your resume to two pages or less, or you will be ruled ineligible.
- For each job, list dates, duties, and hours per week, since part-time time counts only by hours worked.
- Name specific cemetery, groundskeeping, equipment, or office tasks in your resume, because the agency will not assume them.
- Have a REAL ID-compliant driver's license or another acceptable ID ready for onboarding.
Good to know before you apply
Schedule: Full-time. You may be required to work Monday through Friday, occasional weekends, holidays, overtime, and emergency call-backs. The cemetery cannot close for more than 2 days in a row, and all staff must work Memorial Day each year. Compressed or flexible schedules are not available.
Incentives and relocation: None. Relocation expenses and recruitment incentives are not authorized.
Conditions of employment:
- Must be a U.S. citizen
- Background and suitability investigation
- Drug testing may be required, including random testing
- Urinalysis drug screen before appointment
- Pre-employment medical examination
- Selective Service registration for males born after 12/31/1959
- Online onboarding with acceptable identification
- Driver's licenses that are not REAL ID compliant are not accepted as ID after May 7, 2025
- 1-year probationary period
- Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds, with help for heavier items
We wrote this summary automatically from the official announcement. The announcement on USAJOBS is the only one that counts: read it before you apply.
Job details
- Salary
- $22.00 – $26.00 per hour
- Pay scale and grade
- WG-6 · Wage Grade (trades and crafts)
- Location
- Natchez, Mississippi
- Appointment
- Permanent
- Work schedule
- Full-time
- Service
- Competitive
- Openings
- 1
- Security clearance
- Not Required
- Travel
- Occasional travel
- Drug test
- Not required
- Supervisory
- No
- Occupation
- Cemetery Caretaking (4754)
- Announcement
- RP-27-CF-13100083-866-DH
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