Cemetery Caretaker (backhoe experience required)

NorthStar Memorial Groups maintenance teams take pride in preserving our grounds with precision, tradition, and care. As a Cemetery Caretaker, you play a vital role in ensuring every familys experience is honored through safe, accurate, and respectful preparation of our cemetery and mausoleum spaces. This stable, year-round position offers meaningful work, transferable skills, and a strong sense of purpose.

The Cemetery Caretaker is responsible for maintaining the overall appearance, safety, and functionality of cemetery, mausoleum, and funeral home locations. This role requires hands-on backhoe operating experience for grave digging, trenching, and site preparation. Candidates without backhoe experience will NOT be considered.

Responsibilities

• Heavy Equipment Operation

• Operates a backhoe confidently and safely for grave digging, trenching, and precise excavation

• Uses practical excavation experience to ensure accurate depth, placement, and soil handling

• Performs routine equipment inspections and basic maintenance

• Follows all PPE requirements, safety protocols, and site procedures

• Grounds Keeping:

• Cuts grass.

• Maintains lawn and trims around trees, walkways, and memorial markers

• Lays sod

• Moves and removes flowers to and from the chapel and graveside.

• Blows leaf and grass

• Edges with stick edger

• Clears debris and maintains drives and walkways in a safe condition.

• Cleans ponds and fountains

• Hand digs/trenching

• Facilities Cleaning:

• Maintains overall appearance and cleanliness of funeral homes and/or mausoleum facilities.

• Cleans and maintains the facility, performs minor repairs, painting, etc.

• Assists in loading and unloading caskets.

• Vehicle and golf cart washing/cleaning

Qualifications

• 6 + months of backhoe operating experience (grave digging, construction excavation, trenching, or similar work)
• Valid drivers license
• Ability to lift 50+ lbs and perform physical outdoor labor in all weather conditions

We are an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.