Buildings & Grounds Superintendent

JOB TITLE:      Albany Rural Cemetery Buildings & Grounds Superintendent

LOCATION:  

Albany Rural Cemetery

68 Cemetery Avenue

Menands, NY 12204

SUPERVISOR:   General Manager

HOURS:   Full Time (40 hours a week)

Work Week – Monday – Friday, weekend/holidays, as necessary.

Salaried/exempt position commensurate with experience

JOB DESCRIPTION:

The cemetery is seeking a motivated individual for a full-time, salary exempt position of Buildings & Grounds Superintendent (Superintendent). Candidates are required to work within multiple areas of the day-to-day Cemetery operation contributing to the functioning, upkeep and overall preservation of the Cemetery and its history.  The Superintendent areas of responsibilities principally include the overall management and upkeep of the cemetery’s buildings, grounds and internment operations.

Under the direction of the Albany Rural Cemetery General Manger, this is a technical and administrative staff position which entails the overall responsibility for review and development of all maintenance and preventative programs including maintenance, repair, and building service work on all Cemetery structures and grounds. The Superintendent is expected to provide technical expertise regarding maintenance operations and assist with the development of contract specifications, bidding, and building/ground related maintenance. Duties are performed under the General Manager’s supervision, with leeway allowed for the use of independent judgment in accordance with Cemetery policies and procedures.  Supervision is to be actively exercised over all buildings and grounds staff and crematory operators.

Duties include active supervision of the cemetery’s full-time, part-time, and seasonal grounds and maintenance staff, resource management, and capital project coordination.  The Superintendent position requires daily grounds staff crematory operators’ oversight and management, maintaining the highest standard of customer service for the Cemetery, and excellent communication skills in transacting with clients, the public, and all team members of the cemetery.  This position is required to oversee all daily cemetery operations including, but not limited to the coordination of burials, interments, inurnments, and crematory operations.  The Superintendent, under the direction of the General Manager, will assist in meeting the Cemetery’s strategic plan and replacement plans and procurement for Cemetery assets and equipment.  The Superintendent will also assist in lot boundary discovery with the General Manager and Assistant Superintendent for lot sales within the Cemetery.  The Superintendent is required to be trained on and be prepared to operate all Cemetery equipment including excavating equipment and crematory retorts.

TYPICAL WORK ACTIVITIES: (Illustrative Only)

• Plans and administers a current and long-range program for the operation and maintenance of all structural, mechanical, and building components of the Cemetery.
• Directs the maintenance and repairs, cleaning and overall upkeep of facilities and grounds.
• Directs, schedules, and actively supervises assigned staff in the safe and efficient operations and maintenance of Cemetery facilities and grounds.
• In the absence of the Grounds Foreman, it is required that you be present for all projects being carried out on cemetery property.  Your expertise and oversight are invaluable in ensuring that each project meets our cemetery standards for quality, safety, and aesthetic integrity.
• Performs routine inspections of buildings and grounds, thus ensuring the safe, efficient, and economical operation of Cemetery facilities.
• Prepares preliminary plans, specifications, and cost estimates for required repair on buildings, equipment, and grounds repair projects for the General Manager and Board Committees.
• Establishes, directs, and supervises the building repair, maintenance, and operation programs.
• Maintains records of time and material expended, supplies inventory, and projections of buildings and grounds workload.
• Administers and inspects the work of outside contractors doing work in connection with maintenance and improvement of buildings and grounds and recommend acceptance or rejection.
• Performs general landscape and maintenance within all Cemetery sections, Cemetery lots and their surrounding landscapes, hardscapes, and perimeter according to an established schedule of organizational standards.
• Opens and closes Cemetery gates daily.
• Opens and closes public Mausoleum daily.
• Respond to all after-hours emergency calls escalated by security, including alarms, customer assistance, gate operation, etc.
• Provides or contracts fencing repair and replacement as needed and where directed.
• Maintains bridges, trails, and all walking paths throughout the Cemetery.
• Prepares and implements snow removal and ice mitigation on paths, entrances, perimeter and other hard surfaces with machines and physical labor to provide safe levels of access per established organizational standards.
• Prepares and implements snow removal from walkways and application of de-icing agents to maintain safe thoroughfares for Cemetery visitors.
• Maintains surface drainage by clearing catch basins of debris during heavy rainstorms and snow and ice in the winter months.
• Provides or contracts tree and stump removal.
• Provides or contracts pond cleaning.
• Provides or contracts yearly road repair and maintenance.
• Coordinates the placement process for holiday decorations.
• Coordinates and oversees two ground cleanup events each year.  
• Provides support for property sales activities as needed.
• Can lift 50lbs. or more.
• Wears and always uses the necessary Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) during the performance of those job duties that require such equipment.
• Assists in the preparation and justifications of the operations and maintenance budget requirements.
• Enters and retrieves information in various automated information systems including MS Office, PAYCHEX, Share Point, and applicable Cemetery Inventory Management Systems.
• Actively reviews the work of grounds staff for timeliness, accuracy, completeness, and efficiency.
• Ensure the activities of the ground staff are carried out safely and with the highest quality and care for our customers.
• Serves as the cemetery’s ambassador to the public and works effectively to ensure a clean, safe, and positive experience for all users of our cemeteries and funeral home; handles external complaints or issues concerning operations.
• Oversee various administrative duties, including but not limited to the procurement of operating supplies and uniforms, monitoring staff certification and training schedules, coordination of necessary services & contracts, monitoring operations contracts and payments to third-party vendors, etc.
• Responsible for the overall supervision, training, and development of subordinates; Interview, screen, and hire the best possible candidates for open positions. 
• Monitors, coaches, and disciplines grounds/crematory employees as needed.
• Addresses performance deficiencies, attendance issues, unsafe working habits quickly and escalate trends and issues to the Superintendent and/or other senior management as needed. 
• Schedules and conducts all grounds/crematory employee evaluations.

BURIALS:

• In the absence of the Grounds Foreman, it is required that you be present for each burial, interment, entombment, disinterment, and all similar activities within the cemetery.  This is critical in ensuring that all procedures are carried out properly and in compliance with our cemetery’s standards and regulations.
• Strategically demarcates graves and foundations.
• Plans, executes, and/or assist in the opening of graves for caskets and cremation.
• Positions casket-lowering device on grave, prepares artificial grass carpet, erects canopies, and arranges folding chairs to prepare site for burial service(s).
• Installation of bronze plaques and grass.
• Mix and pour concrete to construct foundations for grave markers.

CREMATORY:

• Supervises activities of crematory operator, ensuring crematory equipment and building meet all safety and environmental rules and regulations.
• Is responsible for the overall function and maintenance of an onsite crematory.
• Performs daily scheduling and activities for the crematory.
• Performs routine maintenance and care of crematory related equipment and operate to manufactures recommendations.
• Ensures the physical crematory area, facility, garage, and preparation room are clean of debris and maintained in a neat, orderly manner.
• Wears and always uses the necessary Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) during the performance of those job duties that require such equipment.
• Complies with the rules, regulations, policies, and procedures as outlined by New York State Division of Cemeteries (NYS DoC), New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), Cremation Association of North America (CANA), The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and Albany Rural Cemetery (ARC) Policies and Procedures.
• Remains up to date on company learning, policies, and procedures assigned.
• Maintains clean operating area and equipment and comply with all governing rules and regulations regarding sanitation and hazardous waste.
• Performs light housekeeping to keep the facilities and grounds in orderly. This includes keeping work areas neat and organized, picking up litter on the grounds and general cleaning up.

PERFORMANCE KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILLITIES AND PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS:

• Thorough knowledge of current practices involves the maintenance of all buildings and grounds.
• Working knowledge of tools, terminology, and practices the mechanical and construction trades.
• Ability to establish and maintain efficient working relationships.
• Ability to understand and conduct complex oral and written directions.
• Ability to plan and supervise the work of others.
• Ability to read and interpret mechanical and building plans and specifications.
• Ability to accurately write and correspond with Cemetery staff and board members and outside interests of the Cemetery.
• Ability to make or obtain cost estimates for building repairs.
• Dependability.
• Initiative.
• Resourcefulness.
• Proficient knowledge of personal computers and office equipment.
• Physical condition commensurate with the demands of the position.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:  

• Possession of a bachelor’s degree or higher in engineering or a closely related field and four (4) years of experience in the construction, operation and/or maintenance of buildings, including experience in estimating construction and building service costs, directing installation or operation of mechanical equipment such as heating, air conditioning, power and light, etc. and three (3) years of supervisory experience over building operations staff, OR
• Graduation from high school or possession of a high school equivalency diploma and twelve (12) years of experience in the construction, operation and/or maintenance of buildings including experience as described in 1. and three (3) years of supervisory experience as described in 1., OR
• An equivalent combination of training and experience as described by the limits of 1. and 2. above: OR
• An equivalent combination of training and experience as described by the limits of 1. through 3. above.

Note: Your degree must have been awarded by a college or university accredited by a regional, national, or specialized agency recognized as an accrediting agency by the U.S. Department of Education/U.S. Secretary of Education.  If your degree was awarded by an educational institution outside the United States and its territories, you must provide independent verification of equivalency. A list of acceptable companies who provide this service can be found on the Internet at http://www.cs.ny.gov/jobseeker/degrees.cfm. You must pay the required evaluation fee.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENT:

• Possession of a valid NYS driver’s license at the time of appointment and duration of employment.
• Possession or ability to obtain and maintain valid crematory operator certification as you may work in the Cemetery’s crematory assisting the crematory operators.

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