Groundskeeper

The Colorado Department of Military & Veterans Affairs (DMVA) has four major operational divisions: Army National Guard, Air National Guard, Civil Air Patrol, and Veterans Affairs. These divisions utilize state and federal resources to provide our communities, state, and nation with a ready military force for national defense and state emergency response as well as providing assistance to our Colorado Veterans.
DMVA offers a comprehensive benefit program to its classified work force that includes paid holidays, annual leave, sick leave, medical, dental, life, disability, flexible spending accounts and public retirement options. DMVA's Veterans Affairs Division has a position opening at the Veterans Memorial Cemetery of Western Colorado, which provides for the interment of eligible veterans and their spouses and other eligible dependents. This cemetery is responsible for coordinating and maintaining cemetery operations and state of appearance befitting the dignity of those interred therein. This position will perform all duties associated with burial operations and maintaining the grounds and buildings of the cemetery and works Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily and requires call-in for snow removal, special events and working past normal hours to maintain building and grounds as necessary. Specific duties include, but are not limited to:

• performing landscaping maintenance work such as spraying herbicides and pesticides, re-seeding of gravesites and other areas; fertilizing, planting, pruning, maintaining trees and flowers and shrubs, plants and bushes, mowing and trimming and edging of lawn areas and headstones/columbaria, and native grasses;
• establishing watering patterns and schedules, operating complex irrigation systems while maintaining pumps and filters as well as a complex computer controlled irrigation system, identifying and repairing irrigation breaks above and below ground, and troubleshooting Rainbird irrigation equipment;
• operating backhoe, riding mowers, utility vehicles, excavator, hand tools, and small equipment as well as utility vehicles and jeeps to prepare gravesites for interment;
• preparing and conducting casketed and cremated interments;
• preparing committal shelter for services, assisting with placing caskets, transporting caskets/urns to gravesites, closing gravesites and reestablishing lawns;
• accurately interpreting work orders to identify gravesites and grave locations by using maps and interment notices;
• receiving and verifying accuracy and condition of headstones/markers and carriers from vendors, set headstones at gravesites and niche covers at columbaria (walls), placing/removing headstones, identifying and laying out burial sections for interments by utilizing maps and interment notices, and remaining in compliance with cemetery and federal and state laws, rules, and regulations;
• inventorying, identifying, and forecasting tools, equipment, parts, and supplies as needed;
• performing maintenance of vehicles, small engine repairs and upkeep of all equipment;
• performing custodial, janitorial, housekeeping and facilities maintenance of all buildings and structures on the cemetery to ensure a clean and attractive facility;
• assisting with committal services, setting up and taking down of funerals and events, and engaging in traffic control when needed;
• cleaning roadway and sidewalks with specialized equipment;
• removing snow from roadways, sidewalks, and parking areas utilizing sand/salt distribution equipment; and
• assisting with large committal services, special veterans events and services by providing setup and takedown, traffic control, etc. as needed to ensure safety and to maintain a positive image with the public as a Cemetery representative.

Minimum Qualifications
One year of grounds care and maintenance which included:

• six months experience in operations of backhoe, excavator, commercial mowing equipment, and other small equipment.

Employment is conditional upon successfully passing a background check.
Necessary Special Requirements

• Possession of a current valid State of Colorado Driver's License.
• Must be willing and able to perform CPR/First Aid.
• Must be willing and able to frequently lift and carry 75 pounds and occasionally lift and carry up to 100 pounds.
• Must be willing and able to work in all seasonal weather elements.
• Must be willing and able to work in confined spaces.
• Must be willing to work outside of normal schedule on occasional holidays and weekends.
• Must be willing and able to operate a variety of equipment and motorized vehicles.
• Must be willing to work at times, under unpleasant situations and may be exposed to unpleasant odors.
• Must be able to work occasional rotating shift assignments, overtime, and on-call as needed.
• Must be able to work before/after-hours performing snow removal or weather-related duties as well as be on-call during off-hours to respond to intrusion/fire alarms or to comply with religious or other requirements for immediate interment.
• Must be willing and able to work independently with minimal supervision but also have strong interpersonal and communication skills to handle stressful situations calmly and professionally.
• Must have the ability to support veterans and their families in times of mourning by providing exceptional services and assistance during the burial interment process.

APPEAL RIGHTS:

An applicant who has been removed from an employment list or removed from consideration during the selection process may request a review by the State Personnel Director.

As an applicant directly affected by the results of the selection or comparative analysis process, you may file a written appeal with the State Personnel Director.

Review of the completed, signed and submitted appeal will be timely on the basis of written material submitted by you, using the official appeal form signed by you or your representative. This form must be completed and delivered to the State Personnel Board by email at dpa_state.personnelboard@state.co.us within ten (10) calendar days from your receipt of notice or acknowledgement of the Department's action.

For further information on the Board Rules, you can refer to 4 Colorado Code of Regulations (CCR) 801-1, State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director's Administrative Procedures, Chapter 8, Resolution of Appeals and Disputes, at spb.colorado.gov/board-rules.

Diversity: The State of Colorado believes that equity, diversity, and inclusion drive our success, and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply. The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer committed to building inclusive, innovative work environments with employees who reflect our communities and enthusiastically serve them. Therefore, in all aspects of the employment process, we provide employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, medical condition related to pregnancy, creed, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, or military status (with preference given to military veterans), or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law.

Accommodations: The Department of Personnel & Administration is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, our agency will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment, including completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or to perform essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to our ADAAA Coordinator, James Mantay | james.mantay@state.co.us or 303-866-6540.

Employment Type: Full Time