Lakewood is one of the most distinguished cemeteries in the nation—a Minnesota landmark renowned for its history, art and natural beauty. As a nonprofit serving families for 150 years, Lakewood remains devoted to its founding mission, while actively reimagining the role of a cemetery in modern life.

To accomplish this requires the effort of many service-driven individuals who take diligent care of our grounds, families, facilities and visitors. In return, we offer a supportive environment and generous benefits.

Job Title: Grounds and Burial Team Member

FLSA: Non-exempt

Reports To: Director of Operations

ORGANIZATION BACKGROUND:

Lakewood is a serene haven in the heart of Minneapolis’s renowned Chain of Lakes—a place to come together to honor, remember and reflect. Since 1871, Lakewood’s 250 acres of urban memorial parkland have served as a community gathering place and a chronicle of our region’s traditions, cultures and people.

As a nonprofit organization governed by a board of trustees, Lakewood honors its roots as a landmark cemetery while reimagining its role in modern life, through thoughtfully designed events, experiences and spaces. Our vision is to make memorialization more relevant, accessible and inviting for multiple audiences and generations.

POSITION DESCRIPTION:

The Cemetery Burial Crew has an important role in working as part of a team to ensure that loved ones’ remains entrusted to Lakewood for burial are interred with respect. This role also is responsible for completing a variety of tasks to perform ongoing maintenance and operations of the cemetery. This role includes location, layout, excavation of new graves, placement of foundations and markers, mowing, raking, shoveling, lifting, driving, and using a variety of vehicles and basic hand tools.

WORK SCHEDULE:

This is a full-time position that will include weekends and occasional holidays. Expected typical schedule is Monday- Friday 8-4:30pm and every other or every third Saturday depending on the season. Occasionally, due to a late arriving funeral, overtime during the regular work week may be required. Other hours, including weekends, will be determined by the cemetery management to ensure coverage.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Burial and Grounds Maintenance:

• Operates tractors, mowers, trucks, backhoes, dump trucks, snowplows, steam cleaners, pressure washers and other equipment as needed which could include jackhammers, chainsaws, leaf blowers, weed eaters and woodchippers.
• Performs the locating of graves and the subsequent layout and excavation of these graves while operating the appropriate equipment.
• Performs the actual setting up and tearing down of lowering devices and other decorations, including tents, chairs, matting and greens associated with burial activity.
• Performs the handling and installation of a variety of burial vaults while operating the associated equipment.
• Assists in the tamping, leveling and sodding of new graves as well as the maintenance associated with older graves.
• Assist in the spring and fall clean-up of the cemetery grounds including the emptying and thatching of vases, cleaning debris and brush from grounds, landscaping, leveling, sodding, seeding, or watering of the grounds, trees and shrubs.
• Assist in the initial setting and subsequent resetting of monuments and markers.
• Assist in the cleaning, painting, and general maintenance of all cemetery buildings and equipment.
• Perform and assist with crypt and niche entombments at the mausoleum and the surrounding garden crypts area.
• Perform and assist with disinterment and reinterment.
• Assist in the training and/or supervision of applicable/seasonal workers.
• Crematory (This position may be asked to backup crematory as staffing requires):
• Care for deceased in a respectful manner while performing all the tasks involved in the cremation process
• Receive remains and ensure all documentation is complete
• Complete all required documentation with respect to cremation process and equipment maintenance
• Strict adherence to all professional, municipal, state and federal licensing authority regulations applicable to the cremation of human remains
• Promote a safe work environment by practicing universal precautions and adopting general principles of safe conduct
• Maintain the crematory, equipment and adjacent facilities
• Operate equipment in a safe and careful manner
• Comply with OSHA and EPA guidelines concerning storage and use of chemical substances
• Communicate in a timely and effective manner with manager and other Lakewood team members

Will be expected to perform other duties as assigned and deemed necessary in the overall operations of the maintenance of the cemetery.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• High level of compassion and integrity; ability to show respect and sensitivity toward client families
• High school diploma or equivalent. Completion of a diploma training program at a college or technical school specializing in funeral service or mortuary science is helpful but not required.
• Certification through CANA, ICCFA or another recognized program is helpful, but not required.
• Good driving record and valid current driver’s license
• Previous customer service experience
• Good communication skills – both written and verbal
• Problem solving skills
• Ability to multi-task and set priorities
• Detail-oriented
• Professional and team player; demonstrated ability to share one’s viewpoint and information appropriately and to listen attentively to others’ ideas and suggestions

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• Lifting and moving is required, frequently lifting up to 50 pounds and occasionally lifting and/or moving more than 100 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, and depth perception.
• Moderate odors, dust or fumes may cause discomfort or irritation to the eyes.
• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit. The employee is required to use hands to handle and feel; and must speak clearly; and listen carefully. The employee is frequently required to move from a sitting position and stand and walk throughout the office, using stairs. The employee must be able to get in and out of a vehicle and drive to various locations within the cemetery and occasionally drive to vendors (up to 1.5 hours away). While working outdoors, the ability to be on one’s knees, to crouch/squat, and/or balance using one’s wrists is often needed.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee may encounter working near moving mechanical parts and/or equipment. While performing the duties of this job, the employee will regularly work outside in all weather conditions. The employee occasionally works in high, precarious places and is frequently exposed to warm and/or cold and wet and/or humid conditions. There is occasional exposure to fumes, airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, and vibration. The employee is occasionally exposed to the risk of electrical shock. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderately loud in field settings and moderately quiet in office settings.

COMPENSATION

$25 – $27 per hour, based on experience.

Benefits include:

• 401(k) with 401(k) match
• Health, dental, life and vision insurance
• Flexible spending accounts
• PTO

Anyone interested in supporting our mission is welcome to email us with information about their skillsets and interests for future consideration. Thank you.