Title: Cemetery Operations Manager
Position Summary: A Catholic Cemetery Operations Manager is a mission-driven leader responsible for the safe, reverent, and efficient operation of a Catholic cemetery. This role directs all aspects of grounds and facilities, interment services, staff, vendors, and recordkeeping systems while upholding the Church’s teaching on Christian burial, Canon Law, Diocesan policies, civil regulations, and providing compassionate pastoral service to grieving families in collaboration with clergy, funeral homes, and diocesan leadership. The position blends field-based grounds and interment work (approximately 50%) with office-based administration, planning, and coordination (approximately 40%), with remaining time devoted to meetings and special projects.

Classification: Exempt, Full Time / Salary

Reports To: Karmin Meade, Director of Cemeteries

Essential Duties and Responsibilities
1. Operational Leadership (Outside/Inside)
• Plan and manage daily cemetery operations, including scheduling and coordinating interments, entombments, and disinterment’s.
• Ensure all burial and committal activities are conducted in a manner that reflects Catholic rituals, traditions, and reverence for the deceased.
• Coordinate with clergy, funeral directors, and families regarding service times, liturgical requirements, and graveside protocols.
• Prioritize and assign daily work for grounds and maintenance staff; adjust schedules as needed for weather, equipment issues, or urgent needs.

2. Grounds and Facility Management (Primarily Outside)
• Oversee all aspects of grounds care, including mowing, trimming, tree and shrub care, irrigation, snow/ice removal as applicable, and overall appearance.
• Direct and assist with excavation, backfilling, and preparation of graves, crypts, and niches, ensuring accuracy, safety, and respect.
• Coordinate monument and marker installations, alignments, and repairs in accordance with cemetery and Diocesan standards.
• Schedule and supervise Sextons and other field personnel to ensure coverage for interments, grounds work, and weekend/holiday needs.
• Monitor and maintain cemetery buildings, roads, walkways, and common areas to ensure they are clean, safe, and welcoming.
• Oversee safe operation, inspection, and basic troubleshooting of heavy equipment and vehicles (e.g., backhoes, loaders, mowers, trucks).

3. Administrative Oversight (Primarily Inside)
• Maintain accurate burial, plot, crypt, and niche records using cemetery management systems such as Web Cemeteries, Pontem, or CemSites.
• Manage inventory of available interment rights, including mapping, sale status, and long-term planning for future sections.
• Prepare and maintain interment orders, work orders, and service schedules; ensure documentation is complete and filed appropriately.
• Assist with or oversee financial processes related to operations (e.g., work orders, vendor invoices, operational budgets, and capital needs) in coordination with the Diocesan office or parish administration.
• Generate regular reports on burials, interments, inventory, and operational metrics as requested by Diocesan leadership.

4. Compliance, Safety, and Risk Management
• Ensure cemetery operations comply with Canon Law, Diocesan policies, and all applicable federal, state, and local regulations.
• Implement and monitor safety programs, including OSHA standards, safe equipment operation, personal protective equipment, and incident reporting.
• Develop and maintain written procedures for interments, equipment use, hazard communication, and emergency response.
• Conduct or coordinate regular safety training and toolbox talks for staff and contractors.
• Identify and mitigate hazards on cemetery grounds, including uneven terrain, damaged pathways, and weather-related risks.

5. Family and Community Relations
• Serve as a compassionate presence for grieving families, modeling the Church’s ministry of consolation.
• Meet with families and funeral directors to finalize burial details, explain cemetery policies, and answer questions with clarity and empathy.
• Respond promptly and professionally to concerns, service issues, or complaints; work toward timely and pastoral resolutions.
• Represent the cemetery at parish or Diocesan events as requested and foster positive relationships with parish staff, clergy, funeral homes, and the broader Catholic community.

6. Staff and Vendor Management
• Recruit, hire, train, and supervise groundskeepers, Sextons, and other assigned staff or contractors.
• Provide ongoing coaching, performance feedback, and evaluations that reflect both operational expectations and the ministry nature of the work.
• Develop staff schedules to ensure adequate coverage for interments, grounds maintenance, and special liturgical seasons.
• Coordinate and oversee contractors for specialized services (e.g., tree work, major repairs, specialized equipment service), ensuring adherence to Diocesan standards and safety requirements.

7. Mission, Ministry, and Collaboration
• Promote the Catholic understanding of Christian burial and the sacred nature of cemetery grounds in both word and example.
• Work closely with clergy and pastoral staff to ensure that burial practices, committal services, and cemetery policies support the Church’s mission and the spiritual needs of families.
• Collaborate with Diocesan or parish leadership on strategic planning for cemetery expansion, capital improvements, and long-term maintenance.

Qualifications

Education and Experience
• Associate degree required, bachelor’s degree in business, management, horticulture, construction, or a related field preferred.
• Minimum of 3–5 years of experience in cemetery operations, funeral services, grounds/facility management, or a closely related field.
• Demonstrated leadership experience supervising staff and coordinating multiple operational functions.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
• Working knowledge of groundskeeping practices, landscaping, and basic horticulture.
• Experience with heavy equipment and machinery used in cemetery operations (e.g., backhoe, skid steer, mowers, trenchers) and the ability to train others in safe use.
• Proficiency with office and cemetery management software (e.g., HMIS, Web Cemeteries, Pontem, CemSites, or similar systems), as well as standard office applications (email, spreadsheets, word processing).
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage schedules, records, inventory, and multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to interact effectively and sensitively with grieving families, clergy, funeral directors, and staff.
• Ability to interpret and apply policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements, and to develop clear operational processes.

Mission and Personal Attributes
• Practicing Catholic in good standing strongly preferred; must demonstrate a deep respect for and understanding of Catholic teaching on Christian burial and the Communion of Saints.
• Demonstrated commitment to serving with a compassionate approach to families in grief.
• High level of integrity, discretion, and respect for confidentiality.
• Reliable, self-directed, and able to exercise sound judgment in sensitive and time-critical situations.

Physical Requirements and Work Environment
• Ability to work outdoors in all weather conditions (heat, cold, rain, snow) for extended periods.
• Ability to stand, walk, bend, kneel, and navigate uneven terrain throughout the workday.
• Ability to lift, carry, push, and pull materials and equipment typically up to 50–80 lbs; occasional heavier lifting with appropriate equipment and team assistance.
• Frequent operation of heavy machinery and power equipment with required safety gear.
• Regular exposure to dust, dirt, noise, and outdoor environmental conditions.
• Ability to work occasional evenings, weekends, and Holy Days as needed to support burial schedules, liturgical observances, and special events.

All interested candidates, please send a cover letter, resume and 4 professional references to apply@charlestondiocese.org

Charleston Diocese / Holy Cross Cemetery including all SC Diocesan cemeteries jobs

Cemetery Operations Manager