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Cemetery Administrator

Department of Veterans Affairs
National Cemetery Administration
Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery

Summary

This position is located at the Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio, Texas.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
12/09/2025 to 12/18/2025
Salary
$106,932 to - $164,268 per year

GS13: $106,932 - $139,013 GS14: $126,361 - $164,268

Pay scale & grade
GS 13 - 14
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
San Antonio, TX
1 vacancy
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
25% or less - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
14
Supervisory status
Yes
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Moderate Risk (MR)
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
Yes
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
RP-26-RMW-12847138-846
Control number
851945800

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Duties

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As the Cemetery Administrator, the incumbent is the independent station head responsible for developing and implementing local administrative, financial, human capital, and other resource management policies. The Cemetery Administrator directs the overall day-to-day operation of the cemetery to include overseeing the interment schedule, preparation and closing of all graves, placement of temporary and permanent markers, and maintenance of all gravesites, roads, grounds, and landscape. Responsible for administrative operations of the cemetery to include verifying complex eligibility issues prior to interment and arranging for committal services, maintaining all property accounts, time and leave records, records management, and the preparation of recurring and special reports. The incumbent establishes performance standards, evaluates the performance of employees, and carries out Equal Employment Opportunity policies and program activities. Personally, develops studies and analyses of cemetery operations to determine personnel requirements; to make modifications and improvements needed for more effective operations; and to define trends in utilization of burial benefits. Prepares, submits, and defends budgetary requirements and maintains all related reports and records to ensure all submissions and expenditures are substantiated by full and complete justification. The Administrator executes the approved annual financial plan for the cemetery. The Cemetery Administrator develops statements of work and controls over work, inspects work, authorizes payment, and is ultimately responsible for those contracts initiated by the cemetery for work associated with the administration of the national cemetery. The Cemetery Administrator will be actively engaged in conducting community outreach activities to promote the cemetery and raise Veterans' awareness of VA burial benefits.

  • YOU MUST SIGN A MOBILITY AGREEMENT INDICATING THAT YOU UNDERSTAND THE NECESSITY FOR AND AGREE TO ACCEPT ASSIGNMENTS AT VARIOUS INSTALLATIONS DURING EMPLOYMENT.
  • Selected candidates, from outside the National Cemetery Administration, must coordinate with management to develop a competency-based training plan within 30 days of hire, with completion required within one year.
Work schedule: Required to work Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. May include occasional weekends. Due to the mission of the National Cemetery, the cemetery cannot be closed for more than 2 consecutive days at any given time. Additionally, when a Federal holiday falls on a Monday or Friday, staff may be required to work on that holiday or a Saturday. All staff is required to work Memorial Day and Veteran's Day each year. Staff will be required to work overtime, weekends and holidays when necessary to meet the needs of the cemetery. Occasionally staff may be called back to the facility to perform emergency overtime work.
Compressed/Flexible Schedule: Not Available
Telework: Not Available
Remote/Virtual: This is not a virtual or remote position.

Position Description Title/PD#: Cemetery Administrator/PD1657589
The full performance level of this position is GS - 14. At the level GS-13, you will perform similar duties but under closer supervision.
Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification, and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level.

Salary Ranges:
GS 13: $106,932 - $139,013
GS 14: $126,361 - $164,268

Relocation Expenses: Authorized
The Department of Veterans Affairs offers Permanent Change of Station (PCS) relocation services. Permanent Change of Station is the relocation of a household due to government convenience in connection with a transfer between duty stations or facilities. For more information go to http://vaww.fscdirect.fsc.va.gov/pcs.aspRelo.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Required

If interested in applying for this position you ay preview the online application:
https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12847138

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Subject to a background/security investigation.
  • Designated and/or random drug testing may be required.
  • Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
  • You may be required to serve a probationary period.
  • You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this job.
  • Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all specialized experience and time in grade requirements within 45 days of the closing date of this announcement, 12/18/2025.

Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements within 45 days of the closing date of this announcement.

  • For a GS-13 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-12.
  • For a GS-14 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-13.
The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If your most recent non-award SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional non-award SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one year time-in-grade. Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment.

You may qualify based on your experience, as described below:
  • Specialized Experience GS-13: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-12 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to experience supervising, leading, influencing, motivating, and challenging others; performing the full scope of supervisory duties; preparing, justifying managing, administering, and executing a budget for a program or organization; monitoring expenditures to ensure cost-effective support of programs; establishing short or long term goals for a program, project, or initiative; planning, coordinating, and executing business functions and resource allocations; overseeing procurement and contract activities for a program or organization; serving as a contract officer representative; promoting the services and products of an organization; engaging in speaking events; and preparing or delivering oral presentation.
  • Specialized Experience GS-14: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-13 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to experience supervising, leading, influencing, motivating, and challenging others; performing the full scope of supervisory duties; preparing, justifying managing, administering, and executing a budget for a program or organization; monitoring expenditures to ensure cost-effective support of programs; establishing short or long term goals for a program, project, or initiative; planning, coordinating, and executing business functions and resource allocations; overseeing procurement and contract activities for a program or organization; serving as a contract officer representative; promoting the services and products of an organization; engaging in speaking events; and preparing or delivering oral presentation.
You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:
  • Leadership
  • Financial Management
  • Administration and Management
  • Contracting/Procurement
  • Communication
Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.

Physical Requirements: Work is primarily sedentary and performed in an office environment.

Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:
  • your performance and conduct;
  • the needs and interests of the agency;
  • whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
  • whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.
Upon completion of your probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Education

There is no educational substitution at this grade level.

Additional information

Special Employment Consideration: VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply, including those eligible for hiring under 5 CFR 213.3102(u), Schedule A, Appointment of persons with disabilities [i.e., intellectual disabilities, severe physical disabilities, or psychiatric disabilities], and/or Disabled veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more. Contact the Agency Contact for information on how to apply under this appointment authority via the Selective Placement Coordinator.

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified (have a final rating of 85 or more) for this vacancy. Information about CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.

Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. If your resume does not support your questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s).

Narrative responses are not required at this time. If you are referred for consideration, you may be asked to submit additional job related information, which may include, but not limited to; responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities; completion of a work sample, and/or contact for an interview. Your resume and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.

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