Veterans Cemetery Director

Executive Service

VETERANS CEMETERY DIRECTOR

Department of Veterans Services

Cemeteries

Knoxville, TN

Salary: $6544.00

Closing Date: 02/11/2026

Who we are and what we do:

Our vision is to make Tennessee the national leader in serving veterans and their families. Our mission is to serve veterans of all eras through passionate advocacy, informative outreach, and an honorable final resting place. The core values define who we are, our culture, and how we care for Veterans and eligible beneficiaries. Our values are more than just words they affect outcomes in our daily interactions with Veterans and eligible beneficiaries and with each other.

Taking the first letter of each word TRUST, RESPECT, ADVOCACY, COMMITMENT, EXCELLENCE creates a powerful acronym, TRACE. The term The definition of TRACE is finding or discovering by investigation. The acronym will remind each TDVS employee of the importance of their role to be laser-focused on finding those Veterans and their families who require our vital services. These core values come together as five promises we make as individuals and as a TEAM to those we serve.

Job Overview:

Under the general direction of the Assistant Commissioner of Cemetery Operations, the Cemetery Director directs, administers, manages, supervises, plans, and organizes the operation of a State Veterans Cemetery. The Cemetery Director is responsible for the cemetery structures and grounds including the administration building, committal chapel, vehicles and equipment. The Cemetery Director is involved in directing or performing a wide range of functions including administrative duties, burial and support services, perpetual care, cemetery grounds maintenance, facility and equipment maintenance operations, coordinating support group activity, and supply management.

Duties also include consultation and interaction with surviving family members and public safety.

Key Responsibilities:

• Directs cemetery operations and assumes accountability for the success of cemetery programs and activities; determines cemetery program goals and recommends plans for organizational changes; enforces laws, regulations, and policies pertaining to safety, conduct and decorum within the cemetery.
• Supervises direct reports:
  Cemetery Foreman and Administrative Assistant 1 positions.
• Teaches, coaches, and mentors the direct reports to achieve their individual development plan objectives; sets the example as a competent leader of character. Plans, schedules, and hosts ceremonial events including but not limited to annual Memorial Day Ceremony and the placement of individual U.S. Flags.
• Organizes placement of wreaths during the annual Wreaths across America, including coordinating and encouraging local community support.
• Oversees the scheduling of interments; manages interments to insure they are accomplished in accordance with Federal, State, locals laws, policies, and procedures.
• Coordinates directly with next-of-kin and funeral home directors to provide desired services.
• Inspects grounds, buildings, facilities, and equipment for serviceability and appearance; plans and implements corrective actions and repairs to maintain cemetery property.
• Promotes the cemetery to expand its target service base; represents the cemetery in matters pertaining to the cemetery; meets with military, local government, interest groups, media, and the public to establish and maintain positive relationships.

Minimum Qualifications:

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelors degree and experience equivalent to three years of increasingly responsible full-time professional experience. Qualifying full-time increasingly responsible sub-professional experience or professional experience may be substituted for the required education, on a year-for-year basis.

Pursuant to the State of Tennessee's Workplace Discrimination and Harassment policy, the State is firmly committed to the principle of fair and equal employment opportunities for its citizens and strives to protect the rights and opportunities of all people to seek, obtain, and hold employment without being subjected to illegal discrimination and harassment in the workplace. It is the State's policy to provide an environment free of discrimination and harassment of an individual because of that person's race, color, national origin, age (40 and over), sex, pregnancy, religion, creed, disability, veteran's status or any other category protected by state and/or federal civil rights laws.