SUPERINTENDENT STATE CEMETERY
To land Superintendent State Cemetery in New Jersey you go through the competitive route: you sit an announced exam and the score puts you on the eligible list agencies hire from.
A bachelor's degree is the listed credential, and extra years on the job can be traded for it. The FY2027 range lands between $87,507 and $128,719, and state payroll lists a single employee in the title, at Military and Veterans Affairs.
How to apply
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Exam
This is an application to sit an exam and be placed on an eligible list for this title, not an application for a specific job. A $35 application fee applies to Non-Public-Safety announcements issued on or after 2026-02-01. There may be no current vacancy behind it, and the list it produces may not be certified for months or years.
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Exam
Open to permanent employees in the competitive division who hold a qualifying lower title in the same unit. A $35 application fee applies to Non-Public-Safety announcements issued on or after 2026-02-01. Like the open competitive exam, this places you on a list; it is not itself a job offer.
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Agency posting
Department of Military and Veterans Affairs's employment page may require a click-through to see specific openings. Provisional appointment against a posted vacancy is how most people are actually hired into this kind of title.
Who employs this title
State payroll records show 1 person working under this title. The median actual salary is $116,402. The agencies employing the most are:
- Military and Veterans Affairs (1)
Counts from NJ YourMoney agency payroll. See statewide workforce analytics.
Official job specification
The text below is the official specification published by the New Jersey Civil Service Commission. The plain-language summary and analysis above are derived from it by NJ Civil Service Navigator.
Definition
Under direction of a supervisory official, in the Department of Veterans Affairs, supervises the daily administrative and operational activities of a Veterans' Cemetery to include staff assignment, review, and evaluation; does related work as required.
Examples of work
Provides overall direction of the Veterans' Cemetery to ensure all administrative, operational, and logistical activities are implemented effectively. Develops operational procedures related to maintenance, capital construction and other activities of the Veterans' Cemetery. Supervises the maintenance and development of burial sites, roads, buildings, trees, shrubbery, lawn, and equipment. Supervises the work operations and/or functional programs, and has responsibility for employee evaluations, and for effectively recommending the hiring, firing, promoting, demoting, and/or disciplining of employees. Performs special investigations and/or surveys to determine operational needs and resolution of operational problems. Supervises burials, disinterments, perpetual care, marker base ordering, placement and alignment. Coordinates and supervises staff training and development. Coordinates and supervises drills and ceremonies. Collects information and reviews reports prepared by staff involving union and other agency matters. Responds to information requests related to Congressional and/or Legislative inquiries. Reviews the research of proposed legislation, and evaluates same for impact to service delivery, as related to Veterans' Cemetery activities. Conducts and attends meetings and functions as required. Advises the Director on issues related to procedural matters and requests for extensions. Represents the Department at conferences, seminars, meetings with public or private groups. Meets with interested parties and professional groups to informally discuss and explain operational goals and programs of the Veterans' Cemetery. Prepares detailed correspondence and/or detailed reports. Plans and conducts interments. Advises appropriate relatives and funeral directors on procedural guidelines of burial. Supervises the establishment and maintenance of necessary records and files. Will be required to learn how to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office or related units.
License
Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform the essential duties of the position.
Knowledge, skills and abilities
Knowledge of methods and equipment used to operate and maintain a cemetery. Knowledge of methods and procedures for buildings and grounds maintenance. Knowledge of administrative, operational, maintenance and honor guard staff functions and responsibilities. Ability to supervise, evaluate, assign, and review the work of subordinate employees. Ability to prepare detailed reports and correspondence, as required. Ability to comprehend, interpret, analyze, and apply basic laws and regulations. Ability to make recommendations related to maintenance and capital improvements. Ability to provide research and analysis of proposed laws and/or operating regulations and to prepare detailed reports containing findings, conclusions, and recommend courses of action. Ability to represent the Department at meetings, seminars and conferences. Ability to supervise the establishment and maintenance of files. Ability to learn how to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office or related units. Ability to read, write, speak, understand, and communicate in English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication. Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible if they can perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.
Note
The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed. Applicants must meet one of the following or a combination of both experience and education. Thirty (30) semester hour credits are equal to one (1) year of relevant experience. Seven (7) years of professional experience in the operation of a cemetery, or in facilities management including the maintenance of buildings and grounds, one (1) year of which shall have been in a supervisory capacity. OR Possession of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university; and three (3) years of the above-mentioned professional experience, one (1) year of which shall have been in a supervisory capacity. "Professional experience" refers to work that is creative, analytical, evaluative, and interpretive; requires a range and depth of specialized knowledge of the profession's principles, concepts, theories, and practices; and is performed with the authority to act according to one's own judgment and make accurate and informed decisions.