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Green Burial at Willow-Witt Ranch - Conservation, Restoration, Education since 1985

Assistant Cemetery Manager

Assistant Cemetery Manager Job Description

Title: Assistant Cemetery Manager
Reports to: Cemetery Manager, Bethany Williams; Owner, Suzanne Willow 
Location: Willow Witt Ranch, 658 Shale City Road, Ashland, OR 97520
Regular Pay: Hourly, Non-Exempt $23-25/hr DOE (Grave Digging and Burial Coordination $30.00/hr) 

Part Time: 20-25 hours per week

Start Date (Negotiable): January 4, 2027

Position Summary 

The Assistant Cemetery Manager will share responsibility for all aspects of burial coordination, plot sales, community education, outreach, and records management. Candidates should have a demonstrated interest in natural burial or conservation with prior experience in end-of-life planning or death-oriented work. In this dynamic and rewarding position you will make a difference to individuals and families in our community.

The Assistant Cemetery Manager reports directly to the Owner and Cemetery Manager, who will train and support this employee in all aspects of operating The Forest Conservation Burial Ground. This position offers direct guidance to the farm staff in relevant areas such as grave preparation, ceremony set up, plot marker installations, and grave tending.

The Forest Conservation Burial Ground is in the expanded Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument, at nearly 5,000’ elevation near Grizzly Peak. In addition to the cemetery, the 445-acre Willow-Witt Ranch property, stewarded for conservation and ecosystem health since 1985, features a campground/event space, farm stay accommodations, a certified organic farm and working forests and wetlands. The land also hosts The Crest, an educational nonprofit cultivating the connection between people and nature through residential and day  school programs and summer camps. 

Core accountabilities 

  • Sales and Customer Relationships: Respond to inquiries and phone calls, lead tours, complete pre-need and at-need sales, and lead and support  burials.
  • Coordinate with Families: Coordinate with families for burials, stone placements and cemetery events. 
  • Community Outreach: Engage the local community through the development and execution  of events and speaking engagements. 
  • Cemetery Events: Support, schedule, advertise and produce events held at the cemetery.
  • Logistics: Coordinate with farm staff for burials, events, and cemetery maintenance.
  • Marketing: Create compelling marketing content to connect with and develop our audience through social media, regular newsletters, radio and print campaigns, and other traditional and digital marketing channels. 
  • Burial Ground Maintenance and Grave Tending: Mark and record location of plots, monitor grave placement and coordinate the creation, installation, and maintenance of markers and memorials. 
  • Professional Development: Pursue continued education in natural burial protocols and practices.
  • Records Administration: Keep meticulous digital and hard copy records throughout the sales cycle, ensuring compliance and client satisfaction. This includes proficiency in Plotbox, Funeral Services Incorporated (FSI), duplicate paper records, trust accounting, and maintaining compliance with state agencies. 
  • Financial Administration: Ensure payments are processed accurately using accounting software. Includes contract sales and invoicing via QuickBooks / Square, and the management of payments, guaranteed trust accounts, and disbursals via Funeral Services Incorporated. 
  • Grave Opening: Locate plots and oversee the opening and completion of grave and ceremony setup, including directing additional staff.
  • Optional: Grave-digging. 

Qualifications 

  • Demonstrated interest in death work and natural burial. 
  • Experience and enthusiasm for environmentalism, conservation and land management.
  • Ability to work easily and comfortably with people of all beliefs and backgrounds during difficult times.
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills with a high degree of professionalism. 
  • Meticulous attention to detail at all levels of work, with a high degree of accuracy. 
  • Flexibility to adjust to changing demands; demonstrate ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced environment with little direct supervision. 
  • Experience maintaining a database or CRM.
  • Experience with HP & Mac computers, Microsoft Office Suite, Google products, and social media platforms including Facebook and Instagram.
  • Ability to create branded marketing materials.
  • This position requires the physical ability to use stairs, operate typical office equipment such as phone, computers, and printers, sit at a desk for extended periods of time, and occasional assistance in the upkeep of the cemetery. This position requires lifting of up to 50 pounds. Participation in grave-digging is optional.  
  • Ability to flex schedule to meet the needs of our clients. 

Work Hours and Requirements

  • The Cemetery Manager and Assistant Cemetery Manager will work together to have on site coverage seven days a week. Flexible scheduling and on-site attendance is required to meet the organizational needs. Some evenings and weekends are required for burial coordination, burials and events. 
  • This position requires outside work and exposure to extremes of weather and nature. Inclement weather may present challenges that require flexibility of plans. 

Compensation: Employees are paid every two weeks. Payroll closes on the 15th to be paid out on the 20th and closes out on the 1st to be paid out on the 5th. 

Workers Compensation Insurance is provided at no cost to the employee. This insurance provides for your medical expenses and a percentage of your income if you are injured as a result of your employment. You must report any job-related injury or illness immediately to your supervisor and the owners, no matter how minor the injury or illness may seem and you should seek medical treatment promptly. You must report any injury or illness within 30 days to be eligible for a claim.

Unpaid Time Off:  Employees may request unpaid time off after 90 days employment. Unpaid time off must be approved by the Cemetery Manager to assure adequate staff coverage. 

Flex Paid Time Off:   Employees working at least 0.5FTE accrue Flex PTO at a rate of .023 hours for every hour worked with a maximum of 48-hours accrued annually.  Employees may use Flex PTO after 90 days employment. *Note that due to Mary Ann’s tenure with the organization, accrual is permitted at less than .5 FTE

Tenure-Based Paid Time Off: Employees working at least 0.5FTE accrue tenure-based PTO at a rate of .0192 during first year of employment, with a max of 40 hours per year. This accrual will be vested in one allotment on employment anniversary date. During the second year of employment and each following year employees accrue tenure-based PTO at a rate of .0385 for every hour worked, with a max of 80 hours per year. These accruals are available immediately for use as they accrue. 

Paid Sick Time:  Sick time accrues at a rate of .033 hours for every hour worked, (or 1 hour sick time for every 30 hours worked) with a maximum of 40 hours per year. Employees begin earning sick time at hiring, it can be used starting at 90 days of employment (unpaid sick time can be used up until this time). Utilization of sick time is permitted for sick days, doctors appointments, bereavement and other approved absences. Sick Time does not roll-over into successive years. 

Retirement Fund: At 6 months of hire, employees are eligible to contribute a percentage of their paycheck to a 401K plan through Vestwell. The employer will match up to 3% of contributions. Contributions are vested at two years from employee enrollment and become available after that time. Should you leave prior to 2 years from enrollment, you will not receive the employer contributions.

Health Stipend: All Full-Time, Part-Time and Seasonal/Intern employees are eligible for the health care stipend after the completion of the 90-day introductory period.  All employees averaging more than 24 hours per week will be eligible for the full health care stipend. Employees working on average less than 24 hours per week will receive fifty percent of the full health care stipend.  The full health care stipend is $100 per month paid in two equal installments, half paid on the 20th of the month and half paid on the 5th of the following month as part of the regularly scheduled payroll.

To Apply: Email a resume, cover letter, and a list of three references with the subject line, “Assistant Cemetery Manager Application,” to info@theforestconservationburial.org.

Application Deadline: We anticipate closing the announcement on November 2, 2026. We will start reviewing applications on November 4, 2026.  The anticipated start date for this position is January 4, 2027.