Serving with Honor: Lead Cemetery Admin Specialist at Great Lakes National Cemetery

Choosing a career with the federal government is often about finding a deeper sense of purpose. Within the Department of Veterans Affairs, few roles offer as profound an opportunity to directly serve our nation’s heroes and their loved ones as the Lead Cemetery Admin Specialist. Located at the serene Great Lakes National Cemetery in Holly, Michigan, this GS-09 position is more than an administrative role; it is a vital calling.

As a leader in the administration office, you are the face of the National Cemetery Administration (NCA) during some of the most difficult times in a family's life. This comprehensive guide outlines the scope of the position, the daily responsibilities, qualification pathways, and the steps needed to construct a successful federal application.

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About the Agency: The National Cemetery Administration (NCA)

To understand the gravity of this job, one must understand the core mission of the National Cemetery Administration. Rooted in President Abraham Lincoln's solemn promise "to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow, and his orphan," the NCA operates national shrines across the country.

These sacred grounds serve as final resting places for millions of military service members, veterans, and their eligible family members. The NCA is recognized nationwide for maintaining pristine, peaceful landscapes and providing compassionate, dignified, and flawless customer service. Every team member at Great Lakes National Cemetery works to ensure that visitors leave with a deep sense of gratitude, understanding, and peace regarding the sacrifices made by America's veterans.

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Key Job Responsibilities

The Lead Cemetery Admin Specialist is a multi-faceted position combining active public relations, delicate crisis communication, logistics management, and staff leadership. The core duties are far-reaching and require immense emotional intelligence alongside administrative excellence.

1. Representing Agency Leadership

You will represent the NCA and the Director of the Great Lakes National Cemetery at all assigned committal services. In this capacity, you must exude professionalism, tact, and diplomacy, serving as a stabilizing presence for families and friends navigating profound emotional duress.

2. Complex Scheduling and Coordination

You will be responsible for scheduling interments for all casket and cremation burials, memorial requests, and "In Memory Of" (IMO) memorial markers. This requires receiving, vetting, and synthesizing information from various critical stakeholders, including:

• The Department of Defense (DoD)
• The NCA National Scheduling Center
• Private funeral directors
• Surviving family members of the deceased

3. Eligibility Verification

Before any service can be scheduled, personal and veteran history must be evaluated. You will oversee the investigation and official determination of burial eligibility. This demands a thorough knowledge of federal laws, military discharge classifications, and local cemetery policies.

4. Mentorship and On-The-Job Training

As a lead administrative professional, you will design and implement training programs for other Cemetery Administration Specialists (CAS) and volunteers. You will ensure that your team is fully capable of managing both internal database systems (such as the BOSS program) and conducting public committal services seamlessly.

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Qualification Requirements

To qualify for this GS-09 grade level opportunity, candidates must meet specific professional and educational criteria. There are three primary pathways to qualify: Experience, Education, or a combination of both.

Qualifying Pathways Comparison Table

Pathway	Key Requirements	Core Focus Area
Specialized Experience	1 year (52 weeks) at the GS-07 grade level or equivalent.	Managing administrative systems, customer service under pressure, compiling reports, and resolving complex database conflicts.
Education Substitute	1 full year of graduate-level education from an accredited university.	Academic coursework demonstrating the knowledge, skills, and abilities required for the position.
Superior Academic Achievement (SAA)	Bachelor’s degree meeting specific GPA or class ranking rules.	Cumulative GPA of 3.0+, GPA of 3.5+ in major, class rank in the upper third, or Honor Society membership.
Combination	Pro-rated blend of graduate-level education and specialized experience.	Balanced application of academic principles and professional administrative service.

Critical Additional Requirements

• Typing Proficiency: Candidates must possess the verified ability to type at least 40 words per minute (WPM).
• Driver's License: A valid, state-issued REAL ID driver's license is required to travel across the cemetery grounds and represent the agency.
• Time-in-Grade: If you are a current or former competitive service federal employee, you must have completed 52 weeks at the GS-07 level within 45 days of the vacancy closing on July 27, 2026.

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Work Schedule and Physical Demands

This position is fundamentally an on-site, public-facing service role. Because of the NCA's mission, specific guidelines govern the work hours and environmental context:

• Schedule: The standard shift is Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. However, to respect the families of veterans, the cemetery cannot be closed for more than two consecutive days.
• Holiday and Weekend Requirements: Staff are required to work on federal holidays and weekends as operational needs dictate. Specifically, all staff members must work on Memorial Day and Veterans Day annual services.
• Physical Demands: While the primary administrative functions are sedentary and completed within a climate-controlled office, you will routinely stand, walk, stoop, bend, and lift records boxes. Additionally, representing the cemetery at committal services requires you to spend extended periods outdoors in all weather conditions, including extreme Michigan winters, wind, rain, and heat.

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Salary and Compensation

The Lead Cemetery Admin Specialist position is classified under the General Schedule (GS) system at the GS-09 level.

• Salary Range: $68,081 to $88,510 per year.
• Locality Pay: The salary is adjusted to incorporate the localized cost of living for the Holly, Michigan region.
• Progression: Within the GS system, employees who demonstrate successful performance progress through 10 steps, which provide predictable, structured salary increases over time.

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Comprehensive Benefits Package

Careers with the Department of Veterans Affairs come with an industry-leading benefits portfolio, ensuring long-term security for you and your family. Benefits include:

• Federal Pension: Coverage under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS), providing a guaranteed lifetime annuity upon retirement.
• Thrift Savings Plan (TSP): A retirement savings account similar to a 401(k), featuring immediate agency matching contributions up to 5%.
• Health and Life Insurance: Access to the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program, which offers premium-quality medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Generous Paid Leave: Accumulate paid annual (vacation) leave and paid sick leave every pay period. Additionally, enjoy 11 paid federal holidays each year.

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Application Process and Tips

Applying for a federal position requires meticulous attention to detail. Follow these strategic tips to optimize your application for the hiring panel:

1. Tailor Your Resume: Rewrite your resume to explicitly reflect the keywords listed in the qualifications. Use concrete terms to describe how you coordinate events, lead staff, work with Microsoft Office, and communicate with distressed clients.
2. Adhere to the Page Limit: The NCA enforces a strict two-page limit for resumes. Use a font size no smaller than 10 points. Ensure no personal photos, age, gender, or Social Security numbers are present; inclusion of these items will lead to automatic disqualification.
3. Provide Valid SF-50s: If you are claiming federal status or time-in-grade, submit a non-award SF-50 (such as a promotion or within-grade increase form). Award SF-50s often do not show the necessary grade level dates.
4. Claim Veteran's Preference: If you are an eligible veteran, submit your DD-214 showing character of service. If claiming 10-point preference, submit an SF-15 along with your VA disability rating letter.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Is this a remote or telework-eligible position?

No. Due to the high-touch, public-facing responsibilities of coordinating committal services and greeting families, this position is strictly on-site at Great Lakes National Cemetery in Holly, MI.

Q2: What are the primary computer systems used in this job?

In addition to Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams), you will use specialized federal scheduling and records databases such as the Burial Operations Support System (BOSS) to organize interments.

Q3: Do I need to submit academic transcripts if I am qualifying based on experience?

Transcripts are only mandatory if you are using graduate education or Superior Academic Achievement (SAA) to meet the qualification standards. However, attaching transcripts is recommended if you wish to highlight a relevant academic background.

Q4: Will I be required to undergo a drug test or security clearance?

While a formal security clearance is not required for this low-risk, non-sensitive position, you must successfully pass a suitability and fitness adjudication, which includes a comprehensive background investigation.

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The Lead Cemetery Admin Specialist at Great Lakes National Cemetery is a rare and prestigious opportunity to blend top-tier administrative leadership with a sacred mission of service. If you possess the emotional resilience, administrative capability, and leadership drive to support America's veterans and their families in their hours of greatest need, do not hesitate to apply. Gather your transcripts, refine your two-page resume, and submit your application before the closing date on July 27, 2026.