Grave Digger

About Coventry City Council

Coventry City Council is committed to serving a city that is innovative, energetic, diverse, and forward-looking. With a workforce of around 5,100 people from many different backgrounds, the organisation focuses on delivering excellent public services, taking ownership, working collaboratively, and improving how things are done.

Our Values

The council works to ensure its communities are reflected across its workforce and aims to be an inclusive employer that welcomes different perspectives, including diversity of thinking. Applications are especially encouraged from people from minority ethnic backgrounds, LGBT+ communities, disabled people, and neurodiverse applicants.

• Open and fair: Acting transparently and equitably.
• Nurture and develop: Supporting people to do their best and grow.
• Engage and empower: Listening, communicating, and working together.
• Create and innovate: Embracing new approaches to improve services.
• Own and be accountable: Taking responsibility for delivering strong services.
• Value and respect: Embedding diversity and inclusion in everything the council does.

About the Bereavement Service

The Coventry Bereavement Service provides burial services across six cemeteries in the city, manages Canley Crematorium and Gardens of Remembrance, and also delivers other related services such as public health funerals and post-cremation memorialisation. The team works in a demanding environment where empathy, compassion, and professionalism are essential, and families remain the focus of every service delivered.

The service also offers training and an environment that supports personal development, helping colleagues build skills while contributing to essential support for bereaved families.

Role overview

This position is part of the Estate Maintenance / Grave Digging Operative team. The work involves a combination of manual and mechanical grave excavation, backfilling, grave preparation and layout, and broader grounds maintenance duties. The role requires careful handling of tasks that take place below ground level and must always be carried out with respect for bereaved families and the surroundings.

Working conditions

Working hours are Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. The job requires working outdoors in all weather conditions and completing tasks to tight deadlines.

Additional information

Cemetery Operative training will be provided. A full driving licence is required. The interview date is to be confirmed.

If you need support with your application, the council signposts accessibility help and also mentions support from the Job Shop, including online registration for an initial assessment or an in-person visit. For other queries, candidates can contact Recruitment@coventry.gov.uk.

The council also notes that applicants may use AI tools to support their application, but all details about experience, skills, and qualifications must be accurate and genuinely reflect the applicant.

Guaranteed interview scheme

As part of its inclusion commitment, the council offers guaranteed interviews to applicants who meet the minimum requirements and identify with one of these groups:

• Members of the Armed Forces and veterans
• People currently in care or who have previously been in care
• People who consider themselves disabled or who have a long-term health condition

Application process

Applicants are directed to review the council’s application process document for full details. The post also references attached documents titled Estate Maintenance Grave Digging Operative.pdf and Coventry City Council Application Process (1).pdf.

About Coventry

Coventry is described as a city with a proud, creative, innovative, youthful, vibrant, and diverse character. The council says it is committed to excellence and to recruiting talented people who focus on customers, take responsibility, work well together, and look for better ways to deliver services.

Rewards and benefits

The council states that successful candidates will receive a strong rewards and benefits package, with further details available on the council vacancies page.