Funeral Director Job Description

Job summary 1

The Funeral Director provides customer service in all areas of helping client families following the loss of a loved one. Provides exemplary personalized and professional service. Learns how a Funeral Director implements choices made by the families/legal representative regarding the funeral, final disposition of the body, and memorialization of the individual. Interacts with the family to fulfill death care needs. Ensures customer needs are addressed.

Duties & Responsibilities 1

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Requirements & Skills 1

Job summary 2

A Funeral Director reports to the Location Manager in his/her market. He/She provides customer service in all areas of helping our families achieve peace following the loss of a loved one. We strive to help families overcome this difficult time by providing exemplary personalized service. Funeral Directors implement choices made by the families regarding the final disposition of the body and memorialization of the individual. They are the primary contact with our families and interact with them to fulfill their death care needs. Funeral Directors are responsible to ensure customers’ full range of needs is addressed. Successful candidates are people who establish strong personal and business relationships with customers. He/She is accountable for servicing families in a professional and timely manner. Respectful service and attention to customer needs are integral to a continued relationship with the family. The ability to contribute as a team member, where individuals work together and share equally in the exchange of ideas, concepts, and process outcomes is important. The Funeral Director's duties must be performed consistently with the company mission and values and adherence to company policies and procedures. Certain variations may exist across locations or markets particularly as they relate to location differences, whether the funeral directors are represented by a union, whether a license is required for certain duties and the size and staffing at a location or in a market.

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Requirements & Skills 2

Job summary 3

The Funeral Director provides customer service in all areas of helping client families following the loss of a loved one. Implements choices made by the families’ legal representatives regarding the final disposition of the body and memorialization of the individual. Interacts with the family to fulfill the death care needs of their loved one. Provides exemplary personalized and professional service. Fulfills the requirements as dictated by the licensing Board in the practicing state or province.

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Job summary 4

The Funeral Director will manage, prepare and direct funeral services, conduct, and coordinate the delivery of the decedent to the mortuary. The position will prepare the decedent for services and/or interment. The major objectives are to provide the highest quality services and products and to satisfy the needs of all client families. Geographic boundaries for this position may encompass more than one firm or location in a given area of multiple company operations.

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Requirements & Skills 4

Job summary 5

The Funeral Director implements choices made by the families’ legal representatives regarding the funeral, final disposition of the body, and memorialization of the individual. Provides customer service in all areas of funeral arrangements, cremation ceremonies, and internment to assist families following the loss of a loved one. Provides exemplary personalized and professional service.

Duties & Responsibilities 5

Requirements & Skills 5

Job summary 6

The Funeral Director will be responsible for respectfully caring for the deceased while performing a variety of tasks including, embalming, removals and transfers, cosmetology, dressing, hair styling, and any other preparation required for the deceased. The successful candidate will have a current license in the applicable state and knowledge of the current regulations related to the funeral industry.

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Job summary 7

The position of Funeral Director offers a great opportunity to a qualified individual with all the tools at hand needed for success. This individual will be licensed as a Funeral Director and able to handle making arrangements for funeral and cremation services.

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Job summary 8

The Funeral Director provides excellent service to grieving families on the day of the funeral service; coordinates details with the family, interment schedule, clergy, and music provider by Company policies; helps the family to establish positive memories by facilitating a compassionate and caring funeral service.

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Requirements & Skills 8

Job summary 9

A Funeral Director is responsible for assisting with the funeral home and cremation-related duties, which include physical work, and office-related tasks. Duties include first-call removals, assisting with casketing, setting up visitation areas, and driving company vehicles. Office duties include meeting the public, answering phones courteously and in a polite manner, and assisting with funerals, memorials, and other services or ceremonies as requested. The ability to lift to 75 pounds and work an on-call rotation schedule including weekends is required.

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Job summary 10

We are currently looking for a compassionate and self-driven licensed Funeral Director to join our team.

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Requirements & Skills 10

Frequently asked questions

What does an executive funeral director do?

An Executive Funeral Director, sometimes referred to as a Funeral Service Manager, is a professional who oversees the operations of a funeral home or similar establishment. While they may still engage in many tasks performed by a funeral director, their role often involves more administrative and leadership responsibilities. Here's what an Executive Funeral Director typically does:

Managing Staff: They oversee the hiring, training, and management of funeral home staff. This can include funeral directors, embalmers, office staff, and others involved in providing services.

Financial Management: They are often responsible for budgeting, financial planning, and monitoring the financial performance of the funeral home. They might also oversee billing and ensure compliance with financial regulations.

Overseeing Services: While they might not handle day-to-day tasks of arranging individual funerals, they ensure that all services provided meet the establishment's standards and adhere to relevant laws and regulations.

Customer Service: They may interact with families to ensure their needs are being met and address any issues or concerns that arise.

Policy Setting and Compliance: They establish policies and procedures for the funeral home and ensure compliance with all local, state, and federal laws related to funeral services, including health and safety regulations.

Marketing and Public Relations: They may develop marketing strategies, manage advertising campaigns, and represent the funeral home in the community to attract and retain clients.

Strategic Planning: They are often involved in planning for the future of the funeral home, which can include setting strategic goals, planning for expansion, and keeping up with industry trends.

Negotiating and Building Relationships with Suppliers: Executive Funeral Directors often work with casket suppliers, cremation services, florists, and other vendors, negotiating contracts and prices.

Maintaining Facilities: They are responsible for maintaining the funeral home facilities and might oversee any renovations or expansions.

Providing Grief Support: While this is more typically a task for individual funeral directors, in some cases the Executive Funeral Director may also provide or arrange for grief counseling and support services.

The role of an Executive Funeral Director can vary depending on the size of the funeral home. In smaller establishments, they might be directly involved in arranging funerals and other day-to-day tasks, while in larger ones, their role might be more focused on administrative and strategic planning tasks.

What skills does a funeral director need?

Being a funeral director is a unique profession that requires a blend of practical, interpersonal, and business skills. Here are some of the key skills that a funeral director needs:

Empathy and Compassion: Funeral directors work with people who are grieving and dealing with loss. They must be able to show empathy and compassion, offering emotional support to individuals and families during a difficult time.

Communication Skills: Funeral directors need excellent verbal and written communication skills. They must be able to clearly explain the services they provide, understand the wishes of the deceased's family, and convey this information to their team.

Organizational Skills: Funeral services involve many elements that need to be coordinated, such as transportation, burial or cremation, and memorial services. Funeral directors need strong organizational skills to ensure everything goes as planned.

Attention to Detail: Small details are important in funeral services, from making sure legal paperwork is correctly filled out, to ensuring the deceased's appearance is as the family wishes, to coordinating the logistics of the funeral service.

Professionalism: Funeral directors must maintain a high level of professionalism. This includes appropriately managing sensitive and confidential information, maintaining composure during emotionally charged situations, and presenting a professional appearance.

Time Management Skills: Funerals often have tight timelines, and directors need to be able to prioritize tasks and manage their time effectively to ensure everything is ready when needed.

Knowledge of Laws and Regulations: Funeral directors must understand and comply with local, state, and federal regulations relating to death care, including those regarding embalming, transportation, and burial or cremation.

Cultural Sensitivity: They need to understand and respect various cultural, religious, and personal beliefs and traditions related to death and funeral services.

Business Management Skills: Many funeral directors run their own business or manage a funeral home. This requires skills in areas such as finance, marketing, human resources, and strategic planning.

Physical Stamina: The role can involve long hours and the need to be on call. It may also involve some physical tasks, such as moving bodies.

Counseling Skills: While they are not professional therapists, funeral directors often provide basic grief counseling and must be able to listen and respond to people who are dealing with loss.

Technical Skills: Basic skills in embalming and restorative art are often required, along with the ability to use relevant software for record-keeping and communications.

Being a funeral director can be challenging due to the emotional intensity of the work and the need to handle a variety of tasks, but it can also be a rewarding profession for those who want to provide support and service to others during a difficult time.

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