Funeral Director Apprentice

About the role

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.

Responsibilities

• Learns to arrange and conduct funeral and memorial ceremonies in a professional, organized and caring manner consistent with company policies and procedures
• Learns to negotiate and create acceptable funeral contracts
• Handles contracts, legal documents, and collection of monies or insurance in accordance with company policies
• Ensures client families are informed of special recognition/services available for veterans and ensures the delivery of selected recognition/services
• Confirms authorization to proceed with the service arrangements
• Verifies identification of the deceased and authorization for embalming
• Learns how to arrange for the interment or cremation of human remains
• Adheres to all company and regulatory requirements
• Cares for the deceased in a respectful manner while performing a variety of tasks which may include:
  • Removals and transfers
  • Lifting of deceased human remains
  • Dressing and casketing
  • Coordinating and assisting with funeral service and visitation
  • Delivery of flowers, caskets, urn, photos and other personal keepsakes or mementos of client families
  • Setting of chairs and the removal, proper care and storage of these items
• Assists with funeral services by:
  • Coordinating the parking of cars
  • Ushering
  • Driving funeral vehicles
  • Assisting at chapel and church services
  • Assisting at the cemetery
  • Delivering flowers, caskets, urn, photos and other personal keepsakes or mementos of client families
  • Setting up chairs and the removing, properly caring for and storing of these items
• Participates at special functions
• Provides aftercare in absence of Family Service Counselor. Aftercare includes delivery of:
  • Documentation
  • Stationery
  • Information on insurance, health benefits and pension
  • Pre-arrangements for next of kin
• Ensures potential pre-need referrals are shared with Family Service Counselors
• Completes and accurately prepares all documents related to services, cremations, maintenance, and any other type of data entry
• Assists with general office duties such as preparing reports as needed
• Assists with the maintenance of vehicles, the facility and property
• Receives caskets and other funeral home supplies as well as place into inventory
• Ensures refreshments are available (where allowed by law)
• Performs other duties as assigned

Qualifications

• High School diploma or general equivalency degree (or diploma)
• Completion of or currently enrolled in a degree training program at an accredited mortuary college or technical school specializing in funeral service or mortuary science
• Typically requires a minimum of 6 months experience in a funeral home, crematory or cemetery
• Must meet all licensing requirements in applicable state/province as required by law as prescribed by each state board
• Valid driver's license

Skills

• Knowledge of computers and some software including MS Office products required
• High level of compassion and integrity
• Good communication skills
• Problem solving skills
• Ability to multi task and set priorities

Work environment

• Work indoors and outdoors during all seasons and weather conditions
• Limited amount of local and/or multiple location traveling required
• Professional Dress is required when in contact with families
• Frequent, continuous periods of time standing, up 6 hours per day
• Sitting continuously for many hours per day, up to 6 hours per day
• Climbing stairs to access buildings frequently
• Physical effort requiring manual dexterity is required, includes paperwork, calculators, computers and phone usage
• Working beyond "standard" hours as the need arises
• Travel up to 25%

Pay

$19.00 - $23.00 an hour based on experience.

Benefits

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Flexible Spending Accounts (health care and dependent care)
• Health Savings Account with Company Contribution
• Sick Leave
• Short-Term Disability
• Long-Term Disability
• Life Insurance
• Voluntary Accidental Death or Dismemberment Insurance
• Dependent Life Insurance
• SCI 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan with Company match
• Employee Assistance Program