Funeral Director & Embalmer

MyDIFS expert faculty are funeral professionals dedicated to your success, offering hands-on training and real-world insights. Join our vibrant community and pursue a quality education in funeral service at the Dallas Institute of Funeral Service, a longstanding institution with a rich history ranked among the top funeral service colleges in America. Study in beautiful Dallas with access to nearby Fort Worth, where there is always something happening on campus and in the community.

About the role

The Funeral Director & Embalmer compassionately facilitates funeral arrangement discussions and implements choices made by the family’s 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 interment to assist families following the loss of a loved one. Delivers exemplary personalized and professional service while ensuring all duties are performed consistently with the company’s mission, values, and policies. As the licensed Funeral Director/Embalmer, you are responsible for all mortuary, health, and vital statistics regulation compliance within the funeral establishment(s).

Responsibilities

• Performs on-call responsibilities, including taking first calls, talking with families, answering questions, providing initial details, and conducting transfers
• Exhibits concern and empathy, obtains or confirms deceased and family contact information, briefly discusses needs (including languages), schedules Arrangement appointment, and emails appointment confirmation
• Supervises and cares for the deceased in a respectful manner while performing tasks such as: verifying identification; obtaining authorization for embalming; embalming; dressing, styling hair, and/or applying cosmetics; preparing cremated remains
• Arranges and conducts funeral and memorial ceremonies in a professional, organized, and caring manner consistent with company policies and procedures
• Negotiates and enters into funeral contracts, handles legal documents, and collects payment in accordance with company policies
• Ensures client families are informed of special recognition/services available for veterans and delivers selected recognition/services
• Arranges for the interment or cremation of human remains
• Confirms authorization to proceed with service arrangements
• Supervises/assists in funeral services by managing parking, ushering, driving funeral vehicles, assisting at chapel and church services, assisting at the cemetery, delivering flowers, caskets, urns, photos, and other personal keepsakes, setting up and removing chairs, and participating at special functions
• Ensures adherence to all applicable professional, municipal, provincial/state, and federal licensing authority regulations and rules
• Provides aftercare in the absence of Family Service Counselor
• Ensures potential pre-need referrals are shared with Family Service Counselors
• Prepares and accurately completes documents and online entries related to services, cremations, and maintenance
• Retains heritage and grows market share through active involvement with community, religious, and other organizations
• Other duties as assigned by manager or supervisor

Requirements

• Basic knowledge of religious and fraternal organizations and customs
• Knowledge of computers and software including MS Office Suite
• High level of compassion and integrity
• Good communication and problem-solving skills
• Ability to multitask, set priorities, and pay attention to detail
• Takes initiative to discuss assignments, expectations, priorities, and deadlines, and seeks guidance and coaching from manager
• Process and results-oriented, motivated to keep projects moving ahead by removing obstacles and exploring alternatives
• Capacity to reason, plan, identify problems, learn rapidly, draw from experience, and apply knowledge to novel situations
• Positive attitude and drive to continually advance understanding of the industry and business
• Highly self-motivated with the ability to build professional and trusting business relations
• Professional written and verbal communication skills
• Public speaking skills with the ability to influence and gain consensus
• Proficient in using databases in automated processes and MS Office

Qualifications

• Graduated from an accredited school or college of mortuary science
• Current Funeral Director and Embalmer licenses within the practicing state
• Valid state driver’s license with an acceptable driving record

Work Environment

• Work is both indoors and outdoors during all seasons and weather
• Frequent continuous periods of sitting or standing up to 6 hours per day; frequently climbing stairs to access buildings

Physical Demands

• Physical effort requiring manual dexterity, including paperwork, calculators, computers, and phone usage
• Ability to push and pull up to 150 pounds on flat and inclined flooring or ramps