Funeral Director/Embalmer

Our associates celebrate lives. We celebrate our associates. Compassionately facilitates funeral arrangement discussions with deceased next of kin and presides over visitation, funeral, and graveside services in accordance with family’s wishes, company expectations, and local, state, or federal laws. May perform embalming responsibilities. As the licensed Funeral Director, responsible for compliance with all mortuary, health, and vital statistics regulations within the funeral establishment(s).

Responsibilities

• Arrangements Conference
  • Receives or initiates call to deceased next of kin.
  • Exhibiting concern and empathy, obtains or confirms deceased and family contact information, briefly discusses needs (including languages), schedules Arrangement appointment, and emails appointment confirmation.
  • May perform removals or transfers adhering to company standards and processes.
  • Cares for deceased in a respectful manner.
  • Updates removal status in proprietary software.
  • Greets next of kin and escorts to meeting space.
  • Initiates and facilitates Arrangements Conference while assessing needs and summarizing desired outcomes.
  • Discusses available life insurance and benefits, such as Veteran benefits.
  • Promotes funeral, cemetery, and crematory services and merchandise such as catering, flowers, music, and Ever Lasting Memory products.
  • Transitions Arrangement Conference to Funeral Services Counselor/Advisor to present cemetery property and merchandise options, pricing, and contract completion. In absence of an FSA/FSC, may perform FSA/FSC responsibilities.
  • Reviews and authorizes merchandise and service contract revisions.
• Directing Services
  • Confirms authorization to proceed with service arrangements.
  • Presides as Master of Ceremonies (MC) for visitation, funeral, or graveside services in a professional, organized, and caring manner consistent with company standards.
  • Shall be present for graveside services included in the purchase agreement.
  • Shall be present when the casket containing a human body is placed in a grave, crypt, or burial vault and verifies that any personal belongings are removed from the deceased prior to burial per the arrangements.
  • Visually inspects deceased, adjusts casket dressing, deceased attire or makeup, or communicates concerns to preparation staff.
  • Visually inspects services arrangements (visitation, funeral, or graveside) against contractual arrangements and next of kin expectations; initiates corrective action as appropriate; may provide instruction or guidance to services team members.
  • Interacts with the family to fulfill death care requests. While interacting with family and guests, obtains leads for pre-need services.
• Event Planning
  • Performs a variety of event planning responsibilities including resource planning and ordering of music, flowers, or catering to fulfill arrangement requests.
  • Produces memorial products that may include scanning photos, ordering memorabilia or stationery, creating electronic presentations, writing obituaries, and creating online memorials.
  • Prepares event room including set-up of chairs, tables, flowers, guest books, and appropriate décor.
  • Post-event cleans chairs, tables, floors, properly stores items, identifies property in need of repair, and couriers/delivers family memorabilia to home.
  • May perform attendant duties including parking lot attendant, driver, usher, pallbearer, or courier.
  • May attend community or charity events to represent and promote the location or market.
• Embalming
  • Cares for deceased in a respectful manner.
  • Following company processes and procedures, verifies identification, reviews embalming authorization.
  • Following company processes and adhering to hazardous waste procedures, cleans and embalms body; uses scalpels, pumps, tubes, and equipment to replace bodily fluids/waste with embalming fluids; performs restorations, styles hair, applies cosmetics, dresses body, and performs other preparation required for human remains.
  • Verifies appropriate casket and lining according to contract. Dresses casket and lays deceased.
  • Updates status in proprietary software.
  • Maintains preparation room, cleans soiled equipment, properly disposes of hazardous waste, and promotes a safe work environment.
  • Inventories and reorders supplies.
• General
  • Works under general guidance. New associates are learning to apply licensure to business environment complying with regulations, policies, and procedures; work may be peer reviewed for accuracy, quality, and education; collaborates with peers or manager for assistance and guidance.
  • Exhibits accountability for behaviors. Ensures compliance with local, state, and federal regulations.
  • Takes initiative to discuss assignments, expectations, priorities, and deadlines as well as seek guidance and coaching from manager.
  • Notifies manager when workload is light and volunteers for additional work.
  • Adjusts effectively to work within new work structures, processes, requirements, or cultures.
  • Additional responsibilities as requested or assigned.

Requirements

• Education & Licenses
  • Graduated from an accredited school or college of mortuary science.
  • Current Funeral Director and Embalmer dual license within the practicing state.
  • Valid state driver’s license with an acceptable driving record required to operate company-owned vehicles.
• Experience
  • Industry experience is preferred.
• Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
  • Cognitive ability including reasoning, planning, identifying problems, learning quickly, learning from experience, and appropriately applying learning to new situations.
  • Process and results-oriented, motivated to keep projects moving ahead by removing obstacles and exploring alternatives.
  • Positive attitude, drive to continually advance understanding of the industry and business, and highly self-motivated.
  • Ability to build professional and trusting business relationships.
  • Professional written and verbal communication skills.
  • Public speaking skills with the ability to influence and gain consensus.
  • Proficient using databases in automated processes.
  • Proficient MS Office skills.

Work Conditions

• Work Environment
  • Work is both indoors and outdoors during all seasons and weather.
  • Professional business attire required when in contact with families.
• Work Postures
  • Frequent, continuous periods of time sitting or standing, up to 6 hours per day.
  • Frequent climbing of stairs to access buildings.
• Physical Demands
  • Physical effort requiring manual dexterity is required, includes paperwork, calculators, computers, and phone usage.
  • Ability to push and pull up to 150 pounds on flat and inclined flooring or ramps.
• Work Hours
  • Flexibility of availability may be necessary as services may occur outside of normal business hours; working nights and weekends is frequently necessary.

Pay

$25 to $35 per 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