General Manager

About the Role

This opportunity is unlike any other. As General Manager of Woodlawn Cemetery, you won't simply oversee business operations — you'll serve as the steward of one of Detroit's most treasured historic landscapes. Since 1895, Woodlawn has been a place where generations of Detroit families have honored loved ones while preserving the stories that shaped the city itself. Its beautifully maintained grounds are the final resting place of iconic leaders, innovators, artists, entrepreneurs, and public servants whose legacies continue to define Detroit, including Rosa Parks and Aretha Franklin.

We're looking for a leader who believes that cemeteries are more than places of remembrance — they are places where history, community, and legacy come together. The ideal candidate has a genuine appreciation for Detroit's rich culture, resilience, and future, and understands the privilege of serving families in a location that represents so much to the city.

Why Everstory

At Everstory Partners, our mission is to create supportive spaces where individuals and families can find solace, meaning, and hope in the midst of loss. We believe grief is a natural and beautiful part of the human experience, and we are committed to providing compassionate and personalized support. Backed by our national strength and local partnerships, our role is to be a steady presence, a source of comfort and guidance, and a partner in celebrating the life and legacy of those who have passed.

Responsibilities

• Take full ownership of all aspects of your portfolio’s daily operations, including full P&L responsibility to facilitate growth within your markets.
• Achieve or exceed budgeted sales and profit levels; review financial results against monthly and quarterly budget goals to ensure efficient operations and that all expenditures remain within guidelines.
• Take a proactive approach to correct any deviation from financial budgets and performance.
• Act as an example of excellent customer service standards for internal and external customers by resolving escalated issues in a timely and satisfactory manner.
• Provide motivational leadership to teams to accomplish goals and objectives while working within company guidelines.
• Facilitate weekly managers meetings to review staffing, development, training needs, and discuss operating and sales plans, objectives, and results.
• Proactively recruit, hire, train, and retain staff in accordance with company standards, programs, and materials.
• Write and conduct timely performance reviews, create individual development plans, and provide regular follow-up to ensure completion of goals.
• Provide ongoing follow-up, training, and coaching to assist team members in achieving developmental objectives.
• Manage merchandise and property inventory for each location within the designated portfolio.
• Influence and manage relationships with vendors to ensure effective partnerships in addressing location or customer needs.
• Ensure compliance with workplace health and safety standards and plans.
• Select and purchase all necessary materials for operations within budgetary guidelines using approved vendors.

Core Competencies

• Compassion: Genuinely cares about people; demonstrates real empathy with the joys and pains of others.
• Customer Focus: Dedicated to meeting the expectations and requirements of internal and external customers; establishes and maintains effective relationships with customers.
• Ethics and Values: Adheres to an effective set of core values and beliefs; acts in line with those values; rewards the right values and disapproves of others.

Requirements

• Strong combination of business operations, quality, continuous improvement, process development, and management experience.
• Ability to establish and maintain trust with all stakeholders, including customers, business partners, investors, and coworkers.
• Experience developing effective methods of handling location issues, including internal and external customer complaints.
• Excellent customer service skills.
• Experience leading and developing high-performing teams.
• Prior experience managing multiple departments within multiple locations.
• Proactive approach to understanding urgency and prioritizing tasks appropriately.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business or related field; or equivalent professional experience.
• Minimum five (5) years of experience in management and personnel supervision.
• Prior experience with client-facing service operations, with a strong track record of process/operations field leadership and experience running complex operations of varied workflows and disciplines.
• General understanding of basic accounting principles, specifically budgeting procedures.
• Previous Cemetery/Funeral Home Management experience is strongly preferred.
• Must possess a valid driver’s license and access to a personal vehicle. Mileage reimbursement is provided for travel associated with job duties.
• Availability to work some holidays, evenings, and weekends as needed.

Benefits

• Base salary pay with a performance-driven bonus plan tied to cemetery and funeral revenue.
• Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, AD&D, and STD Insurance.
• Tuition Reimbursement.
• Anniversary Award for each year of service.
• Career Advancement and Training - Aspiring Managers Program.
• Everstory Cares - Employee Assistance Fund.
• Legend Award Program.
• Funeral and Cemetery Benefits.
• Employee Referral Bonus.
• 401k with Company Match.

Pay

Base salary: $90,000 to $110,000 plus bonus.