Sales Manager (Funeral) - ABILENE, TX

About the role

We seek a highly-qualified, motivated Funeral Home and Cemetery Sales Manager in Abilene, TX. The Sales Manager plays an essential role in generating revenue for the funeral home(s) and/or cemetery(ies). This person is the primary reference for Family Service Professionals and/or Advanced Planning Professionals, helping manage contact with families and interactions to fulfill their death care needs. As the Sales Manager, you will be positioned for a successful career in the funeral industry.

Responsibilities

• Coach Family Service Professionals and/or Advanced Planning Professionals on customer service, satisfaction, prospecting, product knowledge, sales presentations, closing skills, pricing, terms, paperwork, and sales guideline interpretation
• Schedule, distribute leads, follow up, and manage other aspects of a sales team (excluding direct product/service sales)
• Generate sales leads through serving at-need families, networking, community interaction, and partnering with other businesses; arrange and coordinate group seminars
• Assist the VP in developing and meeting the annual location pre-need sales budget
• Ensure 24-hour response to customer complaints and teach Family Service Professionals and/or Advanced Planning Professionals to turn complaints into opportunities
• Establish and review activity and performance plans for Advanced Planning Professionals and/or Family Service Professionals
• Hire, discipline, terminate, train, advance, and place Family Service Professionals and/or Advanced Planning Professionals
• Manage attendance, absenteeism, leave, pay issues, and performance of assigned Advanced Planning Professionals and/or Family Service Professionals
• Communicate team progress to the General Manager and Cemetery VP
• Work with all personnel to ensure customer satisfaction
• Ensure compliance of sales practices with federal, state, and local regulations (e.g., “No Call” legislation)
• Review sales contracts written by Advanced Planning Professionals and/or Family Service Professionals to ensure adherence to sales guidelines
• Lead change initiatives that support seamless service
• Act as a resource for estate planning to increase market share and new heritage
• Mentor sales professionals by leading by example and conducting job shadowing to monitor performance and coach

Requirements

• 2–3 years of funeral sales management experience
• Preferred: a valid Texas Life insurance license
• Preferred: 1–3 years of experience as a Family Service Professional or Advanced Planning Professional
• A history of community, civic, volunteer, or sectarian work within the market
• Knowledge of computers and some software
• Strong written and verbal communication skills for interactions with grieving families, coworkers, and stakeholders to provide accurate, timely responses in a calm, professional manner
• Ability to collaborate easily with coworkers, maintain shared information, and work independently or on projects
• Works with other departments as needed
• Proactively finds new ways to approach problems and processes
• Shares viewpoints openly, listens attentively, communicates timely and effectively with management
• Contributes to group objectives and volunteers to help others
• Ability to interface well with personnel at all levels

Benefits

• Generous compensation including base salary and overrides
• Health benefits
• 401(k)
• Continuous training and development by supportive sales management teams
• Annual incentive trip