Funeral Director Apprentice

SCI Shared Resources•Richardson, TX

About The Position

Provides customer service to client families following the loss of a loved one, delivering personalized, professional, and compassionate assistance. Learns how a Funeral Director carries out family or legal representative choices concerning funeral arrangements, final disposition, and memorialization, and interacts with families to address their death-care needs. The apprentice learns to arrange and conduct funeral and memorial ceremonies, create funeral contracts, handle related legal documents and payments, confirm authorizations, and arrange interment or cremation. The role also includes caring respectfully for the deceased, assisting with funeral services and visitations, providing aftercare when a Family Service Counselor is unavailable, completing service-related documentation and data entry, and supporting general office and facility operations. The position works indoors and outdoors in all seasons and weather conditions, may involve limited local or multi-location travel, and requires professional dress when interacting with families. Work may extend beyond standard hours as needed, and travel may be up to 25%.

Requirements

High school diploma or general equivalency degree (or diploma).
Completion of, or current enrollment in, a degree training program at an accredited mortuary college or technical school specializing in funeral service or mortuary science.
Typically, a minimum of 6 months of experience in a funeral home, crematory, or cemetery.
Meet all licensing requirements in the applicable state or province as required by law and prescribed by the relevant state board.
Valid driver’s license.
Knowledge of computers and some software, including MS Office products.
High level of compassion and integrity.
Good communication skills.
Problem-solving skills.
Ability to multitask and set priorities.

Responsibilities

Learn to arrange and conduct funeral and memorial ceremonies in a professional, organized, and caring manner consistent with company policies and procedures.
Learn to negotiate and create acceptable funeral contracts.
Handle contracts, legal documents, and collection of monies or insurance in accordance with company policies.
Inform client families about special recognition and services available for veterans and ensure selected services are delivered.
Confirm authorization to proceed with service arrangements.
Verify identification of the deceased and authorization for embalming.
Learn to arrange interment or cremation of human remains.
Adhere to company and regulatory requirements.
Care for the deceased respectfully, including removals and transfers, lifting, dressing and casketing, and coordinating or assisting with services and visitations.
Deliver flowers, caskets, urns, photos, and other family keepsakes or mementos; set up chairs and ensure items are properly cared for and stored.
Assist with funeral services by coordinating parking, ushering, driving funeral vehicles, and assisting at chapel, church, and cemetery services.
Participate in special functions.
Provide aftercare when a Family Service Counselor is absent, including delivering documentation and stationery and providing information about insurance, health benefits, pensions, and pre-arrangements for next of kin.
Share potential pre-need referrals with Family Service Counselors.
Complete and accurately prepare documents related to services, cremations, maintenance, and other data entry.
Assist with general office duties, including preparing reports as needed.
Assist with maintenance of vehicles, facilities, and property.
Receive caskets and other funeral home supplies and place them into inventory.
Ensure refreshments are available where allowed by law.
Perform other duties as assigned.