Funeral Director/Embalmer

SCI Shared Resources•Springfield, IL

18d•Onsite

About The Position

Compassionately facilitates funeral arrangement discussions with the deceased’s next of kin and presides over visitation, funeral, and graveside services in accordance with family wishes, company expectations, and applicable laws. As the licensed Funeral Director, ensures compliance with mortuary, health, and vital statistics regulations within the funeral establishment. May perform embalming responsibilities. Receives or initiates contact with the next of kin, gathers or confirms information, discusses needs, schedules arrangement appointments, and facilitates arrangement conferences. May perform removals or transfers, care for the deceased, and update status in company software. Discusses available insurance and benefits, promotes funeral, cemetery, and crematory services and merchandise, and may perform Funeral Services Counselor/Advisor responsibilities when needed. Reviews and authorizes contract revisions. Directs visitation, funeral, and graveside services; checks service arrangements against contracts and family expectations; coordinates with families and team members; and is present for specified graveside services and burial placement. Plans and prepares events, including ordering resources, producing memorial products, preparing event spaces, and handling post-event cleanup and delivery. May perform attendant duties and represent the location or market at community or charity events. When embalming, verifies identification and authorization, prepares and embalms the body in accordance with company procedures and hazardous-waste protocols, performs restoration and other preparation, verifies the casket and lining, and updates status in company software. Maintains the preparation room, disposes of hazardous waste properly, promotes workplace safety, and manages supplies. Works under general guidance, follows applicable regulations and company procedures, seeks guidance and coaching as needed, and takes initiative in managing assignments and workload. Additional responsibilities may be assigned.

Requirements

Graduated from an accredited school or college of mortuary science.
Current Funeral Director and Embalmer dual license in the state where practicing.
Valid state driver’s license with an acceptable driving record to operate company-owned vehicles.
Ability to reason, plan, identify problems, learn quickly and from experience, and apply learning to new situations.
Process- and results-oriented, with motivation to keep projects moving by removing obstacles and exploring alternatives.
Positive attitude, self-motivation, and drive to continually advance understanding of the industry and business.
Ability to build professional and trusting business relationships.
Professional written and verbal communication skills.
Public speaking skills, including the ability to influence and gain consensus.
Proficiency using databases in automated processes and Microsoft Office.
Ability to work indoors and outdoors in all seasons and weather, and wear professional business attire when in contact with families.
Ability to sit or stand for frequent, continuous periods, up to six hours per day, and frequently climb stairs.
Manual dexterity for paperwork, calculators, computers, and phone use.
Ability to push and pull up to 150 pounds on flat and inclined flooring or ramps.
Availability for services outside normal business hours; nights and weekends are frequently necessary.

Nice To Haves

Industry experience is preferred.

Responsibilities

Receive or initiate calls with the deceased’s next of kin, confirm contact information and needs, schedule arrangement appointments, and send confirmations.
Perform removals or transfers when needed, care for the deceased respectfully, and update status in company software.
Greet next of kin and conduct arrangement conferences, assessing needs and summarizing desired outcomes.
Discuss life insurance and available benefits, and promote funeral, cemetery, crematory services, and merchandise.
Transition arrangements to a Funeral Services Counselor/Advisor for cemetery property and merchandise options, pricing, and contract completion; perform those responsibilities in their absence.
Review and authorize merchandise and service contract revisions.
Confirm authorization to proceed with arrangements and preside over visitation, funeral, and graveside services.
Be present for graveside services included in the purchase agreement and when a casket containing a human body is placed in a grave, crypt, or burial vault; verify personal belongings are removed as arranged.
Inspect the deceased and service arrangements, make or communicate necessary adjustments, and initiate corrective action when appropriate.
Interact with families and guests to fulfill death-care requests and obtain leads for pre-need services.
Plan events and order resources such as music, flowers, and catering.
Produce memorial products, including scanning photos, ordering memorabilia or stationery, creating electronic presentations and online memorials, and writing obituaries.
Prepare event rooms and, after events, clean and store items, identify property needing repair, and deliver family memorabilia when needed.
Perform attendant duties such as parking lot attendant, driver, usher, pallbearer, or courier; may represent the location or market at community or charity events.
For embalming, verify identification and authorization; clean, embalm, restore, style, apply cosmetics, dress, and otherwise prepare human remains according to procedures.
Verify the appropriate casket and lining, dress the casket, and lay the deceased.
Maintain the preparation room, clean equipment, properly dispose of hazardous waste, promote a safe work environment, and inventory and reorder supplies.
Ensure compliance with local, state, and federal regulations and company policies and procedures.
Discuss assignments, expectations, priorities, and deadlines; seek guidance and coaching; and volunteer for additional work when workload is light.