Funeral Director

Service Corporation International•Memphis, TN

96d

About The Position

The Funeral Director 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, this role is responsible for compliance with mortuary, health, and vital statistics regulations within the funeral establishment. The role receives or initiates calls with the next of kin, gathers and confirms information, schedules arrangement appointments, and facilitates arrangement conferences. It discusses available insurance and benefits and promotes funeral, cemetery, crematory, and related merchandise and services. The Funeral Director may perform removals or transfers and may take on Funeral Services Counselor/Advisor duties when needed. The Funeral Director confirms service authorizations, presides over services, checks the deceased and service arrangements, and responds to family needs. Event planning duties include ordering resources, preparing event spaces, producing memorial materials, and completing post-event cleanup and delivery tasks. The role may also perform attendant duties and represent the location or market at community or charity events. The position works under general guidance and is expected to follow applicable regulations and company policies, take initiative in managing assignments, seek coaching when needed, and adapt to changing work structures and requirements.

Requirements

Graduate from an accredited school or college of mortuary science.
Hold a current Funeral Director license in the practicing state.
Have a valid state driver’s license and acceptable driving record to operate company-owned vehicles.
Demonstrate cognitive ability to reason, plan, identify problems, learn quickly, learn from experience, and apply learning to new situations.
Be process- and results-oriented, motivated to move projects forward by removing obstacles and exploring alternatives.
Maintain a positive attitude, self-motivation, and a 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.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office.
Ability to work indoors and outdoors in all seasons and weather.
Wear professional business attire when in contact with families.
Ability to sit or stand for frequent continuous periods of up to six hours per day and frequently climb stairs.
Manual dexterity for paperwork and use of calculators, computers, and phones.
Ability to push and pull up to 150 pounds on flat and inclined flooring or ramps.
Flexibility to work outside normal business hours; nights and weekends are frequently necessary.

Nice To Haves

Industry experience is preferred.

Responsibilities

Receive or initiate calls to the deceased’s next of kin; gather or confirm contact information and needs, schedule arrangement appointments, and send appointment confirmations.
May perform removals or transfers in accordance with company standards, care respectfully for the deceased, and update removal status in proprietary software.
Greet next of kin, facilitate arrangement conferences, assess needs, and discuss available life insurance and benefits.
Promote funeral, cemetery, and crematory services and merchandise, including catering, flowers, music, and memorial products.
Transition arrangement conferences to a Funeral Services Counselor/Advisor to discuss cemetery property and merchandise, pricing, and contracts; may perform those duties when no counselor/advisor is available.
Review and authorize merchandise and service contract revisions.
Confirm authorization for service arrangements and preside as Master of Ceremonies at visitation, funeral, and graveside services.
Attend graveside services included in the purchase agreement and be present when a casket containing a human body is placed in a grave, crypt, or burial vault; verify personal belongings have been removed as arranged.
Visually inspect the deceased and adjust casket dressing, attire, or makeup, or communicate concerns to preparation staff.
Inspect visitation, funeral, and graveside arrangements against contractual arrangements and family expectations; initiate corrective action and guide service team members as appropriate.
Interact with families to fulfill death-care requests and obtain leads for pre-need services.
Plan events, including resource planning and ordering music, flowers, or catering.
Produce memorial products, which may include scanning photos, ordering memorabilia or stationery, creating electronic presentations, writing obituaries, and creating online memorials.
Prepare event rooms before services and clean and restore them afterward; identify property needing repair and deliver family memorabilia as needed.
May perform attendant duties such as parking lot attendant, driver, usher, pallbearer, or courier.
May attend community or charity events to represent and promote the location or market.
Comply with local, state, and federal regulations, company policies, and procedures.
Discuss assignments, expectations, priorities, and deadlines with the manager; seek guidance and coaching, report light workloads, and volunteer for additional work.
Adapt to new work structures, processes, requirements, or cultures and complete additional responsibilities as requested or assigned.