Funeral Services Director

SCI Shared Resources•Whittier, CA

26d•Onsite

About The Position

Directs compassionate and caring visitations, funeral services, and graveside services. Serves as families’ primary contact for service information, coordinates details, and makes revisions in response to family needs and requests. Provides services to grieving families, aiming to meet and exceed expectations, and ensures services are organized and consistent with company standards. This is an on-site position in Whittier, California. The role requires working in buildings or chapels and outdoors in varied weather, and working with and around human remains in a grieving and emotional environment. The director coordinates with internal resources and providers, delegates duties to the service team, prepares and checks service spaces and audio-visual equipment, greets and escorts families, leads funeral processions, and monitors services against contractual arrangements and next-of-kin expectations. The role also includes decedent identification and transportation, visual inspections, and presence when a casket or urn is lowered into a grave, crypt, or burial vault. Additional duties may include ushering, chauffeuring family members, delivering flowers or supplies, assisting with setup and cleanup, attending community events, and supervising parking. The position involves completing routine work under established procedures and regulations, escalating non-routine issues, seeking guidance and coaching, adapting to change, and being accountable for one’s conduct and workload. Compensation is $22.00–$28.00 per hour; exact compensation may vary based on skills, experience, and location. Part-time associates working an average of 20 hours per week may be eligible for a 401(k).

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Valid state driver’s license with an acceptable driving record.
At least two years of funeral services work experience at high-volume locations using automated record-keeping systems.
Demonstrated knowledge and application of industry regulations.
Knowledge of typical funeral and interment policies and procedures; internal candidates should have experience specifically with Rose Hills.
Professional and empathetic verbal and written communication skills.
Ability to accurately read cemetery permits and land maps.
Ability and willingness to wear a radio and earpiece for continual communication.
Cognitive ability to reason, plan, identify problems, comprehend ideas, learn quickly and from experience, and apply learning to new situations.
Process- and results-oriented approach, including identifying obstacles and exploring alternatives to keep work moving forward.
Knowledge of best practices, the discipline, and industry.
Positive attitude, motivation to advance understanding of the industry and business, and high self-motivation.
Ability to build professional, trusting business relationships across the location.
Wear appropriate business attire when interacting with families or guests.
Willingness and ability to work weekends, evenings, and overtime.
Ability to comply with company policies, including punctuality and attendance, workplace safety, and projecting a favorable company image.
Ability to frequently lift at least 50 pounds and occasionally lift more than 100 pounds.
Ability to stand for long periods and walk, stoop, reach, and bend on pavement and uneven ground.
Ability to work in an emotional, grieving environment and willingness to work with and around human remains.
Ability to work on-site at the location; this is not a remote position.
Successful completion of the pre-employment background check, including verification of criminal conviction history relevant to the role’s material duties.

Nice To Haves

Experience at Rose Hills is preferred.
First Call experience arriving at personal homes for removal is a plus.
Experience setting up and using audio-visual equipment and microphones is a plus.
Bilingual ability is a plus.

Responsibilities

Provide services to grieving families and work to exceed their expectations.
Serve as the primary family contact for visitations and services, coordinating service details and revisions in response to family needs and requests.
Confirm deliverables and expectations with internal resources and providers, clarify needs, and address questions.
Delegate duties to the service team courteously and professionally.
Direct visitations, funerals, and graveside services in an organized, caring manner consistent with company standards.
Confirm authorization to proceed with the Arrangements and/or Interment Office.
Ensure the chapel is properly set up and presentable, and set up and test audio-visual equipment before services.
Greet families upon arrival and escort them to and between services.
Lead funeral processions on-site and off-site.
Listen empathetically to customer concerns, assess situations, ask clarifying questions, and escort distraught customers to a private space when appropriate.
Perform decedent identification and transport the decedent and casket among services.
Visually inspect the deceased; adjust casket dressing, attire, or makeup, or communicate concerns to preparation staff.
Verify removal of the deceased’s personal belongings before burial in accordance with the arrangement.
Compare service arrangements with contractual arrangements and next-of-kin expectations, initiate corrective action as appropriate, and guide service team members.
Be present when a casket containing a human body and/or an urn is lowered into a grave, crypt, or burial vault.
Complete routine work according to established procedures and applicable regulations and policies; escalate non-routine issues for assistance.
Discuss assignments, expectations, priorities, and deadlines with a supervisor or manager, and seek guidance and coaching.
Adapt to new work structures, processes, requirements, or cultures and remain accountable for behavior.
Notify a supervisor or manager when workload is light and volunteer for additional work, including support for other departments or teams.
As needed, usher, chauffeur family members, assist at services, deliver flowers or supplies, assist with setup or cleanup, attend community events, or supervise parking.
Ensure compliance with local, state, and federal regulations.