Funeral Director Apprentice

Funeral Director

Our associates celebrate lives. We celebrate our associates.

Compassionately facilitates funeral arrangement discussions with deceased next of kin and presides over visitation, funeral, and graveside services in accordance with family's wishes; company expectations; and local, state, or federal laws. As the licensed Funeral Director, responsible for the compliance with all mortuary, health, and vital statistics regulation compliance within the funeral establishment(s).

Arrangements Conference

• Receives or initiates call to deceased next of kin. Exhibiting concern and empathy, obtains or confirms deceased and family contact information, briefly discusses needs (including languages), schedules Arrangement appointment, and emails appointment confirmation.
• May perform removals or transfers adhering to company standards and processes. Cares for deceased in a respectful manner. Updates removal status in proprietary software.
• Greets next of kin and escorts to meeting space. Initiates and facilitates Arrangements Conference while assessing needs and summarizing desired outcomes. Discusses available life insurance and available benefits, such as Veteran. Promotes funeral, cemetery, and crematory services and merchandise such as catering, flowers, music, and Ever Lasting Memory products.
• Transitions Arrangement Conference to Funeral Services Counselor/Advisor to present cemetery property and merchandise options, pricing, and contract completion. In absence of an FSA/FSC, may perform FSA/FSC responsibilities.
• Responsible for reviewing and authorizing merchandise and service contract revisions.

Directing Services

• Confirms authorization to proceed with service Arrangements. Presides as Master of Ceremonies (MC) for visitation, funeral, or graveside services in a professional, organized, and caring manner consistent with Company standards. Shall be present for graveside services included in the purchase agreement. Shall be present when the casket containing a human body is placed in a grave, crypt, or burial vault and verifies that any personal belongings are removed from the deceased prior to burial per the Arrangements.
• Visually inspects deceased, adjusts casket dressing, deceased attire or makeup, or communicates concerns to preparation staff. Visually inspects Services Arrangements (visitation, funeral, or graveside) against contractual arrangements and the next of kin expectations; initiates corrective action as appropriate; may provide instruction or guidance to services team members.
• Interacts with the family to fulfill the death care requests. While interacting with family and guests, obtains leads for pre-need services.

Event Planning

• Perform a variety of event planning responsibilities including but not limited to resource planning and ordering of music, flowers, or catering to fulfill Arrangement requests. Produces MeM products that may include scanning photos, ordering of memorabilia or stationary, creating electronic presentations, writing obituaries, and creating on-line memorials. Prior to event, prepares event room including but not limited to set-up chairs, tables, flowers, guest books, and appropriate décor. Post event cleans chairs, tables, floors, proper storage of items, identifies property in need of repair, and courier/deliver family memorabilia to home.
• May perform a variety of attendant duties including but not limited to parking lot attendant, driver, usher, pallbearer, or courier.
• May attend community or charity events to represent and promote the location or market.

General

• Works under general guidance. New associates are learning to apply licensure to business environment complying with regulations, policies, and procedures; work may be peer reviewed for accuracy, quality, and education; collaborates with peers or manager for assistance and guidance. Exhibits accountability for behaviors. Ensures compliance with local, state, and federal regulations.
• Takes the initiative to discuss assignments, expectations, priorities and deadlines as well as seek guidance and coaching from manager. Notifies manager when workload is light and volunteers for additional work. Adjusts effectively to work within new work structures, processes, requirements or cultures. Additional responsibilities as requested or assigned.

Minimum Requirements

Education & Licenses

• Graduated from an accredited school or college of mortuary science
• Current Funeral Director license within the practicing state
• Valid state driver's license with an acceptable driving record required to operate company owned vehicles

Experience

• Industry experience is preferred

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Cognitive Ability including reason, plan, identify problems, learn quickly, learn from experience, and appropriately apply learning to new situations.
• Process and results oriented, motivated to keep projects moving ahead by removing obstacles and exploring alternatives
• Must have a positive attitude, a drive to continually advance your understanding of the industry and business, and is highly self-motivated
• Ability to build professional and trusting business relations
• Professional written and verbal communication skills
• Public speaking skills with the ability to influence and gain consensus
• Proficient using databases in automated processes
• Proficient MS Office skills

Work conditions

• Environment - Work is both indoors and outdoors during all seasons and weather
• Attire - professional business attire required when in contact with families
• Postures – Frequent continuous period of time sitting or standing up to 6 hours per day; frequently climbing stairs to access buildings
• Physical Demands – Physical effort requiring manual dexterity is required, includes paperwork, calculators, computers and phone usage
• Ability to push and pull up to 150 pounds on flat and inclined flooring or ramps
• Hours: Flexibility of availability may be necessary as services may occur outside of normal business hours and working nights and weekends is frequently necessary