Funeral Director

Please note all positions within Funeralcare can involve direct physical contact with the deceased as part of normal duties - the amount of contact will differ dependant on role applied for. Typical duties include but are not limited to preparation, transportation, and personal care of the deceased to be carried out with professionalism, dignity, respect and adherence to health and safety standards. Please carefully consider your comfort levels with these responsibilities before applying. We're looking for an empathetic and commercially minded person to join the Co-op Funeralcare team. You don't need industry experience. If you have great people skills, and a real commercial focus, you could be perfect for this role. At Co-op Funeralcare, we provide a caring and compassionate service when families need it most. As a funeral director, you'll be right at the heart of that service. You'll balance your time between managerial and business tasks, and building strong, trusting relationships with clients. At the Co-op, you'll be part of something meaningful. Join us today. What you'll do

• make sure client needs, service levels and KPIs are met
• be clients' main point of contact; supporting and guiding with the help of the wider team
• support funerals - conducting the ceremony, leading the team and carrying the deceased when necessary
• make sure all regulated work, including funeral planning appointments, is referred to a 'certified colleague'
• build and maintain relationships with the team, clients and the community
This role would suit people who have
• a commercial mind-set and experience in a managerial role
• a true customer focus and a real passion for delivering a great service
• the ability to capture intricate detail and make sure it is reflected in the service we deliver
• compassion, understanding and empathy, and the ability to keep a cool head under pressure
• a UK manual driving licence
Why Co-op?, Our Funeral Service Crew help with the funeral and care for the deceased. You'll work closely with your team to provide a seamless, sensitive service. And you don't need experience - just a full UK driver's licence. We'll give you all the support you need to help build your career with Co-op Funeralcare. Our Funeral Arrangers are the first point of contact for clients. They get to know clients' needs and help them plan their funeral. You'll need empathy and great customer service skills because your clients will look to you for help, support and advice. We'll teach you everything else you need to do the job through our training and support. As a Funeral Director, you'll spend most of your time with families, supporting them through the funeral arrangements. You'll manage your own time and build strong, trusting relationships. We'll give you all the support and training you need to develop your team and deliver a thoughtful service that works for our clients, and our business. Here, you'll discover job satisfaction you never thought possible. These are management roles. Our Care Logistics Managers focus on the co-ordination of funerals and the line management of operational teams, making sure all resources are in the right place at the right time. Funeral Services Managers look after multiple branches, making sure funeral services are consistently delivered to the highest possible standards. Becoming an Embalmer isn't a common career choice, but it is an incredibly rewarding one. Embalmers help preserve and restore deceased people, creating a peaceful and lasting image for their family and friends. It's a highly skilled and technical role, for which you need an official BIE qualification. If don't hold this qualification, you can enrol on our embalmer apprenticeship. Our apprenticeships are open to everyone. As a Level 2 Funeral Team Member, you'll develop your funeral arranging skills, learning how to deliver them with care and compassion. At Level 3, you can learn how to become a funeral director. Or you can become an embalmer with our Level 5 Embalmer programme, or progress to managerial roles with our degree apprenticeships. There are all kinds of ways you can progress in this role. Find out more on our apprentice hub.

At Co-op Funeralcare, we're proud to support people during their most difficult moments. This can be emotional work. But it's also incredibly rewarding. Our Funeralcare colleagues work together to offer care and support to people experiencing grief. Whether you're a Funeral Arranger, Funeral Director or part of our Funeral Service Crew, you'll need to be compassionate and dedicated to helping others. Your empathy and sensitivity will not only aid people in their time of need, but also help you to build a deeply fulfilling career.Our culture Smiling at work is easy when you see the difference you make. And our funeralcare colleagues take pride in positively impacting our communities At Co-op you'll be welcomed and included, cared for inside and outside of work, and empowered by supportive leaders. We're all in this together and at Co-op, we always look out for each other. We'll do all we can to help you create a great work/life balance. If you experience abuse or harassment in the workplace, we'll support you. Your manager won't solve all your problems, but they'll understand and empower you.

At Co-op, we're owned by our members. And because we're owned by you, we can do right by you. So when you join us, you're not just taking a job, you're joining a movement. We're an organisation that puts people and communities first, and we're powered by purpose. We want this to be a place where you can thrive, so you'll also receive:
• 30% off Co-op branded products in our food stores all year-round
• 10% off other brands in our food stores all year-round
• discounts on other Co-op products and services
• 23 days holidays (pro rata, rising with service)
• a pension with up to 10% employer contributions
• access to our Employee Assistance Programme which offers confidential advice and support on anything you're struggling with, 24 hours a day
• access to virtual GP and free eye tests
• endless career development opportunities including apprenticeships
• friendly, supportive team and the knowledge that you make a huge difference to your community
• access to Stream - a money management app that gives you access to a percentage of your pay as you earn it
Building an inclusive work environment We're building diverse and inclusive teams that reflect the communities we serve. We welcome applications from everyone and are committed to creating a workplace where colleagues can feel like they belong, supported by our inclusive policies and the ways we work.,
• Holidays starting from 31 days holiday per year (includes bank holidays)
• 30% off Co-op branded products in our food stores
• Pension with up to 10% employer contributions
• Wagestream - a money management app that gives you access to a percentage of your pay as you earn it
• Services to support your physical, mental and financial wellbeing
• Flexibility - we'll aim to find a working pattern that fits your life
• Endless career development opportunities including apprenticeships
Success profile What makes a successful member of our team? Check out the top traits we're looking for and see if you have the right mix.
• Forging Relationships
• Co-operation
• Teamwork
• Empathy
• Compassion
• Speaking Up