Funeral Director

Position: Funeral Director
Location: Oliver and James Funeral Directors, Abingdon
Job Type: 38.33 Hours per week
Salary: £29,644 per annum

We’re looking for an experienced and compassionate individual to join our team as a Funeral Director at Oliver and James. You’ll oversee funeral operations and ensure every service is delivered to the highest standard, while supporting families through one of life’s most challenging moments. As a representative of both the local brand and the wider Dignity Group, you’ll also play an important role in engaging with the local community and building trusted relationships.

Why This Role Matters

At Dignity, we believe that every farewell should be handled with compassion, dignity, and care. Your role will ensure that families feel supported, respected, and reassured every step of the way.

The Role

As a Funeral Director, you’ll lead on the day of the funeral, coordinating teams and managing all aspects of service delivery. You will act as a guide for families, a leader to colleagues, and a representative of Dignity’s values within your community. As a representative of both your local branch and the wider Dignity Group, you’ll help maintain our trusted presence in the community.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead and conduct funeral services in a dignified, respectful, and professional manner
• Support families with empathy and guidance throughout the funeral process
• Coordinate with arrangers, operatives, ministers/celebrants, and venues to ensure smooth execution of services
• Ensure funeral vehicles, staff, and ceremonial elements are prepared and meet required standards
• Oversee funeral logistics on the day, including timings, team direction, and venue setup
• Assist with coffin preparation, handling of the deceased, and chapel duties where required
• Provide leadership and mentoring to less experienced team members
• Support with local community engagement and promotion of the brand you represent
• Uphold health and safety, compliance, and professional standards at all times

About You

We’re looking for someone who:

• Experienced in funeral service operations and conducting funerals
• Demonstrates excellent communication, leadership, and organisational skills
• Calm under pressure with a respectful, compassionate approach to service
• Physically capable of manual handling tasks, including coffin bearing
• Comfortable with direct contact with the deceased in varying circumstances
• Holds a Full UK Driving Licence (essential)
• Willing to work flexibly, including weekends and on-call duties as required

What We Offer

• A meaningful role supporting families when they need it most
• Full training and development, including Funeral Plan Consultancy
• Uniform and all necessary equipment provided
• 30 – 33 days annual leave, inclusive of bank holidays
• Company pension, employee assistance programme, and life assurance

We wouldn’t be able to provide this essential service without our people. If you’d like to be part of a compassionate team dedicated to delivering the highest standards of care — we’d love to hear from you.

What are the next steps?

If this sounds like the next step in your career and you’re ready to support families and lead with professionalism, simply hit the ‘apply’ button. A member of our Talent Acquisition Team will be in touch to guide you through the next steps.

About Us

At Dignity, we’re here for families when it matters most. With compassion, professionalism, and integrity at the heart of everything we do, we take pride in supporting people through one of life’s most difficult moments. Every member of our team plays a vital role in delivering exceptional service and care to those who need us.

With over 500 funeral homes across the UK, Dignity Funerals is a trusted presence in local communities, operating under respected and well-known local names. We’re proud to offer a truly personal and attentive service — one that’s tailored to the individual needs and wishes of every family we support.

We’re also part of the wider Dignity Group, a growing organisation with the unique ability to support every aspect of end-of-life planning and care. This includes:

• Our Crematoria and Memorials Group, managing 45 crematoria nationwide
• Dignity Funeral Plans, giving people peace of mind by allowing them to plan ahead
• The recently acquired Farewill, a leading provider of online wills and probate services

Together, our goal is simple: to provide families with continuity, care, and clarity — from planning and preparation through to the funeral itself, and beyond.

FCA Statement

Please note that this role is subject to meeting regulatory requirements. As an FCA-regulated organisation, we are committed to adopting the highest standards and we do this by employing individuals with the appropriate skills, experience and integrity to protect both the company and our clients. If you are considered for a role, you will be providing your permission for us to conduct the relevant checks and assessments that will be carried out during the recruitment and onboarding process. The nature of the checks will depend on whether the role is subject to the Senior Managers and Certification Regime (SMCR).

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Statement
Our Vision is to connect with our clients, colleagues, company and communities based on our principles whilst celebrating our differences.
We aim to empower leaders and colleagues to seek out and understand new voices and perspectives; to be vocal about inequity and exclusion, and to take decisive, informed and bold action to promote inclusion and belonging.

Any unsolicited submissions from agencies will be accepted as a direct application from the candidate and no fees will be payable.

We reserve the right depending on application numbers to close or extend the closing dates for positions; we would therefore recommend an early application.

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