At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a compassionate team, delivering high-quality funeral services with empathy and professionalism.
- Company: Selim Smith Funeral Directors, known for trust and community engagement.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, bonus potential, 30-33 days holiday, and professional development opportunities.
- Other info: Join a diverse team committed to high standards and community support.
- Why this job: Make a meaningful impact by guiding families through important moments in their lives.
- Qualifications: Experience in team leadership and service environments; funeral sector experience is a plus.
The predicted salary is between 35000 - 35000 £ per year.
Location: Selim Smith Funeral Directors, Covering Cheltenham and Gloucester
Salary: Up to £35,000 per annum
Full Time | Includes on-call rota
We are looking for a compassionate, capable and commercially aware Funeral Branch Manager to lead our branches in Cheltenham and Gloucester. This is a leadership role for someone who combines empathy with operational strength. You'll guide families through some of the most important moments of their lives while leading your team to deliver consistently high standards, regulatory excellence and sustainable branch performance.
Why This Role Matters
Every branch is built on trust - trust from families, colleagues and the wider community. As Funeral Branch Manager, you are the standard-setter. Around 70% of your time will be spent delivering and overseeing funeral services. The remaining time will focus on leading people, maintaining operational control, managing compliance and ensuring the branch performs both commercially and professionally.
You will be responsible for:
- Leading and developing your team
- Maintaining high service and care standards
- Ensuring regulatory compliance and audit readiness
- Supporting at-need performance and funeral plan conversations
- Building a strong, visible local presence
Your Impact
- Lead and Support Funeral Services
- Deliver complex funeral arrangements with professionalism and empathy
- Guide families clearly through options and next steps
- Run pre-funeral briefings and oversee service delivery
- Observe arrangements and funerals to uphold care standards
Manage and Develop the Team
- Lead recruitment, onboarding and ongoing 1:1 performance conversations
- Manage rotas, holiday and sickness cover
- Ensure regulatory training and compliance standards are met
- Embed accountability, professionalism and ownership
- Support succession planning and development
Drive Operational Excellence
- Oversee branch standards and high-quality care of the deceased
- Maintain accurate records and legal documentation
- Ensure inspection readiness and regulatory compliance
- Monitor costs including overtime and hire cars
- Identify service improvements and implement change
Build Local Presence
- Lead local marketing activity
- Develop relationships with care homes, celebrants and community groups
- Represent the branch at memorials and events
- Promote services in a supportive, consultative way
What We're Looking For
We welcome applications from candidates with:
- Experience leading and developing teams in service-led environments
- A strong track record of maintaining standards and compliance
- Confidence operating within regulated or policy-driven environments
- Commercial awareness and comfort working with targets and cost control
- Strong organisational and documentation skills
- Calm decision-making in emotionally sensitive situations
- A full UK driving licence
- Flexibility to work evenings, weekends and on-call
- Funeral sector experience is desirable but not essential.
We are open to candidates from other regulated, service-focused industries where high standards, community engagement and people leadership are central.
What We Offer
- Comprehensive induction and structured development
- Opportunity to complete professional qualifications via our apprenticeship programme
- Bonus potential
- Life assurance cover
- Employee Assistance Programme
- 30-33 days holiday (including Bank Holidays)
- Contributory pension scheme
- Relocation package considered
If you are ready to lead with empathy, set clear standards and build a branch that families trust, we would love to hear from you.
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