At a Glance
- Tasks: Support families during sensitive moments and deliver meaningful funeral services.
- Company: Join Dignity, a compassionate team dedicated to helping families in need.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, annual leave, bonuses, and ongoing training opportunities.
- Other info: No experience needed; training and support provided for your growth.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in people's lives during their toughest times.
- Qualifications: Empathy, professionalism, and a full UK driving licence are essential.
The predicted salary is between 26708 - 26708 £ per year.
Location: Richards Funeral Directors, Witham
Job Type: Full-time, permanent
Salary: £26,708.34 per annum plus on-call payments
We're looking for a compassionate and reliable individual to join our team at Richards Funeral Directors, Witham as a Funeral Service Operative (Level One). This role offers the opportunity to support families during one of life's most sensitive moments, playing a key part in delivering respectful and meaningful services that genuinely make a difference.
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 throughout the entire way.
Your Impact and Responsibilities...
Being a Funeral Service Operative means playing a central part in one of life's most significant moments. You're often the first person a grieving family meets, and your presence can shape how they remember the most difficult of days. This role calls for empathy, confidence, and attention to detail. You are entrusted with the role of taking care of our deceased and ensuring our families' wishes can be met. You conduct yourself with respect & dignity, understanding the privilege it is to undertake the work you do.
- Provide dignified and professional care for the deceased
- Support Funeral Directors in delivering seamless service and ceremonial work
- Drive and operate specialist vehicles (including hearses, limousines and private ambulances)
- Maintain high standards of presentation for vehicles and facilities, ensuring they are well-maintained
- Participate in an out-of-hours on-call rota (including nights/weekends) to support families
- Bring the deceased into our care from the place of death - including private homes, hospitals, hospices, or public spaces - under varying circumstances
- Prepare the deceased (washing, dressing, presentation) in accordance with family, religious, or cultural wishes
- Support with chapel visits and interactions with families in a calm and respectful manner
- Carry out all duties involving the deceased with the utmost care and professionalism
Skills and Knowledge...
We're looking for someone who:
- Holds a Full UK Driving Licence (Essential)
- Demonstrates empathy, professionalism, and composure under pressure
- Has a respectful, caring approach when supporting both colleagues and families
- Is physically capable of manual handling tasks, including lifting and carrying
- Is comfortable working in direct contact with the deceased in a variety of conditions
- Is reliable, flexible, and able to work outside standard hours when needed
- Takes pride in presenting themselves in a professional and dignified manner
- Is PC literate - Able to use a range of IT systems, including Microsoft Office, Outlook and internal databases (training provided)
No previous funeral experience is necessary; complete training, uniform, and support will be provided.
What you can expect from us
- Up to 25 days' annual leave (increasing with service) plus bank holidays
- Opportunity to earn a yearly bonus of up to £300-£500
- 4% matched pension
- Life assurance cover at 2x your salary
- Access to MyStaffShop, our employee rewards platform
- Access to a 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme
- Ongoing training and development
- Free on-site parking available at most locations
What are the next steps?
To join us in this role, hit the 'apply' button to submit your application, and a member of our Talent Acquisition Team will be in touch!
Why Dignity
Dignity exists to help every family in Britain navigate the hardest moments of life with simplicity, dignity, kindness and exceptional care. Every day, our funeral teams across the country help families say goodbye to the people they love. It's a responsibility we take seriously, and it matters.
Dignity is changing for the better. We're investing in better training, better support and better tools for our funeral teams, so you can focus on what matters most: being there for families when they need us.
You'll be part of a close-knit team who look out for each other and take real pride in their work. No two days are the same, and the work you do is noticed and valued.
If you want a job that is genuinely meaningful, helping families across Britain through one of the hardest times in their lives, this is a good place to build a career.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Statement
We know that diverse teams make better decisions, build better products, and create a more inclusive and better place to work. Whoever you are, wherever you're from, and whatever your life looks like, we'd love to hear from you.
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 the number of applications received, to close or extend the closing dates for positions; therefore, we recommend submitting your application early.
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