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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Support families during funerals, from vehicle preparation to ceremonial duties.
- Company: Join Dignity, a trusted funeral provider with over 200 years of history.
- Benefits: Enjoy 30-33 days annual leave, full training, and a company pension.
- Why this job: Make a meaningful impact by helping families during sensitive times.
- Qualifications: Empathy and reliability are key; no prior experience needed.
- Other info: Full training and support provided; flexible hours required.
The predicted salary is between 20600 - 29500 £ per year.
Position: Funeral Service Operative
Location: Powell Funeral Directors, Ware
Job Type: 38.33 Hours per week
Salary: £25,652.00 per annum plus on-call payments
We\’re looking for a compassionate and reliable individual to join our team 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.
As a Funeral Services Operative (Level One), you will:
- 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)
- Maintaining high standards of presentation for vehicles and facilities, and ensuring they are well-maintained
- Participate in an out-of-hours on-call rota (including nights/weekends) to support families – providing out-of-hours support, including dignified collection and transfer of the deceased into care.
- 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 with/is:
- 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
- Holds a Full UK Driving Licence (essential)
No previous funeral experience is necessary – complete training, uniform, and support will be provided.
What We Offer…
- Professional development: A comprehensive induction plan and the opportunity to complete in-house development programmes to set you up for success or to pursue a qualification through our apprenticeship programme.
- Bonus Potential: Unlock the possibility of earning additional bonuses, rewarding your hard work and achievements.
- Life Assurance Cover: Enjoy peace of mind with our life assurance cover, securing your family\’s future.
- Health & Wellbeing Programme: Benefit from an employee assistance programme that supports your health and wellbeing.
- Holiday Allowance: Start with a generous leave entitlement of 30-33 days per year, inclusive of Bank Holidays.
- Pension Scheme: Plan for the future with our contributory pension scheme, helping you save for a secure retirement.
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!
About Us
We are Dignity, one of the UK\’s oldest and most trusted funeral providers, with over 200 years of history, 570 branches, and 46 crematoria across the country. From launching the UK\’s first funeral plan to helping shape modern regulation, we have led the way in supporting families with care, compassion, and professionalism.
We are now building the UK\’s leading end-of-life company. As part of the Dignity Group, we also operate Farewill, the country\’s most prominent will writer and one of the UK\’s top probate providers, giving families support not just at the funeral, but before and after as well.
Today, we are over 4,000 people across the UK, all driven by the same goal: to care for families with compassion and make the UK a world leader in end-of-life care. Here to help, whenever you need.
FCA Statement
The FCA regulates us so that some roles may be subject to background checks.
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. And if there\’s anything you need to make the process more accessible, please let us know.
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.
Funeral Service Operative employer: Dignity Funerals Limited
Contact Detail:
Dignity Funerals Limited Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Funeral Service Operative
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the funeral service industry and its practices. Understanding the emotional aspects of the role will help you connect better with families during interviews and demonstrate your empathy.
✨Tip Number 2
Highlight any experience you have in customer service or roles that require compassion and professionalism. This can show your ability to handle sensitive situations, which is crucial for a Funeral Service Operative.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss how you manage stress and maintain composure under pressure. The interviewers will be looking for candidates who can remain calm and respectful in challenging circumstances.
✨Tip Number 4
Be ready to demonstrate your flexibility and reliability. Since the role involves working outside standard hours, sharing examples of your adaptability in previous jobs can strengthen your application.
We think you need these skills to ace Funeral Service Operative
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Role: Before applying, take time to thoroughly read the job description. Understand the key responsibilities and the qualities they are looking for in a candidate, such as empathy, reliability, and professionalism.
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experiences and skills that align with the role of a Funeral Service Operative. Emphasise any previous roles where you demonstrated compassion, manual handling capabilities, or customer service.
Craft a Personal Statement: Write a personal statement that reflects your understanding of the sensitive nature of the role. Share why you are passionate about supporting families during difficult times and how your values align with those of Dignity.
Proofread Your Application: Before submitting, carefully proofread your application for any spelling or grammatical errors. A well-presented application shows attention to detail and professionalism, which is crucial in this line of work.
How to prepare for a job interview at Dignity Funerals Limited
✨Show Empathy and Compassion
In this role, you'll be supporting families during one of the most difficult times in their lives. Make sure to express your understanding of the emotional weight of the job and demonstrate your ability to handle sensitive situations with care.
✨Highlight Your Reliability
Reliability is key in this position. Be prepared to discuss examples from your past experiences where you have shown dependability, especially in challenging circumstances. This will reassure the interviewers that you can be counted on when it matters most.
✨Demonstrate Physical Capability
Since the role involves manual handling tasks, it's important to convey your physical readiness for the job. You might want to mention any relevant experiences that showcase your ability to perform physically demanding tasks.
✨Prepare for Questions About Cultural Sensitivity
Given the diverse backgrounds of the families you will support, be ready to discuss how you would approach different cultural or religious practices. Showing that you respect and understand these differences will be crucial in your interview.
