Funeral Service Operative in Surbiton

We're looking for compassionate and reliable individuals to join our dedicated London team as Funeral Service Operatives. Operating from one of our 3 care centres across South London - Kingston upon Thames, Orpington and Camberwell - this role is vital in delivering meaningful services and providing support to families at a time when they need it most.

Why This Role Matters

At Dignity, we believe every farewell should be handled with compassion and care. As a Funeral Service Operative in London, you will play a key part in helping families feel supported, reassured, and respected throughout the entire funeral process.

The Role

You'll support every stage of the funeral process - from preparing vehicles and venues to assisting with ceremonial duties and family interactions. This is a physically active, hands-on role that requires empathy, reliability, and a calm, respectful presence. As a representative of both local brands and the wider Dignity Group, you'll help maintain our trusted presence in the community.

Shift Patterns

This role is based on a rotating shift pattern across our London centres, which includes:

• 4:00 AM - 2:00 PM
• 2:00 PM - 00.00 AM

Flexibility is essential, as the role will involve out-of-hours support.

Key Responsibilities:

• Drive and operate specialist vehicles (including hearses and limousines)
• Set up venues and carry out ceremonial duties, including coffin bearing
• Maintain funeral vehicles and equipment to high standards
• 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

About You

We're looking for someone who:

• 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
• Takes pride in presenting themselves in a professional and dignified manner
• 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
• Holds a Full UK Driving Licence (essential)

No previous funeral experience is necessary - full training, uniform, and support will be provided.

What We Offer

• A fulfilling and meaningful role supporting families in your community
• Full training and personal development opportunities
• 30 - 33 days annual leave, inclusive of bank holidays
• Uniform and all necessary equipment provided
• Company pension and life assurance
• Access to an employee assistance programme for wellbeing support
• Annual company bonus

We wouldn't be able to provide this essential service without the dedication of our people. If you'd like to join a compassionate team committed to delivering the highest standards of care - we'd love to hear from you.

What are the next steps?

To join us in this role, simply hit the 'apply' button to submit your application and a member of our Talent Acquisition Team will be in touch!

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.

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.

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.