Area Development Manager

This is a Permanent, Full Time vacancy that will close in 12 days at 23:59 BST.

The Opportunity:

Covering the Blackpool area, the Area Development Manager will play a key role in ensuring exceptional service for our families, as well as developing the funeral homes in their charge. They do this through a combination of exceptional people management, good commercial awareness, and active engagement with the local community. Being an Area Development Manager can be an opportunity to make a real difference to families during a difficult time in their lives.

Job Purpose:

• Responsible for the business results of a geographic area including the day-to-day management of people, operations and assets.
• Implement the Area Delivery Plan that delivers against agreed targets for the area.
• Understand and respond to the competitive environment, actively developing the business through effective marketing and promotion of funerals and funeral plans in line with Competition Marketing Authority (CMA).
• Ensure that the day-to-day operation of branches/hubs is effective and meeting the needs of clients.
• Improve the scale and quality of networking and community outreach activity through proactively building and strengthening relationships with key contacts in the communities we serve.
• Work with Regional Development Director to identify and integrate acquisitions.
• Provide direction and line management for branch/hub teams including performance management and career development.
• Hold regular meetings with the team to promote team building and a positive culture.
• Actively engage with them to communicate updates, client feedback, community activities, changes in processes and branch/area performance.
• Ensure changes to working practice are embedded effectively, and that the team are fully trained and engaged.
• Ensure branches are fully operational and all resources are utilised effectively to meet both client and business needs.
• Ensuring compliance with all company policies and procedures for self and others in team.
• Understand and guide others on how relevant legislation and regulation applies to their role and the industry.
• Proactively seek out ways in which the business can be developed and work with the Regional Development Director to find ways to implement initiatives.
• Attend training and development sessions to maintain knowledge and skills in role.
• Deal with client complaints in line with our policies and procedures and to come to a satisfactory resolution for the client and the business.
• Complete effective site visits in the timescale provided by FPL to work in line with our quality assurance.
• Encourage the team to contribute with solutions with minor issues that arise.
• Work with the project team to implement local trials to help improve the business.
• Lead by example and create a positive working environment.
• Carry out any other duties when reasonably requested to do so by your line manager.

Knowledge and Skills:

• Experience of managing profit and loss for an area of the business.
• Track record of developing and growing a multi-site business.
• Managing teams, performance and developing people.
• Experience of local and religious customs and practices within the community.
• Experienced in building and maintaining an effective network.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications.
• A UK Driving Licence.
• Experience within the funeral industry.
• Full Manual UK driving licence.

Personal Attributes:

• Commercially aware, able to focus on value adding activities.
• Focused on client service.
• Effective communicator able to adapt style to a range of audiences.
• Approachable, diplomatic and resilient.
• Strong decision making and problem-solving skills.
• Demonstrates an engaging style.
• Strong reasoning and negotiating ability.

About You:

We would welcome applications from people within the funeral industry, as well as highly effective managers from outside of the industry who can demonstrate exceptional people management skills, commercial business acumen, and experience of management in a multi-site, highly customer-focused industry.

Funeral Partners Ltd is committed to equality of opportunity for all staff and applications from individuals are encouraged regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and marriage and civil partnerships. If you require any reasonable adjustments to support you through the recruitment and selection process, please do not hesitate to contact our HR team on 0118 9406900 or via email hr@funeralpartners.co.uk for any assistance.