Funeral Service Operative
Location: Wickford, UK
Contract: Full‑time, permanent (44 hours per week, plus on‑call duty) Mon- Fri 8.00-5.00 every other Saturday 9.00-12.00
Salary: Competitive (£25K - £30K)
Reports to: Company Directors
Role Overview
We are seeking a dedicated Funeral Operative to support our funeral services team. You will assist with the dignified care of deceased individuals, participate in ceremonial duties, maintain workshop and vehicle standards, and provide on‑call, weekend, and holiday cover.
Key Responsibilities
- Safely transfer and receive deceased into our care from home, hospitals, hospices, and public settings
- Bear the coffin during funeral services, working in time with the team (e.g. 4–6 bearers)
- Drive ceremonial vehicles—hearse, limousine, private ambulance—on funerals and removals
- Maintain fleet and workshop standards: vehicle cleanliness, equipment upkeep and tidiness of mortuary, coffin workshop areas, chapel of rest and offices.
- Prep deceased for funeral as needed (dressing, personal presentation, coffin preparation)
- Assist with chapel venue setup, family liaison during services, orders of service, and floral deliveries
- Participate in on‑call rota, covering evenings, nights, weekends, and bank holidays—with standby payments and extra call‑out pay
- Provide holiday or absence cover for conductors and bearers
Person Specification
Essential:
- Full UK driving licence (comfortable handling large vehicles)
- Strong physical capability for lifting and bearing duties
- Empathetic & professional approach with compassionate client care
- Flexible availability—willingness to work on-call, weekends, and bank holidays
- Detail oriented, reliable, team‑focused, yet able to work on own initiative
Desirable:
- Past experience in funeral services or bereavement care (training provided)
- Basic IT literacy for scheduling, documentation, and communication
- Resident within a reasonable commute (e.g. 30 min/15 mile radius) of base location
What We Offer
- Comprehensive training (no prior experience required)
- Uniform and full equipment provision
- Competitive base salary plus on‑call and overtime payments.
- Annual leave (28 days including bank holidays)
- Employee benefits: pension
- Supportive team in a caring professional environment
To Apply
Please submit your CV and brief cover letter outlining:
- Why you're suited to this role
- Your experience (e.g. driving, customer service, flexible availability)
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: £25,000.00-£30,000.00 per year
Schedule:
- Monday to Friday
- Weekend availability
Work Location: In person