Area Client Experience Manager

Southern Co-op; Bournemouth; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A community-focused cooperative in the UK is seeking an experienced Area Client Experience Manager. This role involves managing and mentoring the Funeral & Memorial Consultant team to exceed client expectations, overseeing operations in multiple locations, and ensuring compliance with high standards. Strong leadership and communication skills are essential. The successful candidate will not need prior funeral industry experience as full training will be provided. A full UK driving license is required, and a company car will be included.

Benefits

20% colleague discount in retail shops

Company car

Health & dental cash plans

24/7 virtual GP & fitness discounts

Employee Assistance Programme

Life insurance & NEST pension

Financial wellbeing tools

Cycle-to-work & Electric Vehicle schemes

Training & development opportunities

Qualifications

• Strong leadership experience in operations or customer service.
• People-focused, proven skills in coaching and team management.
• High attention to detail and excellent planning and prioritisation skills.

Responsibilities

• Manage, coach and mentor the Funeral & Memorial Consultant team.
• Oversee funeral arrangement and home operations.
• Ensure compliance and operational efficiency while managing budgets.
• Handle team performance, recruitment, and development.
• Identify areas for improvement.
• Build relationships with external agencies and promote community engagement.

Skills

Leadership experience

Coaching and team management

Excellent communication

Problem-solving skills

Organisational abilities

Job description

We have an exciting opportunity for a Area Client Experience Manager to join our team. You’ll manage, develop and mentor the Funeral & MemorialConsultant team so client expectations are exceeded by delivering the best end of life client experience throughout all funeral homes.

This is a field based role therefore you'll need a full UK driving license, company car provided.

You'll manage our branches in...

• Frome
• Gillingham
• Hinton, Christchurch
• Poole & Wimborne
• Shaftesbury
• Warminster
• East Cowes, Isle of Wight
• Freshwater, Isle of Wight
• Lake, Isle of Wight
• Newport, Isle of Wight
• Ryde, Isle of Wight
• Shanklin, Isle of Wight

The successful candidate will most likely spend three days per week across Hinton and Poole & Wimborne, one day per week at our West branches, and one day per week at our Isle of Wight branches.

What you'll get...

20% colleague discount in our retail shops

Company car

Health & dental cash plans

24 / 7 virtual GP & fitness discounts via Aviva Digicare+ Workplace

Employee Assistance Programme

Life insurance & NEST pension

Financial wellbeing tools & share incentive scheme

Cycle-to-work & Electric Vehicle schemes

Training & development opportunities

What to expect...

Manage, coach and mentor a dedicated team to ensure all funerals arranged exceed client expectations.

Oversee funeral arrangement and funeral home operations, ensuring standards and procedures are upheld.

Handle team performance, recruitment, and development with a focus on accountability, behaviours and excellence.

Ensure compliance, security, and operational efficiency while managing budgets, targets and KPIs.

Identify areas for improvement and develop and deliver any changes required.

Manage, investigate and ensure a timely resolution of complaints.

Build relationships with external agencies and promote community engagement initiatives.

What we're looking for...

Strong leadership experience in operations or customer service.

People-focused, with proven skills in coaching and team management.

Excellent communicator and problem solver, with strong organisational abilities.

High attention to detail and excellent planning and prioritisation skills.

IT literate and confident in managing budgets and performance.

Funeral industry experience is a plus but not essential.

Training...

Previous experience within the funeral industry is not required as we’ll provide full training

Travel to other sites will be required

About Us...

We’re an independent Co-op, operating across the south of England running convenience food stores, funeral homes, crematoria, natural / woodland burial grounds and a Starbucks coffee franchise. We’re owned by our ,+ members, have over 4, colleagues and a purpose of working together for the benefit of our communities. We have a commitment to sustainable business and a promise to provide a fair, fresh approach, for all. Become part of the family who are proud to serve local communities and put people first.

Recruitment Process...

Make your application

If you're successful, we'll contact you to arrange a telephone interview

If you'resuccessful,we'll arrange an on site interview and review your Eligibility to Work in the UK documentation

Feedback and next steps

Successful candidates will undergo a DBS check as part of compliance requirements.

If you are successful in your application any offer of employment will be subject to meeting pre-employment vetting requirements, in line with the regulatory framework set out by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). These requirements include satisfactory reference checks. Further information will be provided during the recruitment process.

If we receive a high volume of relevant applications, we may close the advert earlier than the advertised date, so please apply as soon as you can.