Area Support Centre Manager

Southern Co-op; Camberley; On-site; GBP 36,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

Southern Co-op seeks an Area Support Centre Manager to lead and develop the Funeral Service Operatives team, ensuring excellence in client service across multiple locations. This field-based role requires strong leadership, communication skills, and the ability to manage a dynamic team within a sensitive environment, all while achieving financial objectives and enhancing operational effectiveness.

Benefits

31 days annual leave increasing to 36

Company car

20% discount in stores

Share incentive plan

Training and development opportunities

Qualifications

• Experience in a funeral operational environment.
• Excellent people management and leadership skills.
• Ability to build strong relationships with stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Manage, develop, and mentor the Funeral Service Operatives team.
• Ensure delivery of the best end-of-life client experience.
• Handle the investigation of complaints and improve service standards.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Time Management

Problem Solving

Planning and Organisation

Tools

MS Office

Job description

At Southern Co-op we offer a lot more than just a job. As we are completely owned by our ,+ members, we put people first. Become part of the family with Southern Co-op, who are proud to serve local communities and put people first.

We have an exciting opportunity to join our team as a Area Support Centre Manager. In this role you’ll manage, develop and mentor the Funeral Service Operatives team so client expectations are exceeded by delivering the best end of life client experience throughout all support centres and back of house operations.

You will be covering areas including Berkshire, Hampshire & Surrey.Flexibility to cover across the wider area may be required for time to time. As this is field based you are required to hold a full driving licence valid in the UK. A company car is provided as part of this role.

What to expect

• Embrace and support the delivery of the End-of-Life Services vision. Manage and deliver business objectives to ensure all funerals are delivered in a professional, caring, and empathetic manner in-line with procedures
• Support the Funeral Operations & Logistics Manager to develop and evolve the support centre operation and funeral delivery proposition and deliver the changes required professionally and positively
• Assist and ensure timely investigation of complaints. Report findings as necessary in line with complaints policy and procedure
• Embrace and endorse the bereavement and aftercare service for individuals, groups and colleagues
• Manage, coach, and develop Funeral Assistants and Area Support and Logistics Specialist
• Manage all elements of team performance including regular reviews, recruitment, underperformance, sickness, and absence.
• Ensure standards and behaviours are continuously demonstrated whilst adhering to best practice through a culture of teamwork, accountability, and ownership, personally and across the team
• Highlight gaps or areas for improvement in colleague recruitment, retention, performance management, health, wellbeing and learning & development for discussion and review
• Deliver key financial KPIs and other financial targets on budget
• Support the delivery of the End-of-Life Services / Southern Co-op business plan and service proposition ensuring commercial sensitivity
• Robustly manage personnel budget and other P&L costs, authorisation of overtime, colleague rotas, and processing of payroll
• Ensure compliance is proactively implemented across all policies and regulation
• Ensure the security of our premises, vehicles and company equipment
• Endorse and implement the key associated aspects of risk management
• Implement and deliver the society’s community engagement business plan ensuring active individual and team involvement by promoting the End-of-Life Services / Southern Co-op brand proactively and positively
• Liaise with external agencies and participate in business and professional networking opportunities to promote the activities and services of End-of-Life Services / Southern Co-op
• Strong logistical management in an operational environment with commercial and financial awareness
• Knowledge or experience of a funeral operational environment
• Experienced in developing, coaching and managing a team through excellent people management and leadership skills.
• An excellent communicator with the confidence to build strong relationships with multiple stakeholders at all levels.
• Excellent planning and organisational skills ensuring attention to detail at all times and display the ability to be flexible and adaptable.
• Strong influencing, presentation and communication skills.
• Uses initiative in problem solving and decision making.
• Excellent time management and prioritisation skills
• IT literate and a competent user of MS Office
• Ability to successfully network internally and externally and engage the team to embrace and build on new and existing links within the community

Company Benefits

• Salary of £36,
• 31 days of annual leave (incl bank holidays) increasing over time to a maximum of 36 days after 10 years’ service.
• Company car
• 20% discount in stores
• Share incentive plan
• Opportunities to develop your skills through apprenticeships and our own in-house training & development programme

If you’re successful in your application, we’ll need to perform a DBS (disclosure and barring service). This is to ensure Southern Co-op Funerals are compliant with the NAFDs Funeral Director code.

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

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Created on 02/06/2025 by TN United Kingdom