Cemeteries Manager

Brent Council; Wembley; Hybrid; GBP 69,000 - 72,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

27 days annual leave

LGPS pension

Hybrid working

Health and wellbeing support

Travel support

Learning & development

Employee discounts

Job summary

Brent Council is seeking an experienced Cemeteries Manager to oversee Brent's cemeteries and burial operations. You will lead a multi-disciplinary team, manage budgets and contractors, and ensure compliance with health and safety and burial legislation.

In this role you will support service transformation, contribute to a new Bereavement Strategy, and shape the future direction of Brent’s bereavement services while maintaining high standards of customer care.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience managing cemetery and bereavement services.
• Knowledge of burial legislation and memorial safety.
• Ability to lead and develop operational teams.
• Experience managing budgets and contractors.
• Proven ability to drive improvement and service transformation.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day management of Brent's cemeteries and burial operations.
• Develop an multi-disciplinary operational team and promote high performance.
• Ensure compliance with legislation, health and safety, and industry best practice.
• Support transformation and implementation of the bereavement strategy.

Skills

Cemetery management

Budget management

People leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Health & safety compliance

Strategic planning

Job description

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced Service Manager to lead the delivery and future development of Brent's Bereavement Service. Reporting to the Head of Registration and Bereavement Services, you will lead operations across the borough's cemeteries, ensuring high standards of service delivery, health and safety, grounds maintenance, memorial safety and customer care. You will oversee a diverse operational team, manage contractors and budgets, and ensure compliance with all relevant legislation and best practice. This role comes at a particularly exciting time for the service. The Council is aiming to develop a new Bereavement Strategy, investing in service improvement and transformation, and implementing a new leadership structure designed to strengthen operational delivery and management capacity. As Cemeteries Manager, you will play a key role in shaping these developments, supporting new Team Leaders, driving performance and helping to influence the future direction of bereavement services in Brent.

• Lead the day-to-day management of Brent's cemeteries and burial operations
• Manage and develop a multi-disciplinary operational team, promoting high performance and continuous improvement
• Ensure compliance with legislation, health and safety requirements and industry best practice
• Support service transformation, improvement projects and implementation of the council's Bereavement Strategy

About you

We are looking for someone who

• Has substantial experience managing cemetery, bereavement, grounds maintenance, or other frontline operational services
• Has a strong understanding of burial legislation, cemetery management and memorial safety requirements
• Can lead, motivate and develop operational teams to delivery high-quality services
• Has experience managing budgets, contractors and service performance within a complex organisation
• Can drive improvement, challenge existing ways of working and support service transformation
• Has excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to work effectively with residents, elected members, contractors and partner organisations
• Understands the importance of providing sensitive, inclusive and culturally responsive services
• Is organised, resilient and able to balance strategic priorities with day-to-day operational demands

Shape the future of burial services in Brent

Brent is one of the most diverse boroughs in the country, with communities, ideas and experiences from across the world helping to shape who we are. Working here means joining a council that is focused on fairness, open to new thinking and committed to improving life for local people.

Our values shape how we work and what people can expect from us.

We collaborate proactively, lead inclusively, embrace change, are bold and curious, and celebrate and share our success. For people who care about public service and want their work to matter, Brent offers the chance to make a meaningful difference.

About the role

Job Description This job posting is open to both internal and external applicants. Salary range: £68,571 - £72,294 per annum inclusive of London weighting Contract: Fixed term (7 months) - Maternity Cover Hours of work: 36 hours per week Location: Civic Centre and other locations from time to time,

Why join us?

• 27 days' annual leave, rising with length of service, plus bank holidays
• Local Government Pension Scheme with generous employer contributions
• Hybrid and flexible working options available for most roles
• Supportive family-friendly policies, including carers' leave, paternity leave and compassionate leave for eligible employees
• Health and wellbeing support, including eye test support and a 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme
• Financial wellbeing support, including education sessions, childcare deposit loans and season ticket loans
• Travel support, including affordable parking nearby, a Cycle to Work scheme and onsite facilities
• Learning and development opportunities to support your career
• Access to My Brent Rewards with exclusive discounts on shopping, travel, leisure and entertainment