Crematorium and Site Manager

Durham County Council; North East; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Durham County Council seeks an exceptional leader to manage the day-to-day operations of Durham Crematorium and head a dedicated team delivering bereavement services. The role emphasizes compassionate, professional service, commercial awareness, and opportunities to improve and income generate while ensuring compliance with health and safety and legislation.

The post focuses on people management, customer service excellence, and building strong relationships with funeral directors, faith groups,

Qualifications

• Strong people management and leadership skills.
• Commitment to excellent customer service.
• Experience managing operational teams and services.
• Commercial awareness and sound financial understanding.
• Ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of customers and stakeholders.
• Resilience and empathy in sensitive situations.
• Drive to improve services and deliver positive outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support a team delivering crematorium and bereavement services.
• Ensure services are delivered with compassion, dignity and professionalism.
• Manage operational performance, budgets and resources.
• Develop positive working relationships with funeral directors, faith groups, partners and customers.
• Identify opportunities for service improvement, innovation and income generation.
• Ensure compliance with legislation, policies and health and safety requirements.
• Contribute to the future development of Durham's bereavement services.

Skills

People management

Leadership

Customer service

Commercial awareness

Financial understanding

Communication skills

Empathy

Education

GCSE grades

Bereavement sector qualification plan

Job description

To lead a service that makes a difference when people need it most.

Durham County Council is seeking an exceptional individual to manage the day-to-day operations of Durham Crematorium and lead a dedicated team delivering high-quality bereavement services.

This is a unique opportunity for an experienced leader who is passionate about customer service, capable of motivating and developing staff, and commercially aware with the ability to identify opportunities to improve services and maximise income.

We recognise that the right person may not currently hold all industry-specific qualifications. Therefore, we are looking for someone with the right leadership qualities, values and customer focus. Professional qualifications within the bereavement sector can be achieved through training and development once in post.

WHAT IS INVOLVED?

You will:

• Lead and support a team delivering crematorium and bereavement services.
• Ensure services are delivered with compassion, dignity and professionalism.
• Manage operational performance, budgets and resources.
• Develop positive working relationships with funeral directors, faith groups, partners and customers.
• dentify opportunities for service improvement, innovation and income generation.
• Ensure compliance with relevant legislation, policies and health and safety requirements.
• Contribute to the future development of Durham's bereavement services.

What We're Looking For

We are particularly interested in candidates who can demonstrate:

• Strong people management and leadership skills.
• A commitment to excellent customer service.
• Experience managing operational teams and services.
• Commercial awareness and sound financial understanding.
• The ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of customers and stakeholders.
• Resilience and empathy when dealing with sensitive situations.
• A drive to improve services and deliver positive outcomes.
• Experience in the bereavement, cemetery or crematorium sector would be advantageous but is not essential.

This is more than a management role. It is an opportunity to lead a respected service that supports residents and families during some of the most important moments of their lives.

If you are an experienced leader with strong customer focus, commercial awareness and a desire to make a difference, we would love to hear from you.

WHAT WILL I NEED?

• Educated to GCSE grades 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4 or Grades A* A,B, C
• Willingness and ability to undertake relevant professional qualifications within the bereavement sector following appointment

Please refer to the attached Person Specification for the full criteria.

INTERVIEWS

Interviews will be held on to be confirmed.

We operate a guaranteed interview scheme for applicants that can show they meet all the essential criteria and have indicated they have a disability, are a looked after young person, care leaver or a veteran.

OUR OFFER TO YOU

We offer a competitive rewards package that includes attractive salaries, a generous annual leave entitlement of 27 days (rising to 32 after five years' continuous local government service), membership of the excellent contributory career average Local Government Pension Scheme, and a range of flexible working arrangements including hybrid working (home and office) where applicable. Explore the full range of rewards and benefits on our website.

Rewards and benefits are subject to individual terms and conditions.

EQUALITY, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION

We are a proud equal opportunities employer and believe a diverse workforce brings fresh ideas and drives service improvement. We welcome applications from everyone and make employment decisions based on skills and ability. As a Disability Confident Leader, we actively encourage applications from disabled and neurodivergent people and offer support throughout the recruitment process.

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