Crematorium Manager

Westerleigh Group; Denham; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discretionary performance bonus

33 days holiday

Ongoing learning & development

Smart uniform and PPE provided

Free parking

Job summary

Westerleigh Group is launching a new crematorium site in Denham. You will take ownership of day-to-day operations, drive performance, and build a capable team under a strong mentorship program.

You will receive comprehensive industry training, ongoing learning, and clear career development paths. A commitment to exceptional care and community engagement is at the heart of this role.

Qualifications

• Experienced Business Manager with strong people leadership.
• Commercial acumen with experience managing site P&L.
• Bereavement sector experience beneficial but not essential.
• Ability to build relationships with Funeral Directors and community.
• Willingness to travel for training.

Responsibilities

• Lead the team to deliver best in class service to the bereaved and funeral director partners.
• Manage day-to-day activity including KPI and budget, develop staff.
• Collaborate with support functions and model company leadership behaviours.
• Ensure highest standards of quality, health and safety compliance.
• Drive the site P&L, budget planning and growth opportunities.

Skills

People management

Commercial acumen

P&L management

Leadership

Stakeholder relations

Communication

Job description

£ 42,000 – £52,000 per annum + Discretionary performance bonus + Benefits

Permanent role

AUM is partnering with Westerleigh Group to bring a new crematorium to the community in 2027, specifically designed to accommodate Hindu, Jain and Sikh funeral rites, while welcoming families and individuals of all faiths and beliefs, as well as those with no religious affiliation.

We are recruiting now to ensure plenty of time for training to ensure you are set up for success.

You may not have considered a career in this sector before – and that’s absolutely fine. Many of our colleagues joined us from completely different backgrounds, bringing valuable transferable skills and experiences with them.

With full industry training provided, along with ongoing learning and career development, this is an opportunity to build a rewarding career in a role where every day is different and the work you do has a genuine and lasting impact on the families and communities we serve.

The role

Having ownership of a brand new site means a blank canvass where you can make your mark. You will also spend lot’s of time networking and raising awareness of your new site before it opens to help establish it as a respected and valued part of the local community. You will be partnered with a mentor and undertake extensive training at our other local sites with experienced Managers.

You’ll have full ownership of the day-to-day operations, performance and P&L. Alongside developing your team and shaping a culture that reflects our values, you’ll help maintain our reputation for quality and exceptional care and build strong relationships with families and Funeral Directors who rely on our expertise when it matters most.

The services we provide continue to change and adapt to the ever-growing call for more choice when it comes to a final goodbye and no two days will be the same as each family and service are uniquely personal.

Your ideas and creativity will also help shape the individuality of your site, some of our Crematorium Managers have implemented bee hives, wildflower meadows, animal habitats, regular quiz nights and coffee mornings to name but a few!

We combine strong commercial awareness with a deeply caring approach, ensuring every decision supports both the future sustainability of our services and that families are at the heart of everything we do.

When you join us, it’s an opportunity to be a part of something truly meaningful and significant.

Additional detail about the role:

People

• Lead the team to deliver best in class service to the bereaved and funeral director partners.
• Lead and manage the team in all aspects of day-to-day activity including monitoring performance in relation to KPI’s and budget, ongoing development, and recruitment.
• Collaborative working and communication with all support functions.
• Role model for our vision, values and leadership behaviours.

Quality

• Deliver the highest standards of quality in compliance and services, ensuring all services adhere to Westerleigh standards, policy and relevant legislation.
• Contribute to innovation and improved practice for site.
• Deliver the highest standards of health and safety.

Business

• Responsibility for the P&L and commercial performance of your site.
• Drive improvements in volume through active pursuit of new opportunities and building relationships both in and out of normal catchment area.
• Optimise the efficient use of site staff, facilities equipment, supplies, consumables and support services.
• Contribute to annual pricing and budgeting activities and manage the processes for the site.
• Develop and nurture relationships with external stakeholders and customers including Funeral Directors and local community individuals/groups to develop new / additional business and promote the Crematorium
• Support group projects as required.
• Ensure facilities, buildings and grounds are maintained and are fit for purpose.
• Competency in all aspects of technical expectations regarding crematory operations including the compliance and legal obligations.

Supporting the team with their duties when required:

• Cremation – You’ll be fully trained and work towards an accredited FBCA qualification. Involved in the end to end cremation process and ashes management. You’ll need to be able bodied as there will be manual handling involved in this process.
• Supporting different funeral traditions – AUM has been specifically designed to accommodate Hindu, Jain and Sikh funeral rites, which can involve different traditions, timings and requirements. You’ll be trained and supported to understand and respectfully follow these practices, helping to ensure every family can say goodbye in a way that is meaningful to them. An open mind, willingness to learn and respect for different cultures and traditions are essential.

About you

• An experienced Business Manager and leader of people who loves to develop people and continue learning new things.
• Must have commercial acumen and experience of working with financials including managing site P&L.
• Bereavement sector experience e.g. Funeral Director / Crematorium Manager / Site Manager or similar would be beneficial but not essential.
• Strong people management skills & experience of business management from any industry (many of our Managers have joined from Retail / Hospitality / Care for example and worked as a Retail Manager / Store Manager / Operations Manager / General Manager / Branch Manager / Care Manager) then we can teach you all you need to know about our uniquely personal industry.
• A real team player with natural compassion and the desire to make a difference every day.
• Confident communicator able to speak to people in a caring and empathetic manner.
• Ability to build strong relationships with customers and the local community, marketing your site to raise awareness of what we do.
• Some occasional travel will be required for training, and you will undertake extensive training at your site but also at some of our other local sites with experienced Managers.

About Westerleigh Group and AUM Crematorium

Aum is partnering with Westerleigh Group on this exciting project. Westerleigh Group is one of the UK’s largest independent crematorium operators, caring for more than 70,000 funerals each year across more than 42 crematoria. This is a purpose-built facility in Denham, which has been specifically designed to accommodate Hindu, Jain and Sikh funeral rites, while welcoming families and individuals of all faiths and beliefs, as well as those with no religious affiliation.

The new AUM Crematorium facility can host two funeral services simultaneously and accommodate up to 700 attendees, providing a spacious and flexible setting for families and communities to come together to remember and celebrate a life.

We provide culturally sensitive funerals with exceptional care in a beautiful setting, so that families and friends can remember, mourn and celebrate the lives of their loved ones in a way that is uniquely personal

What We Offer

If you would like to join the AUM team, you can be sure of a warm welcome, ongoing training and development and a sense of pride by truly make a difference every day to the families that we serve.

The values we champion are Safety First, Exceptional Care, Uniquely Personal and One Team.

In addition to salary, you will also be eligible for the following benefits:

• Discretionary performance bonus
• 33 days holiday (Includes 8 days bank holiday)
• Ongoing learning & development
• Smart uniform and PPE provided
• Free parking