Funeral Director

Dignity Plc; East Grinstead; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 38,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days annual leave

Annual bonus £300-£500

Pension plan 4% match

Life assurance

Staff discounts (MyStaffShop)

Employee Assistance Programme

Training & development

Free on-site parking

Job summary

Dignity Funeral Directors in East Grinstead seeks an experienced Funeral Director to oversee services with professionalism and compassion, guiding families from first meeting to the service and beyond. You will ensure options are clearly explained and every detail is handled with care.

Join a trusted national brand within Life Services Group, mentoring colleagues, coordinating with care teams, and maintaining meticulous records and schedules for smooth operations in a busy funeral environment.

Qualifications

• Experience leading funerals and supporting families.
• Full UK Driving Licence required.
• In-depth knowledge of funeral processes and legal requirements.
• Excellent communication, leadership and organisational skills.
• Calm under pressure with compassionate service.
• Able to perform manual handling incl. coffin bearing.
• Flexibility to work weekends and on-call.
• PC literate; proficient with MS Office and internal databases (training provided).

Responsibilities

• Lead funeral services with professionalism and attention to detail.
• Run pre-funeral briefings to ensure clear understanding and coordination.
• Offer consultative approach—help families explore options and understand what's possible.
• Collaborate with arrangers, specialists, FDs and care teams.
• Support the team in managing the diary, resources and records.
• Assist with coffin preparation, handling of the deceased, and chapel duties where required.
• Provide leadership and mentoring to less experienced team members, with training and development.
• Support local community engagement and promotion of the brand you represent.
• Act as a liaison with service and client delivery to ensure seamless scheduling and service coordination.

Skills

Funeral leadership

Driving licence

Regulatory knowledge

Communication

Organisational skills

Calm under pressure

Manual handling

Weekend/on-call

IT systems

Job description

Why This Role Matters

Chappell & Rice Funeral Directors, East Grinstead. You'll oversee funeral operations and ensure every service is delivered to the highest standard, while supporting families through one of life's most challenging moments. As a representative of both the local brand and the wider Dignity Group, you'll also play an essential role in engaging with the local community and building trusted relationships.

Your Impact and Responsibilities

As a Funeral Director, you are a calm, confident presence at the heart of our funeral care. You'll support families through one of the most emotional experiences of their lives, helping them feel informed, respected, and cared for. From the first meeting to the day of the funeral and beyond, you'll guide them through their options with clarity and compassion, supporting aftercare, ashes, memorialisation and funeral plans.

• Lead funeral services with professionalism and attention to detail
• Run pre-funeral briefings to ensure everything is clearly understood and well-coordinated
• Offer a consultative approach - helping families explore available options and understand what's possible
• Collaborate with arrangers, specialists, FDs and care teams
• Support the team in managing the diary, resources and records
• Assist with coffin preparation, handling of the deceased, and chapel duties where required
• Provide leadership and mentoring to less experienced team members, sharing learning, and taking part in training and development
• Support with local community engagement and promotion of the brand you represent - build relationships with care homes, celebrants and local religious and ethnic groups.
• Act as a liaison with service and client delivery to ensure seamless scheduling and service coordination.

Requirements

• Previous experience leading funerals, working with the deceased and supporting families.
• A Full UK Driving Licence (essential).
• In-depth knowledge of funeral processes, legal and regulatory requirements.
• Excellent communication, leadership, and organisational skills.
• Calm under pressure with a respectful, compassionate approach to service.
• Physically capable of manual handling tasks, including coffin bearing.
• Able to work flexibly, including weekends and on-call.
• PC Literate - Able to use a range of IT systems, including Microsoft Office, Outlook and internal databases (training provided).

About Dignity Funeral Directors

Dignity Funeral Directors helps families say goodbye to the people they love with simplicity, dignity, kindness and exceptional care. Every day, our funeral teams support families through some of life's hardest moments. As part of Life Services Group, Dignity Funeral Directors brings our three EVP pillars to life: meaningful work, being there when families need us most; grow with us, through training, support and career-building; and shape the future, by making funeral care more connected, modern and human.

Dignity Funeral Directors is part of Life Services Group; the group brings together Dignity Funeral Directors, CMG, Simplicity Cremations, Dignity Legal Services and Farewill. Together, we can support families across more of the end‑of‑life journey, while each brand keeps the name, identity and community connection people already know. For Dignity Funeral Directors, that means more investment in better training, stronger local support and better tools for our funeral teams, so colleagues can grow with us and do their best work for families. You'll be part of a close‑knit team who look out for each other, take real pride in their work and play a direct part in shaping a better experience for families in your community. No two days are the same, and the work you do is noticed and valued. If you want meaningful work, the chance to grow with us and a role where you can help shape the future of funeral care, find your Life's work.

We know that diverse teams make better decisions, build better products, and create a more inclusive and better place to work. Whoever you are, wherever you're from, and whatever your life looks like, we'd love to hear from you. And if there's anything you need to make the process more accessible, please let us know.

Benefits

• Time to recharge - Up to 25 days' annual leave (increasing with service) plus bank holidays, giving you the time you need to rest and reset.
• A little extra reward - Opportunity to earn a yearly bonus of up to £300-£500 in recognition of your contribution.
• Planning for your future - 4% matched pension to help you build long-term financial security.
• Peace of mind - Life assurance cover at 2x your salary to support your loved ones.
• Everyday savings and perks - Access to MyStaffShop, our employee rewards platform, offering savings across high street and online retailers, alongside eyecare support, flu jab reimbursement and lifestyle discounts.
• Support when you need it - Access to a 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme, occupational health services and confidential counselling.
• Learn and grow with us - Ongoing training and development, including internal learning pathways and apprenticeship opportunities.
• Making work easier - Free on-site parking available at most of our locations.