Funeral Director

Dignity Funerals Limited; Sunderland; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading funeral service provider in the UK is seeking a compassionate Funeral Director to oversee operations at Alan Duckworth Funeral Directors in Sunderland. The ideal candidate will have experience in leading funeral services and supporting families during challenging times. Responsibilities include running pre-funeral briefings, managing teams, and engaging with the local community. An essential requirement is a Full UK Driving Licence. This full-time, permanent role offers competitive pay and opportunities for professional development.

Benefits

Professional development opportunities

Bonus potential

Life assurance cover

Health & Wellbeing Programme

30-33 days holiday allowance

Pension scheme

Qualifications

• Experience leading funerals and supporting families.
• Knowledge of funeral processes and legal requirements.
• Ability to work flexible hours, including weekends.

Responsibilities

• Lead funeral services with professionalism.
• Coordinate teams and ensure smooth service delivery.
• Build relationships with local community and stakeholders.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Organizational skills

Compassionate approach

Cultural awareness

Manual handling

Education

Full UK Driving Licence

Job description

Overview

Position: Funeral Director

Location: Alan Duckworth Funeral Directors, Sunderland

Job Type: Full-Time, Permanent - 38.33 hours per week

Salary: £29,638.00 per annum

We are looking for an experienced and compassionate individual to join our team as a Funeral Director at our Alan Duckworth Funeral Directors, Sunderland. You will 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.

Why This Role Matters...

This role requires expert knowledge of funeral processes, care of the deceased, and legal and regulatory requirements, as well as a deep respect for individuals\' cultural and religious beliefs. You\'ll coordinate teams with care, take accountability for delivering services to the highest standard, and lead by example every day.

Responsibilities

• 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

Skills and Qualifications

• Previous experience leading funerals, working with the deceased and supporting families
• 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
• A Full UK Driving Licence (essential)

What We Offer

• Professional development: A comprehensive induction plan and the opportunity to complete in-house development programmes to set you up for success or to pursue a qualification through our apprenticeship programme.
• Bonus Potential: Unlock the possibility of earning additional bonuses, rewarding your hard work and achievements.
• Life Assurance Cover: Enjoy peace of mind with our life assurance cover, securing your family's future.
• Health & Wellbeing Programme: Benefit from an employee assistance programme that supports your health and wellbeing.
• Holiday Allowance: Start with a generous leave entitlement of 30-33 days per year, inclusive of Bank Holidays.
• Pension Scheme: Plan for the future with our contributory pension scheme, helping you save for a secure retirement.

Next Steps

If this sounds like the next step in your career and you\'re ready to support families and lead with professionalism, click the "apply" button. A member of our Talent Acquisition Team will be in touch to guide you through the next steps.

About Us

We are Dignity, one of the UK\'s oldest and most trusted funeral providers, with over 200 years of history, 570 branches, and 46 crematoria across the country. From launching the UK\'s first funeral plan to helping shape modern regulation, we have led the way in supporting families with care, compassion, and professionalism.

We are now building the UK\'s leading end-of-life company. As part of the Dignity Group, we also operate Farewill, the country\'s most prominent will writer and one of the UK\'s top probate providers, giving families support not just at the funeral, but before and after as well.

Today, we are over 4,000 people across the UK, all driven by the same goal: to care for families with compassion and make the UK a world leader in end-of-life care. Here to help, whenever you need.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Statement

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 would love to hear from you. If there\'s anything you need to make the process more accessible, please let us know.

FCA Statement: The FCA regulates us so that some roles may be subject to background checks.

We reserve the right, depending on the number of applications received, to close or extend the closing dates for positions; therefore, we recommend submitting your application early.