Funeral Director

Dignity Plc; Sunderland; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading funeral service provider in Sunderland seeks a compassionate Funeral Director to oversee operations and support families during challenging times. This role requires excellent communication, leadership skills, and a respectful approach to service. Join a team dedicated to care and professionalism in an ever-evolving sector.

Benefits

Professional development

Bonus Potential

Life Assurance Cover

Health & Wellbeing Programme

Holiday Allowance

Pension Scheme

Qualifications

• Previous experience leading funerals, working with the deceased and supporting families.
• In-depth knowledge of funeral processes, legal and regulatory requirements.
• Calm under pressure with a respectful, compassionate approach to service.
• A Full UK Driving Licence (essential).

Responsibilities

• Lead funeral services with professionalism and attention to detail.
• Offer a consultative approach – helping families explore available options.
• Support the team in managing the diary, resources, and records.
• Act as a liaison with service and client delivery to ensure seamless scheduling.

Skills

Excellent communication

Leadership

Organisational skills

Compassionate approach

Job description

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

Why This Role Matters…

This role requires expert knowledge of funeral processes, the 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.

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.

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

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)

Company Overview and Future Plans

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.

Benefits

• 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.

FCA Statement

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

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'd love to hear from you. And if there's anything you need to make the process more accessible, please let us know.

Any unsolicited submissions from agencies will be accepted as a direct application from the candidate, and no fees will be payable. 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.