Funeral Service Operative

Dignity Plc; Paglesham Church End; On-site; GBP 10,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading funeral services provider in the UK is seeking a compassionate Funeral Service Operative. This role involves caring for the deceased, supporting families during sensitive moments, and assisting Funeral Directors with ceremonial duties. No prior experience is necessary as training and support will be provided. The ideal candidate will demonstrate empathy, professionalism, and physical capability for manual handling tasks. Competitive benefits include professional development opportunities and generous holiday allowance.

Benefits

Professional development

Bonus potential

Life Assurance Cover

Health & Wellbeing Programme

Holiday Allowance

Pension Scheme

Qualifications

• Demonstrates empathy, professionalism, and composure under pressure.
• Holds a Full UK Driving Licence.
• Is comfortable working with the deceased in various conditions.

Responsibilities

• Provide dignified and professional care for the deceased.
• Support Funeral Directors in delivering seamless service.
• Drive and operate specialist vehicles.

Skills

Empathy

Reliability

Physical capability for manual handling

Professional presentation

Job description

We're looking for a compassionate and reliable individual to join our team at our S.A Bates Funeral Directors as a Funeral Service Operative (Level One). This role offers the opportunity to support families during one of life's most sensitive moments, playing a key part in delivering respectful and meaningful services that genuinely make a difference.

Responsibilities

• Provide dignified and professional care for the deceased
• Support Funeral Directors in delivering seamless service and ceremonial work
• Drive and operate specialist vehicles (including hearses, limousines and private ambulances)
• Maintain high standards of presentation for vehicles and facilities, and ensure they are well‑maintained
• Participate in an out‑of‑hours on‑call rota (including nights/weekends) to support families – providing dignified collection and transfer of the deceased into care
• Bring the deceased into our care from the place of death – including private homes, hospitals, hospices, or public spaces – under varying circumstances
• Prepare the deceased (washing, dressing, presentation) in accordance with family, religious, or cultural wishes
• Support with chapel visits and interactions with families in a calm and respectful manner
• Carry out all duties involving the deceased with the utmost care and professionalism

Qualifications & Requirements

• Demonstrates empathy, professionalism, and composure under pressure
• Has a respectful, caring approach when supporting both colleagues and families
• Is physically capable of manual handling tasks, including lifting and carrying
• Is comfortable working in direct contact with the deceased in a variety of conditions
• Is reliable, flexible, and able to work outside standard hours when needed
• Takes pride in presenting themselves in a professional and dignified manner
• Holds a Full UK Driving Licence (essential)
• No previous funeral experience is necessary – complete training, uniform, and support will be provided.

Benefits

• Professional development: A comprehensive induction plan and the opportunity to complete in‑house development programmes or pursue a qualification through our apprenticeship programme.
• Bonus potential: Unlock the possibility of earning additional bonuses for hard work and achievements.
• Life Assurance Cover: Enjoy peace of mind with 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.

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.

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.