Funeral Service Operative

Dignity PLC; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 30,555; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Professional development opportunities

Health & Wellbeing Programme

Holiday entitlement of 30–33 days

Pension Scheme

Job summary

A well-established funeral services provider is seeking a Funeral Service Operative in North West London. This full-time role involves providing dignified care for the deceased, supporting families during sensitive times, and maintaining high standards of vehicles and facilities. The ideal candidate will demonstrate empathy and professionalism, hold a Full UK Driving Licence, and be flexible with working hours. The position offers professional development, health benefits, and a generous holiday allowance.

Qualifications

• Demonstrates empathy and professionalism under pressure.
• Reliable, flexible, able to work outside standard hours.
• Holds a Full UK Driving Licence.

Responsibilities

• Provide dignified and professional care for the deceased.
• Support Funeral Directors in delivering seamless service.
• Drive and operate specialist vehicles for transfers.
• Maintain high standards of presentation for vehicles.
• Participate in an out-of-hours on-call rota.

Skills

Empathy

Professionalism

Physical capability for manual tasks

Reliability and flexibility

Pride in personal presentation

Job description

Position: Funeral Service Operative Location: North West London, Kensington Job Type: Full-time, permanent – 40 hours per week Salary: £30,555.00 per annum

We’re looking for a compassionate and reliable individual to join our team at our Care Centre in Kensington as a Funeral Service Operative. 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.

Why This Role Matters…

At Dignity, we believe that every farewell should be handled with compassion, dignity, and care. Your role will ensure that families feel supported, respected, and reassured throughout the entire way.

Shift Patterns

This role is based on a rotating shift pattern across our London centres, which includes: 4:00 AM – 2:00 PM, 2:00 PM – 00:00 AM. Flexibility is essential, as the role will involve out‑of‑hours support.

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

Skills and Knowledge

• 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)

What We Offer

• Professional development: a comprehensive induction plan and the opportunity to complete in‑house development programmes, 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

What are the next steps?

To join us in this role, hit the "apply" button to submit your application, and a member of our Talent Acquisition Team will be in touch.

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.

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.

Unsolicited Submissions

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

Closing Terms

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.