Apprentice Embalmer

sci; Whittier (CA); On-site; USD 42,000 - 68,000; Full time

Job summary

Rose Hills in Whittier, CA is seeking an apprentice embalmer to support families and prepare remains for viewing.

You will embalm, dress, cosmetize, and casket remains, respond to funeral home staff, and assist with removals from deaths. This role requires completing the apprenticeship, gaining CA embalmer license, and working in a respectful, safety-conscious environment.

Qualifications

• Must be able to perform essential functions with or without accommodation.
• Applicant must register as apprentice embalmer and seek California licensure.
• Graduate of Cypress College Mortuary Science Program preferred.

Responsibilities

• Embalm human remains following standards, prepare for viewing.
• Answer high-volume calls professionally and courteously.
• Assist with dressing, cosmetics, casketing and removals.
• Maintain clean, compliant work environment and safety rules.

Skills

Professional communication

Detail-oriented

Multitasking

Team collaboration

Adaptability

Open to learning

Education

Mortuary Science Program

Tools

MS Office

HMIS

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Word

Job description

Our associates celebrate lives. We celebrate our associates.

Professional Services is looking for a proficient apprentice embalmer to answer heavy phone traffic, prepare decedents for families to identify, embalm human remains, assist with dressing, cosmetizing and casketing remains, making removals from places of death, maintain a neat and clean work environment and other duties assigned.

Essential Job Functions:

• Must be able to perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Embalm human remains following mortuary standard preservation
• Professionally and courteously answer heavy phone traffic
• Continuously put our mission, vision and values into practice.
• Maintain a positive, respectful and professional working relationships with co-workers, cross-functional departments and all Rose Hills associates.
• Maintain a respectful work environment and positive working relationships with our third-party removal companies, hospital, convalescent staff and Coroners Offices.
• Demonstrate willingness to help others.
• Complete death calls and perform removals from places of death.
• Strictly adhere to our attendance policy
• Carry out all responsibilities following our company policies, procedures, rules and controls
• Abide by our company dress code and any department request regarding work attire.
• Adhere to safety rules and funeral service industry regulations
• Promptly report unsafe practices to management.
• Keep management promptly and fully informed of all issues, matters of significant, and take prompt corrective action where necessary
• Perform other duties as assigned or directed by management
• Prepare human remains for viewing, burial and other final disposition.
• Ability to dress, cosmetize and casket human remains.
• Abide by established company policies, procedures and protocols.
• Assist with and or moving supplies upstairs and maintaining supply levels.

Special Skills and Abilities:

• Must have the ability to professionally, effectively and accurately complete tasks in an environment where constant interruptions occur
• Communicate persuasively with co-workers, management teams and customers, to gain cooperation; use persistence, fitnesse, and tact.
• Anticipate the needs of our department and recommend solutions
• Have good written and oral communication skills.
• Know how to prioritize
• Be accessible and approachable
• Be self- motivated and adaptable to change.
• Detail orientated
• Understand the importance of continuous learning
• MS Office Software: Outlook, Excel, Word, PowerPoint.
• Familiar with HMIS program.

Specific Job Requirements:

• Must possess the ability to become registered as an apprentice embalmer and become licensed by the State of California as an Embalmer.
• This position is responsible for preparing all monitor or in-room identification as requested by arrangement staff. This could number up to fifteen or greater on any given day.
• This position will always be filled by a Registered Apprentice Embalmer with the State of California. At the completion of the apprenticeship, upon becoming a licensed Embalmer by the State of California, if there are no open embalmer positions within the department or other open positions for your consideration within the Rose Hills Company to be transferred into, your employment will be terminated and another apprentice embalmer hired to fill this position.
• Graduate of Cypress College Mortuary Science Program preferred.
• Must possess a valid California Driver's License.
• Documentation of HBV vaccination record, agree to take HBV vaccination or sign a HBV informed consent/ refusal form.
• As an Individual Contributor, an applicant is expected to meet the Key Competency requirements of Open Communication, Building Relationships, Personal Leadership, Commitment to Quality, Business Focus and Customer Focus. Meeting the behavior standards in each competency links directly to the Annual Performance Review.

Work Environment

• Must be able to physically and emotionally handle working around human remains. Hazard exposure includes human diseases, chemicals (formaldehyde, embalming fluid), sharps, and occasional low-level radioactivity. Must constantly comply with health and safety regulations.
• Work indoors and outdoors during all seasons and weather conditions
• Frequent, continuous periods of time standing, up 6 hours per day

Physical Requirements:

• Includes but not limited to standing for long periods of time, occasionally may lift weight of up to 50lbs. Must be able to work every day around human remains and be able to tolerate odors and fumes from both the human remains and chemicals (such as formaldehyde, embalming fluid, cauterizing chemicals, and body fluids); odors, fumes, and dusting powders may cause discomfort and/or irritation to eyes and respiratory passages. Must be able to lift, carry, push or pull up to twenty (20) to thirty (30) bodies/caskets per day, weighing from 70lbs to 300lbs into and out of refrigerated storage; must have good driving record and be a