Funeral Service Operative

Position: Funeral Service Operative
Location: Dyson Richards Funeral Directors, Shirley
Job Type: Full-time, permanent - On a rotational shift pattern - 6am - 2pm, 8am - 4pm, 2pm - 10pm
Salary: £26,708.34 per annum plus 15% Shift Allowance

We’re looking for a compassionate and reliable individual to join our team at our Dyson Richards Funeral Directors, Shirley 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.

Your Impact and Responsibilities…

Being a Funeral Service Operative means playing a central part in one of life’s most significant moments. You’re often the first person a grieving family meets, and your presence can shape how they remember the most difficult of days. This role calls for empathy, confidence, and attention to detail. You are entrusted with the role of taking care of our deceased and ensuring our families' wishes can be met. You conduct yourself with respect & dignity, understanding the privilege it is to undertake the work you do.

As a Funeral Services Operative (Level One), you will:

• 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)
• Maintaining high standards of presentation for vehicles and facilities, and ensuring they are well-maintained
• Participate in an out-of-hours on-call rota (including nights/weekends) to support families - providing out-of-hours support, including 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…

We’re looking for someone with/is:

• 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.

What you can expect from us

We believe in rewarding our colleagues with a strong, supportive benefits package that helps you feel secure, valued and able to grow.

• Up to 25 days annual leave, increasing with service, plus bank holidays
• Company bonus scheme (Up to £500 annually)
• 4% Matched Pension Contribution with opt-in options from day 1
• Life assurance (2X salary)
• Access to MyStaffShop, our employee rewards platform, offering savings across high street and online retailers
• Employee Assistance Programme providing 24/7 confidential support, counselling, wellbeing resources and access to a 24/7 virtual GP service
• Training and development opportunities, including internal learning and apprenticeship schemes
• Free on-site parking available at most locations
• Discounted funeral arrangements for colleagues and immediate family members
• Access to occupational health services and wellbeing support, including health assessments and medical MOTs
• Company-funded eye care support, including contributions towards eye tests and glasses
• Critical incident and trauma counselling support
• Annual flu jab reimbursement
• Long-term service recognition awards

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.

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.