Funeral Director

Poppy’s is a forward-thinking funeral directors in south London with ambitious growth plans. Instead of following the rigid traditions of the funeral sector, we listen to our clients and work hand in hand with them to create the funerals that they want and need. We pride ourselves in offering excellent care to people who have died, because care for the living starts with great care for the dead. We put people and planet first: we invest in our team; aim to have a positive impact on the planet, and we’re on our journey to B Corp accreditation.

Poppy’s is on the cusp of transformational growth - we’re spending the next three years dramatically increasing the number of people we reach and serve.

To support this growth, we are now looking for someone to join our team of funeral directors who shares our passion for making great death-care accessible to more people.

This is a fantastic role for someone who enjoys paying great attention to detail, has high emotional intelligence and the ability to juggle the practical requirements of a funeral with the emotional impact of the occasion. The ideal candidate will be a strong people-person, able to listen and help clients explore their needs and feel confidence in their choices. They will then bring those funeral choices to fruition with exceptional organisational skills. A background in events management, client support or similar fields would lend themselves well to this role. We do not expect candidates to have any prior experience within the funeral sector; you may be looking for a career change or to pursue a meaningful role within a values driven organisation.

If you think this might be you, we'd love to meet you.

Main purpose and scope of the job

• To support and empower our clients to make informed, personal choices so they can have the funeral that they want and need.
• To coordinate immaculately organised and inspiring funerals across Greater London and beyond.

Key responsibilities:

• Empowering clients to make informed personal choices about the things that really matter.
• Coordinating all the important details (paperwork, orders of service, coffin, hearse etc.).
• Liaising with external suppliers such as crematoria, churches, florists, and suppliers.
• Ensuring that the care of the people in our mortuary is exemplary and, on occasion, being involved with a person’s mortuary care alongside our mortuary team.
• Leading the practical support team on the day and showing authority when dealing with staff from external suppliers, venues, ministers, and celebrants.
• Ensuring excellent communication with clients and colleagues at every stage to achieve the best outcomes for our clients and each other.
• Meeting company performance targets and providing regular progress reports to the Senior Funeral Director and Client and Operations Lead.
• Promoting and embodying our values to the public and within the sector.
• Working flexibly when necessary, getting involved with strategic and ad hoc projects as they arise.
• Sharing ‘on call’ responsibilities with the rest of the frontline team (usually one week in eight, on call from 5pm-8pm and Saturday / Sunday 8am – 8pm). Involves being available on the phone and helping to bring people into our care.

General:

• To ensure Poppy’s values and culture run through the core of all we do.
• To further our mission to care for the planet and people in everything we do as a business.
• To engage in Poppy’s strategy and implementation in line with values, goals, and mission.
• To take responsibility for your own self-care and to engage with the company’s resources available to support you (e.g. line management, reflection and support sessions, Employee Assistance Programme).

You are a dynamic and dependable person who is able to bring high levels of emotional intelligence to event organisation and client service. You do not need any experience of the funeral sector.

We are looking for someone who is:

• Proven in their commitment to delivering excellent, personal client service and exceeding expectations.
• Confident in building personal relationships with clients, colleagues and partners within and beyond the sector.
• Excellent at listening and empathising, having a confident and mature approach.
• Able to lead a team and confidentially make decisions.
• Able to support colleagues and work cooperatively as a team.
• Clear and confident with exceptional communication skills.
• Able to prioritise work, manage time and multitask.
• Organised, with great attention to detail.
• A quick and nimble learner - this is a fast-paced environment.
• Able to stay positive, grounded, calm and unflappable under pressure.
• Enthusiastic about and aligned with Poppy’s values.

Crucially, we expect everyone on the team to be able and willing to develop a sound understanding of the gentle, thoughtful, natural way we care for the dead people in our mortuary. We have no expectations of prior experience of this work.

What we can offer you

• Salary: £34,564 per annum
• Hours: Full time: 35 hours Monday to Friday, with some optional weekend work.
• Location: Split location over our two branches, Sheen SW14 and Tooting SW17, with half your time out and about, leading funerals across Greater London and beyond.
• Team: You’ll work pretty autonomously in a busy, thriving team.
• Induction: You will receive a full induction and training (initially based mainly in Tooting) into your role and how the wider business works.
• Reporting: You’ll report to the Client and Operations Lead.
• Holidays: 25 days (plus BHs) rising with longer service to 30 days.
• Additional day off for your birthday.

Benefits:

• Medicash cashback health plan covering dentistry, optometry, physio and range of other treatments
• Regular reflection and support sessions are offered to our whole team alongside an active culture of peer support, autonomous working, and constructive feedback.
• 24hr access to employee assistance programme, with counselling, mental health support and financial and legal advice.
• Employer pension contribution of 3%.
• Interest free travel card loans.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Enhanced family leave.
• Free annual eye test.
• Retail and gym discounts.
• Paid volunteering time.