Bereavement Manager

We are seeking an experienced and ambitious leader to take forward our Bereavement Services, managing our cemeteries, crematorium operations and associated customer services. This is a unique opportunity to shape the future of a service that supports residents at some of the most important and sensitive moments in their lives whilst also driving innovation, commercial sustainability and service excellence.

As Bereavement Manager, you will provide strategic leadership across all aspects of the service, ensuring high standards of customer care, operational performance, financial management, compliance and workforce development. You will play a key role in modernising the service, developing long-term cemetery capacity plans, delivering digital transformation and identifying opportunities to enhance income generation and improve customer experience.

• Lead and develop a multidisciplinary operational and administrative workforce.
• Manage the delivery of cemetery, crematorium and bereavement services.
• Oversee revenue and capital budgets of up to £8 million.
• Drive service improvement, digital transformation and commercial development initiatives.
• Manage strategic partnerships and contractual arrangements.
• Ensure compliance with all relevant legislation, health and safety requirements and regulatory standards.
• Provide professional advice to senior officers, elected Members and external stakeholders.
• Lead responses to complex customer enquiries, complaints and service reviews.

The role requires flexibility to attend occasional evening meetings and events. A current UK driving licence and access to a vehicle are essential.

We are looking for a confident and motivated manager with a proven track record of leading complex operational services.

You will bring:

• Experience managing large-scale operational services and diverse teams.
• Strong financial management skills, including responsibility for significant budgets.
• Experience delivering service transformation, business planning and continuous improvement.
• Excellent stakeholder management and partnership-working skills.
• The ability to balance strategic thinking with operational delivery.
• Experience managing performance, risk, governance and compliance.
• Strong communication skills with the confidence to present to senior leadership, Members and external organisations.
• Degree-level education or equivalent experience, together with relevant professional knowledge or qualifications.

Experience within bereavement services, cemeteries, crematoria or a similar public-facing service environment would be advantageous, although applications are welcomed from candidates with transferable leadership experience from comparable sectors.

This is an opportunity to lead a valued and evolving service with significant scope for innovation and improvement. You will join a supportive leadership team and play a key role in shaping the future of bereavement services for our residents and communities.

If you are an experienced leader who can combine commercial awareness, operational excellence and compassionate customer service, we would like to hear from you.