Funeral Director/Arranger

Description/Job Summary
Perform various tasks to arrange and direct funeral services, including coordination of transportation of body to mortuary for embalming/cremation, interviewing family, or other authorized person to arrange details, selecting pallbearers, and procuring official for religious rites.
Job Responsibilities
Consulting with & supporting family and friends of the deceased
Assume leadership role on funeral services by consulting with families and/or friends of the deceased to arrange funeral details including obituary wording, casket selection, and plans for a meaningful service.
Provide available options to families on selecting merchandise.
Provide prices and plans, as well as financing options.
Obtain information needed to complete legal documents, such as death certificates and burial permits.
Confirm the funeral arrangements are in order on the service day.
Assist families with their questions/concerns before and after the service by providing the best possible solutions.
Inform survivors of eligible benefits
Discuss and negotiate pre-arranged funerals with clients.
Responsible for adhering to strict laws related to a customer's decision to engage with SFFH.
Manage preparations and plans for burial and funeral services
Direct the funeral service by carrying out the duties described on the price list to the customer's complete satisfaction. This includes arranging transportation for the body and coordinating plans with crematories, embalmers, pastors, cemetery staff, family members and the various others who will be involved with preparing a body or conducting the funeral ceremony.
Oversee the preparation and care of the remains of the deceased.
Plan, schedule and coordinate the funeral, burial, and/or cremation, arranging such details as the time and place of services.
Direct preparations and shipment of body for out-of-state burial
Contact cemetery to arrange and schedule the burial plans, including the opening and closing of graves.
Offer counsel and comfort to bereaved families and friends.
Arrange for clergy member to conduct religious services.
Arrange for pallbearers and inform pallbearers and honorary groups of their duties.
Provide or arrange transportation between sites for the remains, mourners, pallbearers, clergy, and flowers.
Ensure burial plot is prepared and ready for casket
Ensure religious and ethnic customs of the deceased are fulfilled and respected.
Work with embalmer to ensure preparation of body for burial.
Plan placement of caskets at funeral sites, and place lights, fixtures, and floral displays
Set up photos or other memories of the deceased.
Greet family as they enter the parlor.
Receive and usher people to their seats for service.
Arrange for transportation to and from the cemetery.
Lead funeral procession
Close casket and lead funeral corteges to church or burial site
Ensure cars have identifying flags or markings during funeral procession.
Oversee preparation and shipment of body, if burial is in another location.
Provide leadership and guidance to SFFH employees and providers
Manage overall funeral planning with the family and SFFH by ensuring family decisions and commitments are delivered with excellence and compassion.
Hire and train highly skilled and qualified embalmers, funeral attendants, and other employees in the funeral home.
Maintain financial records, order merchandise, and prepare accounts/collections.
Manage funeral home operations.
Ensure all legal paperwork is completed in an organized and timely fashion.
Qualifications - Education, Certifications, Licenses, Experiences
Holds a valid Arkansas Funeral Home Director's license or Apprenticeship license.
Knowledgeable of state laws governing Arkansas funeral homes
Completion of 6 hours of CEUs/year
Excellent driving skills and record
Proficient with computers and technology with knowledge of MS Office Tools
Remain current on professional news, practices, certifications, etc. and apply needed changes as to how he or she performs the job.
Well acquainted and successfully utilizing all forms of social media.
Working Conditions
Working conditions cover a range of circumstances from regular day, evening, and weekend work. Also working with challenging customers and vendors.