Funeral jobs in Southampton

Position: Funeral Service Specialist

Location: R.C. Payne, Bitterne, Southampton

Job Type: 38.33 Hours per week

Salary: £26,708.34 per annum

We’re looking for an empathetic and well-organised individual to join our team at R.C. Payne, Funeral Directors as a Funeral Service Specialist. You’ll be the first-person families speak to, offering reassurance and support while ensuring every detail is handled with care and professionalism.

Based at our branch in Bitterne, you’ll take pride in the day-to-day running of the branch, supporting families, ensuring high standards, and building trusted local relationships. To become the arranger of choice in your community, you’ll also be trained to provide guidance on Funeral Plans and support with ceremonial duties when required.

Why This Role Matters…

Being a Funeral Service Specialist means playing a central part in one of life’s most significant moments. You’re often the first person a grieving family turns to, and your presence can shape how they remember the most difficult of days.

Your Impact and Responsibilities…

This role calls for empathy, confidence, and attention to detail. It’s about guiding people through funeral arrangements with care, introducing them to the support we can offer, and ensuring every detail is taken care of. You will be a steady, professional hand when people need it most.

As a Funeral Services Specialist, you will:

• Supporting families with empathy, professionalism, and attention to detail
• Arrange funerals that meet family wishes, cultural practices, and legal requirements – arranging funerals with clarity, compassion and precision, offering all relevant products
• Oversee day-to-day branch operations, including administration and presentation
• Liaise with suppliers such as ministers, celebrants, and florists
• Lead chapel visits, as required, supporting the families with their requests
• Take accountability for raising awareness of funeral plans and contributing to plan sales within the branch
• Represent the branch in the local community and contribute to outreach
• Train in Funeral Conducting to assist with ceremonial duties during peak times
• Uphold Dignity’s standards of professionalism, care, and service

Skills and Knowledge…

We’re looking for someone with/is:

• Compassion, calmness, and empathy in emotionally sensitive situations
• Communication, organisation, and administrative skills – confident with legal paperwork
• Confident working independently, with branch-level responsibility
• Comfortable in settings where the deceased may be resting, including chapel visits
• Willingness to work flexibly (including weekends/on-call if needed)
• A Full UK Driving Licence (desirable, not essential) - Ability to travel to client homes and local branches is important
• Experience in customer service, care, or admin (beneficial - complete training is provided)

What We Offer…

• Professional development: A comprehensive induction plan and the opportunity to complete in-house development programmes to set you up for success or to pursue a qualification through our apprenticeship programme.
• Memorialisation Commission Potential: up to £2,000.00 OTE per annum
• Bonus Potential: Unlock the possibility of earning additional bonuses, rewarding your hard work and achievements.
• Life Assurance Cover: Enjoy peace of mind with our life assurance cover, securing your family’s future.
• Health & Wellbeing Programme: Benefit from an employee assistance programme that supports your health and wellbeing.
• Holiday Allowance: Start with a generous leave entitlement of 30-33 days per year, inclusive of Bank Holidays.
• Pension Scheme: Plan for the future with our contributory pension scheme, helping you save for a secure retirement.

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 us.

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 as early as possible.