Funeral Assistant Jobs in Seattle, WA (NOW HIRING)

Summary:  

Plans and directs funeral services, memorial services, wakes, and burials.  Assists families throughout the grieving processes by offering emotional support, professional care to the deceased, arranging services, and transportation to the mourners.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following.  Other duties may be assigned.

• Coordinate removal of body to mortuary for preparation including refrigeration, embalming, dressing, casketing, cosmetics, and any other related technical duties.
• Interviews family or other authorized person to arrange details such as preparation of obituary notice, selection of urn or casket, determination of location and time of cremation or burial, selection of Pallbearers, procurement of official for religious rites, and transportation of mourners. Plans placement of casket in visitation room and/or or chapel and adjusts lights, fixtures, and floral displays.
• Directs the Funeral Support Team assigned to services in the performance of their duties prior to, during, and after the service. 
• Directs Pallbearers in placement and removal of casket from hearse. Closes casket and leads funeral procession to church or burial site. Prepares body for interment or directs preparations and shipment of body for out of state burial.
• Informs Manager of any non-routine situations or complaints on an on-going basis.
• Completes all mortuary related forms and paperwork.  

Qualifications:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education/Experience

Two-year course of study at an accredited college, two-year apprenticeship period under supervision of a licensed funeral director/embalmer, and a full year of instruction at a college or mortuary science. Successful completion of two extensive examinations to determine knowledge of the many aspects of funeral service and embalming.

Math Ability

Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.  Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.

Computer Skills

Experience with Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook.  

Certificates and Licenses

Valid Washington driver's license, valid funeral director's license, and valid embalmer's license.

Supervisory Responsibilities

This position will direct the work of the Funeral Support team during services.

Work Environment:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to outside weather conditions.  The employee is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, fumes or airborne particles, and toxic or caustic chemicals.  The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to reach with hands and arms and talk or hear.  The employee frequently is required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.  The employee is occasionally required to sit, climb or balance.  

The employee must occasionally lift and/or move more than 100 pounds.  

The employee must strictly observe WISHA requirements; possess the ability to wear required safety equipment for up to 2.5 hours at a time; and may come in contact with deceased with contagious diseases.

Other Duties:

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice. 

Benefits:

• Medical, dental, vision, Group Life & AD&D and Disability coverage offered through the Washington Teamsters Welfare Trust. 
• FSA plan offered under terms of the Company’s plan.
• 401(k) savings & profit-sharing plan, subject to the terms of the applicable benefit plan.
• Vacation Time Off: Eligible for employees that work 30 hours or more each week. Vacation accrual begins on the first day of work. Hours are accrued bi-weekly depending on your years of service.

Length of Service 

Bi-weekly Accrual Rate 

Annual Accrual 

Maximum Accrual 

1st day - 5 years 

3.07 hours 

80 hours 

160 hours 

5 years, 1 day - 15 years 

4.61 hours 

120 hours 

240 hours 

15 years, 1 day + 

6.15 hours 

160 hours 

320 hours 

• Paid Sick and Safe Leave Policy: Full-time Employees working a minimum of 30 hours are eligible for 80 hours of PSSL per year, which accrues at a rate of 3.077 hours each pay period.
• Holidays: 8 paid days, but open during certain holidays as stated below:
  1. Washington Memorial Park & Mortuary: Open on all holidays except New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
  2. Satellite Locations: Closed on all holidays except President’s Day and Veteran’s Day when they will maintain regularly scheduled business hours.
  3. Employees who work holidays may take another day off with prior approval.

Other compensation: Employees have the opportunity to earn:

• Monthly bonus under the Company’s Quarterly Incentive Plan, subject to Plan eligibility requirements.
• Educational Development: The Company encourages career development and may help support your participation in educational courses, seminars, and conferences when deemed to make a direct contribution to job development. Eligibility and prior approval are required.
• Employee Referral Program: Employees may receive an Employee Referral payment upon the referral and hire of a job candidate filling an open position with the Company, subject to the Program’s eligibility requirements.
• At-Need Funeral and Cemetery Benefits: Following six months of continuous service in good standing, employees may be eligible for at-need funeral and cemetery benefits.
• Pre-Need Cemetery Benefits: Following three years of continuous service in good standing, employees may be eligible for pre-need cemetery benefits.