Funeral Service Apprentice Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

For more than a century, Bliley’s has stood for service, trust, and professionalism. As we continue to grow, joining our team means being part of a legacy of care and a culture where every associate contributes to the experience families remember. We seek individuals who hold themselves to a high standard and find meaning in helping others.

Summary of Job Function:

The Funeral Director (Full-time) at Bliley’s Funeral Homes & Cremation Center is a champion of The Bliley’s Way, “guiding our community through grief with ritual, education, and compassion.” This role provides comprehensive support to families throughout the funeral planning and ceremony process – sometimes even preceding a death and extending past final disposition. Responsibilities include arranging services, managing logistics, overseeing ceremonies, and ensuring all family preferences are addressed with compassion and professionalism. Funeral Directors carry administrative duties, participate in community engagement, and mentor apprentices, requiring strong communication and multitasking skills, careful attention to detail, and a deep understanding of funeral industry standards.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities:

Funeral Planning & Arrangement Responsibilities

• Initiate contact with bereaved families to schedule appointments for funeral arrangement conferences.
• Conduct funeral arrangement conferences with bereaved families, respecting cultural and religious preferences, offering appropriate guidance and direction, and honoring the decedent’s particular personhood.
• Carefully attend to details of a family’s experience, ensuring all explicit requests are fulfilled, and when possible, exceeding expectations through thoughtful and appropriate gestures.
• Maintain close contact with families throughout the planning process, proactively providing status reports, addressing any issues that arise, and ensuring families feel connected and supported.
• Carefully execute administrative tasks, including obtaining death certificates; coordinating with cemeteries, churches, clergy, and vendors; submitting obituaries; engaging military honors and police escorts; preparing printed materials; and coordinating other service logistics.
• Ensure thorough execution of all funeral arrangements, confirming all details are in order and effectively communicated to ceremony teams, along with any other expectations.
• Demonstrate responsibility for actively managing and maintaining personal accounts receivable, including timely follow-up on outstanding balances and ensuring accurate documentation and collection in accordance with company policies.
• Prepare, review, and finalize complete and accurate documentation—including contracts and cremation authorizations—ensuring compliance with all legal, regulatory, and company requirements.

Ceremony Responsibilities

• Guide families through their first encounter with their loved one at the funeral home, setting appropriate expectations and offering discreet support.
• Assist with visitations, greeting and ushering guests and the community to the appropriate viewing room and ensuring all needs are met.
• Respectfully oversee chapel, church, graveside and memorial ceremonies representing diverse religious and cultural practices, coordinating appropriately with officiants and clergy, and managing all logistics.
• Lead funeral processions safely and courteously, following carefully planned routes and cooperating with law enforcement.
• Occasionally drive a hearse or flower van and assist with (rather than lead) ceremonies.
• Reconnect with families in the days following a service to ensure their expectations were met and to offer ongoing support.

Other Responsibilities

• Ensure compliance with all relevant laws governing the practice of funeral service.
• Achieve or exceed client family satisfaction goals established by the organization, delivering service that reflects the company’s standards of care, professionalism, and excellence.
• Collaborate closely with all members of the funeral care team, including funeral directors working in the care center, administrative staff, and part-time Hosts.
• Patiently and professionally field a variety of phone calls, including first calls (reporting deaths), imminent death calls, “price shopper” calls (typically grieving families deciding which funeral home to use), calls from vendors and clergy, and calls from the community inquiring about a visitation or ceremony details.
• Ensure that all necessary equipment and supplies are ready for use as well as properly cleaned and returned after use.
• Mentor and train funeral service apprentices (as needed).
• Remain available as a resource to families and the community facing death and loss.
• Assist with additional business needs as assigned.
• Actively promote Bliley’s Funeral Homes and Cremation Center in the community.

Required Qualifications:

• Licensed in Virginia as a Funeral Service Licensee or Funeral Director
• Previous experience as a Funeral Director (preferred)
• Working knowledge of laws (state, local, federal) and OSHA requirements for funeral and cremation service.
• Well-groomed with a neat, clean, and professional appearance
• Pleasant personality and excellent verbal and written communication skills
• High degree of sensitivity, compassion, and care for decedents, their families, the community, and fellow associates, regardless of diverse backgrounds and presentations
• Strong knowledge of funeral ceremonies, industry-related merchandise, and personalization options
• Ability to present merchandise and personalization options effectively
• Excellent working knowledge of embalming, preparation, and restoration of decedents
• Proficient use of cosmetics and restorative supplies
• Proficient computer skills (including with Microsoft Outlook, Passare, Paylocity, and basic Internet navigation)
• Strong detail-orientation
• Significant ability to work independently
• Ability to multitask within job requirements
• Significant carrying, pushing and/or pulling and frequent lifting of objects weighing 25-75 pounds along with the ability for job-related lifting of 75-125 pounds

Work Scheule:

This is a full-time position, 40 plus hour per week, varied schedule position and may require working nights and weekends. Availability to be on call when business needs arise is required.

Bliley's is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to creating an inclusive workplace. We make employment decisions without regard to race, color, or status under applicable law.
We comply with the ADA and provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. If you need assistance or accommodation during the hiring process or while employed, please contact Human Resources.