Crematorium Manager
Working flexibly, 5 days per week which will include regular weekends, evenings and early mornings on a rota basis
40 hours per week
Our core operating hours are between 6am – 10pm daily, so the ability to work flexibly across 5 days of the week will be required
£35,800 - £42,000 per annum + Company performance bonus + Benefits
Permanent role
Mercia Forest Crematorium
Have you always wanted to use your transferable Leadership skills in a role where what you do can truly make a difference every day?
Would you enjoy leading a close-knit team with a sense of camaraderie not found in a generic job?
If so, we would love to hear from you!
We are one of the largest independent operators of crematoria in the UK, supported by almost 500 empathetic and dedicated individuals and we are growing.
Like many of our employees, you might not have considered our industry before, however with ongoing growth and passionate collaborative colleagues, you will find it one of the most varied and rewarding opportunities you could ever imagine.
The role
Leading one of our sites means a genuine opportunity to make your mark at a local level. Our crematoria provide a crucial service to the local communities that we serve, and it’s a privilege to provide the space for families to reflect and remember their loved ones all year round, not just on the day of a service.
You’ll have full ownership of the site’s management, including day-to-day operations, performance and P&L. Alongside developing your team and shaping a culture that reflects our values, you’ll help maintain our reputation for quality and exceptional care and build strong relationships with families and Funeral Directors who rely on our expertise when it matters most.
The services we provide continue to change and adapt to the ever-growing call for more choice when it comes to a final goodbye and no two days will be the same as each family and service are uniquely personal.
Your ideas and creativity will also help shape the individuality of your site, some of our Crematorium Managers have implemented bee hives, wildflower meadows, animal habitats, regular quiz nights and coffee mornings to name but a few!
We combine strong commercial awareness with a deeply caring approach, ensuring every decision supports both the future sustainability of our services and that families are at the heart of everything we do.
When you join us, it’s an opportunity to be a part of something truly meaningful and significant.
Additional detail about the role:
People
- Lead the site team to deliver best in class service to the bereaved and funeral director partners.
- Lead and manage site team in all aspects of day-to-day activity including monitoring performance in relation to KPI’s and budget, ongoing development, and recruitment.
- Collaborative working and communication with all support functions.
- Role model for our vision, values and leadership behaviours.
Quality
- Deliver the highest standards of quality in compliance and services, ensuring all services adhere to Westerleigh standards, policy and relevant legislation.
- Maintenance and development of cemetery, liaising with grave diggers and grounds teams to ensure burials are carried out to the highest standard (for sites with cemetery)
- Contribute to innovation and improved practice for site and within the wider division.
- Monitor customer feedback.
- Deliver the highest standards of health and safety.
Business
- Responsibility for the P&L and commercial performance of your site.
- Drive improvements in volume through active pursuit of new opportunities and building relationships both in and out of normal catchment area.
- Optimise the efficient use of site staff, facilities equipment, supplies, consumables and support services.
- Contribute to annual pricing and budgeting activities and manage the processes for the site.
- Develop and nurture relationships with external stakeholders and customers including Funeral Directors and local community individuals/groups to develop new / additional business and promote the Westerleigh and site brand.
- Support group projects as required.
- Ensure facilities, buildings and grounds are maintained and are fit for purpose.
- Work with Facilities to ensure routine and CAPEX site projects are implemented.
- Promote and support the Westerleigh Group memorial strategy.
- Competency in all aspects of technical expectations regarding crematory & Cemetery (if applicable) operations including the compliance and legal obligations.
Supporting the team with their duties when required:
- Chapel – Welcoming families & Funeral Directors and ensuring things run smoothly.
- Cremation – You’ll be fully trained and work towards an accredited FBCA qualification. Involved in the end to end cremation process and ashes management. You’ll need to be able bodied as there will be manual handling involved in this process.
- Ad hoc work – e.g. a Christmas service or making sure the site is tidy and presentable.
This role requires flexibility and pulling together as one team to support each other and provide the exceptional care and service that we are known for.
About you
- An experienced Business Manager and leader of people who loves to develop people and continue learning new things.
- Must have commercial acumen and experience of working with financials including managing site P&L.
- Bereavement sector experience e.g. Funeral Director / Crematorium Manager / Site Manager or similar would be beneficial but not essential.
- Strong people management skills & experience of business management from any industry (many of our Managers have joined from Retail / Hospitality / Care for example and worked as a Retail Manager / Store Manager / Operations Manager / General Manager / Branch Manager / Care Manager) then we can teach you all you need to know about our uniquely personal industry.
- A real team player with natural compassion and the desire to make a difference every day.
- Confident communicator able to speak to people in a caring and empathetic manner.
- Ability to build strong relationships with customers and the local community, marketing your site to raise awareness of what we do.
- Some occasional travel will be required for training, and you will undertake extensive training at your site but also at some of our other local sites with experienced Site Managers.
- Good IT skills
What We Offer
If you would like to join the Westerleigh team, you can be sure of a warm welcome, ongoing training and development and a sense of pride by truly make a difference every day to the families that we serve.
No two days are the same and many of our Managers have developed their careers within the business.
The values we champion are Safety First, Exceptional Care, Uniquely Personal and One Team.
In addition to salary, you will also be eligible for the following benefits:
- Company performance bonus
- 33 days holiday (Includes 8 days bank holiday)
- Life Assurance
- A choice between 7% employer pension contribution or 5% contribution + private healthcare cover (Bupa)
- Access to a wide range of retail discounts and wellbeing support
- Ongoing learning & development
- Employee Assistance / Occupational health support Program
- Mindfulness App
- Mental Health First Ambassadors
- The benefit we hope you’ll never need: Free Cremation benefit for Immediate family
- Bereavement Leave
- Enhanced maternity & paternity pay
- Recognition scheme
- Free Flu jab
- Smart uniform and PPE provided
- Free parking
What next? Start a career with significance by applying today.
We generally advertise vacancies for a minimum of 1 week before reviewing applications. We reserve the right to close the application window sooner if a significant number of applications are received. If you’re not contacted, please assume you have been unsuccessful. Unfortunately, feedback is not always possible due to the volume of applications we receive.
Westerleigh Group has been building and managing Crematoria for over 30 years and we care for over 70,000 cremations and burials every year. We are one of the UK’s largest independent owners and operators of crematoria and cemeteries with more than 40 sites across England, Wales and Scotland and plans to continue growing with care.
We have established a reputation for creating beautifully landscaped, high quality and peaceful facilities where families can remember and celebrate the life of their loved ones. Our core objective is to deliver the highest possible standards of care in a way that is uniquely personal.
We play an active part in the local communities that we serve and in 2025 our sites raised over £400,000 to support local charitable causes and projects.
Our letters to heaven post boxes continue to capture hearts and minds. An inspirational idea from the daughter of one of our colleagues.
Founded in 2021 as part of the Westerleigh Group, Distinct Cremations provides a dedicated service for families choosing direct cremation.
