Funeral Services Technician (As Needed)

Job Summary

Performs various tasks to schedule, arrange and direct funeral services for City of Santa Monica's Woodlawn Cemetery, Mausoleum and Mortuary. Performs office support duties and assists in the sales of cemetery and mortuary services, products and merchandise.

Representative Duties

Plans, schedules and coordinates funerals, burials, and related services for the City of Santa Monica's Woodlawn Cemetery, Mausoleum and Mortuary. Arranges funeral details and ensures mortuary, burial, memorial and other services are carried out according to plans for services. Assists individuals with pre-need and at-need funeral and interment arrangements.

Conducts sales and assists individuals with the purchase of cemetery and mortuary services, interment spaces, and various merchandise and products. Receives and records payments.

Provides information to prospective clients on funeral service options, products and merchandise, and maintains a casket/urn display area.

Discuss and negotiate prearranged funerals with clients.

Responds to first calls and notifies proper authorities to transfer the deceased to Woodlawn or other funeral home. Provides information and assistance in person and over the telephone.

Provides assistance at funeral ceremonies and mortuary services, which includes but is not limited to planning placement of caskets at funeral sites; placing and adjusting lights fixtures and floral displays; receiving and ushering people to their seats for services; closing caskets; and arranging funeral corteges to/from churches or other sites.

Performs sales transactions and assists individuals with the purchase of cemetery and

mortuary services, interment spaces (i.e. graves, crypts and cremation niches) and funeral products (i.e. graves, vaults, caskets, urns, memorial plaques and flowers). Receives and records payments and assists in processing invoices. Makes deposits, as assigned.

Consults with client families or friends of the deceased to arrange funeral details, such as obituary notice wording; casket, music and burial clothes selection; and plans for services.

Verifies identification of deceased persons and confirms mortuary services with City-designated contractor(s).

Ensures work performed by contractors (i.e. transportation of decedents, embalming and cremation) comply with contractual obligations, requirements and other regulations.

Coordinates and schedules interment services with a variety of individuals such as City grounds staff, external contractors, pallbearers, clergy members and other representatives to perform needed services.

Obtains information needed to complete legal documents, letters, reports, forms, obituary, death certificates, and burial permits.

Enters, transcribes, stores and maintains a variety of administrative and financial information in written and electronic form. Files and maintains various documents, including record of sales forms. Enters data pertaining to each interment and purchase into electronic recordkeeping systems and computerized databases.

Keeps current on state and local laws relating to the operation of a cemetery and mortuary.

Performs other related duties, as assigned.

Requirements

Knowledge of:

Funeral and mortuary services and practices.
Funeral home products and merchandise.
Current office procedures, practices and equipment.
Basic mathematics.
Business English, spelling, punctuation and grammar.
Report writing.
Recordkeeping principles and practices.
Effective customer services techniques.

Ability to:

Schedule work activities and coordinate the work of others.
Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
Perform work with accuracy and attention to detail.
Interact with grieving and distraught individuals with tact, discretion and compassion.
Work around deceased persons.
Evaluate information to determine compliance with applicable laws, regulations and standards.
Negotiate term of sale or services with customers.
Read cemetery maps and record to locate graves, crypts and cremation niches.
Follow written and oral instructions
Prepare and maintain accurate records, reports and files.
Work with minimal supervision.
Demonstrate physical dexterity and lift objects of up to 75 lbs.
Establish and maintain effective and cooperative working relationships with City employees and the general public.
Provide effective customer service.

Skill in:

Reading, writing and communicating at an appropriate level.
Dealing effectively with individuals from diverse social, cultural, religious and ethnic backgrounds.
Using a personal computer and applicable software applications.
Handling cash.

Education, Training and Experience :

Graduation from an accredited college with an Associate's degree or 60 semester units or the equivalent of college level course work in Mortuary Science, Funeral Service Management or a closely related field.

Four years of recent, paid work experience performing customer service and/or providing funeral arrangements within a cemetery, mortuary and/or funeral home environment. One year of recent, paid experience must include performing duties of a Funeral Director. Additional recent, related work experience and/or apprenticeship may substitute for the educational requirement on a year for year basis (successful completion of 30 units or the equivalent is equal to one year of work experience).

Licenses and Certificates :

Possession of a valid class C driver license.

Possession of a valid Funeral Director's License from the State of California or have the ability to reciprocate or obtain a current license from the State of California prior to the first day of hire.

WORKING CONDITIONS :

Work is generally performed indoors in an office and a mortuary. Office work involves frequent contact with the public and sitting and using a computer keyboard and screen. Mortuary work involves exposure to cadavers, remains of persons and hazardous materials associated with a funeral home. Safety training and equipment are provided. Exposure to various weather conditions when walking through cemetery grounds or assisting with funeral services is common. Responding to emergency situations, working irregular hours, including weekends and evenings, and serving on standby duty are required. Physical demands include walking, standing, kneeling, reaching, bending, moving and lifting heavy objects with assistance, when necessary.

Supplemental Information

How to Apply:
Applicants must submit a clear, concise, completed on-line City Application along with any required supplemental application materials with the Human Resources Department by the filing deadline. If you do not submit your on-line application by the filing deadline, you will not be considered for this position. Please note, applications may be rejected if incomplete. Resumes, CVs and cover letters are not reviewed as part of the application screening process.

If you would like for your education to be considered, you must attach a copy of your college level transcripts or diploma to your online application. Applicants who indicate receipt of college level coursework or degree from a foreign institution must provide United States credential equivalency verification along with a copy of your college diploma/transcripts. All materials must be received in the Human Resources Department no later than the filing deadline. Failure to do so may result in your application being evaluated without the education being considered.

Selection Process:
All applicants must submit clear, concise and complete information regarding your work history and qualifications for the position. All applicants will be reviewed and only those applicants determined to be most qualified on the basis of experience, training and education, as submitted, will be invited to participate further in the selection process.

Background Investigation:
Candidates who have successfully completed all prior phases of the selection process will be subject to a thorough background investigation.

Inclusion & Diversity Statement

The City of Santa Monica is a progressive, inclusive and culturally-rich community. As leaders in public service, we strive to be an employer of choice by attracting and retaining a highly-talented workforce where people of diverse races, religions, cultures and lifestyles thrive. Our goal is to create a welcoming and inclusive environment where our staff are empowered to perform at their highest level and where their differences make a positive impact.

The City is an equal opportunity employer and strives to build balanced teams from all walks of life without regard to race, color, ethnicity, religion, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, ancestry, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other status protected under federal, state and/or local law. We aim to create a workplace that celebrates and embraces the diversity of our employees. Join us!

Special assistance with the application and examination process is available, upon request, for persons with disabilities. Call (310) 458-8246, TDD (310) 458-8696 (Hearing Impaired Only).

Please note the request for reasonable accommodations must be made to Human Resources at least three work days prior to the examination.

The City's liberal fringe benefits for full-time employment include sick leave, holiday and vacation pay, the Public Employees Retirement System, medical, dental and vision insurance, credit union, deferred compensation, tuition reimbursement, Dependent Care Assistance Plan and Marine Park Childcare Center.

Closing Date/Time: 11/14/2024 5:30 PM Pacific

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• City of Santa Monica

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