Vacancy Introduction

We have provided Funeral Services to clients and families across Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex and Cambridgeshire for over 90 years. We’ve invested £10million in the last 4 years, representing our ongoing commitment to our valued colleagues and the communities they serve.

As Sector Manager, you’ll lead and develop a team of high-performing Funeral Co-ordinators, Funeral Directors and Funeral Operatives to deliver an exemplary client service; with overall responsibility for all colleagues, branches, facilities and vehicles.

This is a key role within our Funeral Services’ operational management team, reporting into the Area Manager and working closely with other colleagues.

Role Responsibility

You’ll create an open and supportive working environment where your team feel valued and understand their contribution to our performance. Through effective leadership, recruitment, performance management and colleague development, you’ll be responsible for ensuring your teams:

• Deliver exceptional standards of client care and branch standards.
• Achieve KPIs (service, financial, etc.), identifying and responding to performance issues.
• Work smartly, communicating effectively and maximising the resources available to them.
• Innovate, taking their feedback on how we can do better and turn this into reality, driving future change.
• Effectively support new colleagues and their development.
• Work collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders (e.g. local crematorium, cemetery, etc.) to understand opportunities and challenges.
• Engage with their local communities, positively representing the East of England Co-op as brand ambassadors.

The Ideal Candidate

• Experience of managing large and diverse operational teams, setting individual and team targets
• Customer / client service background
• Commercially astute
• Experience of implementing change, ensuring the team and business are aligned
• Experience of ensuring compliance in team members and service (ideally within a regulated area)
• Great communication skills, with the ability to compile accurate, concise records / reports
• Effective interpersonal skills, effective with all stakeholders
• Ability to work with challenging deadlines and independently prioritise workload
• Good standard of Maths and English and IT competence (Microsoft and bespoke systems)

Whilst experience of the Funeral Service sector would be advantageous, this is not essential. We’re more than happy to offer the right person the guidance and support they’ll need to adapt, in return for their relevant skills and experience.

This role will require regular travel across our trading areas in Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex . As such, the successful candidate will need to have a current valid driving license.

Package Description

This role offers a competitive salary alongside a company car. Our colleagues also benefit from enhanced employer pension contribution and holiday entitlement, as well as our discount scheme. Further details can be viewed on the ‘Colleague Benefits’ section of our website.

You will also benefit from our award-winning training, helping you to achieve your true potential. Should you have your sights on career progression in the future, we’ve supported lots of our colleagues with their personal and professional development.

Working Arrangements

We understand the importance of balancing work commitments with other activities and responsibilities. We promote flexible working arrangements and are happy to discuss different ways of working (please indicate your availability within your application).

About the Company

As a co-op we’re a different type of business. We’re owned by our members and we work for the benefit of people and our communities, not just for profit.  We’re driven by our democratic values which are based around being fair, doing the right thing and caring for all those we deal with.  This includes our customers, our suppliers, our environment and each other.  We expect colleagues who work with us to share these values. We’re still a business and we work in a very competitive area so it’s still important that we’re efficient and work to the highest professional standards.

Click here to find out more https://www.eastofengland.coop/.

Please note that our working patterns are non-contractual. The advertised working pattern represents the normal working pattern for the role at time of advertisement and is subject to change.

East of England Co-op