Mortuary Professional Services Lead

Our associates celebrate lives. We celebrate our associates.

This is a hybrid role responsible for overseeing overnight mortuary operations including preparation room standards, refer management, quality control of cosmetics and transport/dispatch logistics. Operating on the overnight shift, this position ensures seamless continuous operations by leading technical embalming and preparation functions, overseeing overnight dispatch and removals, maintaining quality control, and providing leadership to overnight staff. This crucial role operates on a 40-hour work/5days a week work week schedule and requires a willingness to alternate schedules to meet the needs of the department for essential mortuary operations.

This role combines hands-on execution of complex technical procedures, dispatch logistics, quality control oversight, and administrative leadership to guarantee that all operations maintain the highest standards of dignity, professionalism, and regulatory compliance.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

I. Overnight Preparation & Mortuary Operations

• Technical Preparation: Execute all advanced technical procedures, including embalming, dressing, cosmetizing, and casketing human remains for viewing, burial, or final disposition.

• Complex Case Leadership: Serve as the primary lead for complex or challenging cases requiring reconstructive work, advanced cosmetic application, or special handling.

• Preparation Room Maintenance: Oversee preparation room inventory, ensuring chemicals and supplies are well-stocked and stored in strict adherence to safety protocols. Maintain a clean, sanitized, and organized work environment.

• Quality Assurance: Implement and maintain rigorous quality control reviews for all overnight preparation and arrival procedures to ensure peak care standards.

II. Logistics, Dispatch, and Transport Oversight

• Optimal Dispatching: Oversee the overnight removal process, dispatching calls efficiently and optimizing turn times.

• Arrival & Check-in Protocol: Ensure all decedent check-in, handling, and intake procedures strictly adhere to established professional and dignity protocols.

• Resource Management: Assign and oversee departmental assets (vehicles, staff, phones) during the shift. Prioritize in-house resources to minimize reliance on 3rd-party removal services.

• Paperwork & System Administration: Print and manage essential documentation, including embalming authorizations, minimal preparation forms, and holds/autopsy paperwork. Maintain data entry accuracy within HMIS and departmental spreadsheets.

• Interdepartmental Coordination: Answer calls professionally and coordinate clear handoffs and communications regarding removal statuses and preparation needs with daytime staff, the Mortuary Office, and external partners (Coroner's Office, hospitals).

III. Leadership, Training, and Process Compliance

• Overnight Leadership & Mentorship: Provide direct guidance, hands-on training, and technical mentorship to overnight transport drivers, preparation staff, and embalmers.

• Standard Operating Procedures: Work with management to maintain, enforce, and update SOPs, safety rules, attendance policies, and call-handling protocols.

• Issue Resolution: Act as the primary point of contact during the overnight shift for resolving operational issues, troubleshooting HMIS challenges, and handling lost-case or coroner sign-out procedures.

• Safety Protocols: Follow company policies and procedures relating to associate injury reporting

MINIMUM REQUIREMENT

Experience

• Minimum of five (5) years of experience as a licensed Embalmer and removal/transport driver experience required. Funeral Director license preferred.

Certification/License

• Driving Record: Valid California Driver’s License with a clean driving record.

• CA Embalmer’s License required.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Expert knowledge of mortuary preparation techniques, industry regulations, and safety protocols.

• Maintain positive, professional relationships with co-workers, third-party removal companies and external partners (hospitals, Coroners offices).

• Proven ability to independently lead shift operations, prioritize tasks, and manage complex situations under minimal supervision during night hours.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• Proficiency in MS Office (Outlook, Excel, Word) and mortuary software systems (HMIS or similar).

• Self-motivated, adaptable, highly detail-oriented, and committed to high standards of care.

• Ability to work fixed overnight hours, 8-hour shifts / 5 days a week, including weekends and overtime as needed.

• Any other duties as assigned or directed by management

WORK CONDITIONS

When considering the work hours associated with this job, the following factors may apply:

Work Environment

• Must be physically and emotionally equipped to handle working around human remains. Hazard exposure includes human diseases, chemicals (formaldehyde, embalming fluids), sharps, and occasional low-level radioactivity.

• Work indoors during all seasons and weather conditions

• Comply with field dress code policy.

Work Postures

• Frequent, continuous periods of time standing, up 6 hours per day during technical preparation procedures

Physical Demands

• Must be able to lift, carry, push, or pull up to 20–30 bodies/caskets per day, weighing from 70 lbs to 300 lbs, into and out of refrigerated storage.

Work Hours

• Working beyond “standard” hours as the need arises

Shift Hours : 7:00PM to 4:00AM

Compensation:

$28.00/hr - $37.00/hr

Exact compensation may vary based on skills, experience, and location.

Benefits (dependent upon eligibility):

MedicalDentalVisionFlexible Spending Accounts (health care and dependent care)Health Savings Account with Company ContributionSick LeaveShort-Term DisabilityLong-Term DisabilityLife InsuranceVoluntary Accidental Death or Dismemberment InsuranceDependent Life InsuranceSCI 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan with Company matchEmployee Assistance Program

Rose Hills is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The company’s hiring procedures do not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, ethnicity, age, sex, sexual-orientation, veteran’s status or disability, or any other legally protected status.

SCI Shared Resources, LLC is committed to an inclusive, barrier-free recruitment and selection process. On request, we will seek to provide appropriate accessibility options to all applicants with disabilities.

As part of your pre-employment background check, your criminal conviction history will be verified given that this role requires the following material job duties: Working around and/or handling deceased and working around families and colleagues. Convictions creating a direct, adverse, and negative relationship with the identified job duties may result in withdrawal of a conditional job offer.

Postal Code: 90601

Category (Portal Searching): Operations

Job Location: US-CA - Whittier

Job Profile ID: R00403

Time Type: Full time

Location Name: Rose Hills Company