Bereavement Services Manager

Job Description

Organisation: London Borough of Waltham Forest

Salary: PO6£54,267 to £57,402

Contract Type: Full Time/Permanent

Working hours per week: 36

Application Deadline: 26/05/2026

Proposed Interview Date: 9/06/2026

Reference: 2116

About Us:

Bursting with culture, energy, and opportunity, the London Borough of Waltham Forest is a fantastic and exciting place to work.

We are a highly ambitious borough. Driven by culture and the innate creativity of our residents, we have developed new and innovative ways to build our communities. Our Council is relentlessly resident-focused, insight-led, digitally driven and commercially minded; a Council focused on meeting the needs of our existing and future residents.

London Borough of Waltham Forest is one of the Mayor of London’s Good Work Standard employers. This accreditation is a proof of our commitment to creating a healthy, fair and inclusive workplace. This includes fair pay and conditions, workplace well-being, skills and progression and diversity and recruitment.

The Council’s preference is for online application. However, if you have a disability and are unable to complete an online application, please email recruitment@walthamforest.gov.uk so we can arrange an alternative application method.

About the role:

Join us in shaping a first of its kind service in Waltham Forest.

Waltham Forest is preparing to open its first dedicated Crematorium Service, a landmark development that will enhance the support we provide to residents at some of the most sensitive and significant moments in their lives. This new service represents an important step forward for the borough, and we are building a team that reflects the compassion, professionalism, and care our community deserves.

As part of this launch, we are creating nine new roles across the service. Recruitment will take place in phases, beginning with two key leadership positions that will help shape the foundations of this new provision.

We are seeking experienced, motivated, and empathetic leader for the following role:
We require a strategic and people focused leader who will oversee the delivery of high quality bereavement services, cemeteries and crematorium services, ensuring families receive exceptional care and support.
Total accountability for the management and service development of the Councils Bereavement related services including Cemeteries, and Crematorium services.

To maintain a corporate responsibility for strategic and service issues affecting Bereavement Services.

To ensure the strategic performance of Bereavement services, working with partners, in reflecting and delivering the Council’s aims and objectives in relation to services.

This role offers a rare opportunity to be part of building a new service from the ground up — shaping processes, culture, and community impact from day one.

Future Opportunities (coming later this year)
As the service develops, we will also be recruiting for:

• Ushers / Crematorium Technicians
• Administration Officers
• Grounds and Facilities Staff

These positions will play an essential role in delivering a respectful, seamless, and supportive experience for all who use the service.

>> Click here to download the Role Profile <<

Key Responsibilities:

Ensuring that the requirements of the Burial and Cremation Acts and Regulations; the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and all relevant process guidance notes; the Health and Safety at Work Act; the Local Authorities Cemeteries Order, and all other legislative requirements are complied with.

To prepare annual business plan objectives for the services in line with Service Group, Directorate and Council’s plans. Monitor progress of the agreed objectives, taking remedial action as appropriate to ensure they are achieved.

Be responsible for the upkeep and improvement of the Council’s Crematorium, and Cemeteries

Responsible for budget/financials
Including setting annual budgets, monitoring of expenditure and income monthly, utilising data from the council’s financial system, adjusting budgets and setting new targets as required.

Qualifications and Requirements:

High level qualification or degree or professional qualifications in a relevant discipline or proven record of experience in the field of work.

Terms and conditions:

The below terms and conditions apply to this role:

• Satisfactory employment references and CIFAS identity checks;
• Satisfactory DBS check;
• Suitable driver’s license;
• As a public authority, we must ensure that members of staff in public-facing roles are able to speak fluent English. This means that they must have a command of spoken English, with confidence and accuracy, sufficient for the effective performance of their role. This requirement does not refer to any particular English language qualifications, regional or international accents, dialects, speech impediments or the tone of conversations. It does not require staff to speak only in English.

How to Apply:

Interested candidates are invited to submit their applications online by pressing the ‘Apply’ button below. This includes a supporting statement that outlines to us how your skills and experience make you a good candidate for this vacancy.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.

Equal Opportunity Employer:

Waltham Forest is a diverse borough where diversity is valued and is integral to both, service delivery and employment of its staff. The Council is proud of its rich mix of communities and as the largest employer in the area, it works hard to respond to the changing needs of its population. We use our statutory duties on race, gender and disability equality and best practice in respect of age, faith and sexual orientation to ensure equality of opportunity in the workplace. The Council is committed to meeting its 4 equality objectives: - Promoting equality of opportunity - Opposing all forms of discrimination, intolerance and disadvantage - Ensuring our workforce reflects the diverse communities of Waltham Forest at all levels. - Providing fair, appropriate, accessible and excellent Services to all. Respecting Diversity is a core Council value.

To support the above and reduce the risk of bias in its recruitment activities, the council is operating an anonymous shortlisting process, which hides personal information that can identify individuals until their application has been considered for shortlisting. The council also operates a scheme whereby, for jobs graded up to and including scale SO2, internal candidates are considered first. This includes those candidates who self-identify as having a disability for the purposes of the Disability Confident scheme. For more information, please refer to our recruitment and selection policy.

We are keen to support employees to balance their working life with other commitments. Therefore, wherever possible, we will consider working arrangements that suit an individual's personal circumstances whilst still meeting the needs of the Council. If you would like to discuss the possible flexible working options that might be applicable to this role, please contact the person named below or feel free to discuss this during your interview.

For more information on the benefits of working for the Council, please visit https://www.walthamforest.gov.uk/jobs-and-training/find-jobs-and-other-opportunities/working-us.

Contact Information:

If you have any questions about this vacancy or the application process, please contact Ian Sheppard Head Of Parks and Open Spaces at Ian.Sheppard@walthamforest.gov.uk

If you have any technical issues when trying to apply for this post, please contact our Recruitment Team via email at recruitment@walthamforest.gov.uk.

Click here for further information on the Human Resources recruitment privacy notice.