Funeral Director's Assistant

Requisition Number: 1339

Terms of Employment: Casual

Location: Pine Hills Funeral Centre

Employment Address:  625 Birchmount Rd, Scarborough, ON M1K 1R1

Hours of Work: 7 days a week, days, afternoons, evenings, and weekends on an at-need basis. Shifts are typically 4-8 hours.

Vacancy: 2

Language: English

Hiring Range: 26.83

About Mount Pleasant Group:

Mount Pleasant Group (MPG) is a not-for-profit organization that has been dedicated to serving families in the Greater Toronto Area since 1826. MPG comprises of two affiliated entities: the Mount Pleasant Group of Cemeteries (MPGC) and Canadian Memorial Services (CMS). Together, they deliver comprehensive death care services with compassion and professionalism. MPGC owns and operates ten cemeteries and four crematoriums across the GTA, while CMS provides funeral services at nine locations, including funeral centres within MPGC cemeteries and standalone facilities known as The Simple Alternative. As a trusted community partner and environmental steward, MPG is committed to innovation, leveraging new trends and advancements in technology while upholding our long-standing values. Our team takes pride in the meaningful work we do every day, helping families navigate life's most challenging moments with care and respect.

Our Vision: A world where dignified, inclusive, innovative and trustworthy death-related planning and care are accessible to everyone.

Our Mission: MPG will serve the diverse clients and communities of yesterday, today and tomorrow with excellence and compassion to meet all their death care needs.

             Our Values: Inclusiveness • Transparency • Innovation • Dependability • Compassion

At Mount Pleasant Group, we believe our strength lies in the passion and diversity of our people, and we deeply value the unique skills, perspectives, and experiences each individual brings to our team. We are committed to fostering an environment where everyone feels respected, supported, and empowered to be their authentic selves. By embracing inclusivity, we aim to build a workforce that collaborates meaningfully and reflects the richly diverse communities we are privileged to serve. We encourage individuals of all backgrounds, experiences, and identities, including those from underrepresented groups, to apply and join us in advancing our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

About the Position:

The Funeral Director's Assistant (FDA) plays a vital role in supporting funeral services and ensuring families receive compassionate care. This position requires a high degree of professionalism, sensitivity, and attention to detail. The FDA collaborates with Funeral Directors and other team members to ensure services are conducted with respect and dignity, reflecting the organization's commitment to serving families during times of loss. In addition to providing direct service support, the FDA contributes to the overall presentation of The Funeral Centre's facilities and property. By maintaining clean, organized spaces and ensuring equipment and supplies are well-managed, the FDA helps create a welcoming and comforting environment for families and guests.

The successful candidate will be required to:

Funeral Services Support

• Collaborate with Funeral Directors to fulfill families' wishes, including supporting visitations, funeral services, burials, cremations, and receptions.
• Provide hands-on assistance in conducting funeral services both onsite and at offsite locations, ensuring services are carried out with respect and dignity.
• Prepare visitation rooms by arranging furniture, floral tributes, and personal memorabilia in accordance with family preferences.
• Transport flowers, caskets, and deceased persons in company vehicles to designated locations as part of funeral processions.

Facilities & Vehicle Maintenance

• Ensure facilities are clean, presentable, and restored to their original condition before, during, and after services, including restrooms and coffee lounges.
• Maintain company vehicles to a high standard, including washing, interior care, and routine upkeep.
• Assist with general facility maintenance tasks such as waste disposal, mopping, dusting, and seasonal outdoor maintenance (e.g., salting and snow removal).
• Support inventory management by maintaining appropriate levels of supplies (e.g., caskets, urns, embalming supplies, and office materials).

Transportation & Transfer

• Safely and respectfully transfer human remains from various locations within the Greater Toronto Area, including hospitals, long-term care facilities, hospices, and private residences.
• Perform physical tasks such as:
  • Handling human remains with dignity and professionalism.
  • Wrapping remains in sheets or pouches to prepare for transport.
  • Placing remains onto stretchers and securing them appropriately.
  • Safely loading and unloading remains from vehicles.
• Verify the identification of human remains during transfers in accordance with MPGs Standard Operating Procedure, cross-referencing against the Medical Certificate of Death and other required documentation.

Ensure all records and documentation meet legal and company standards.

Other

• Additional duties as assigned that fall within the scope of the role as assigned by the Assistant Manager/Manager, Funeral Services.

Qualifications:

• Post-secondary certificate, diploma, or higher in business, funeral services, or a related field; or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
• At least one (1) year of previous experience in a similar role.
• Previous experience in a funeral home and/or cemetery environment is considered an asset.
• Valid Ontario "G" driver's licence with a clean driving record.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to engage with people from diverse backgrounds and adapt to various communication styles.
• Ability to manage tasks efficiently in a fast-paced environment while maintaining attention to detail and accuracy.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to collaborate effectively with colleagues and provide compassionate support to clients experiencing grief or loss.
• Understanding of and commitment to accessibility and inclusivity in workplace practices and client interactions.
• Physical ability to perform manual tasks, including safely lifting and carrying items within workplace safety guidelines.
• Knowledge of hospitals, nursing homes, cemeteries, crematoria, and mausoleums in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) is considered an asset.
• Familiarity with funeral home environments and internal policies and procedures is considered an asset.
• Intermediate proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Outlook).

The Mount Pleasant Group is committed to providing equitable opportunities to all applicants and strives to ensure a barrier-free selection process. If you require accommodation during the recruitment and selection process, please send us an email with your accommodation needs at [email protected], quoting the job requisition ID # and the job title. Any information received related to an accommodation will be addressed confidentially.

Transparency in Our Hiring Process: Mount Pleasant Group’s recruitment process may utilize artificial intelligence (AI) tools to assist in the initial screening and matching of applications to job requirements. These tools are designed to support efficiency and consistency in reviewing applications. All hiring decisions are made by our recruitment team, in conjunction with the respective hiring manager. If you have questions regarding this process or require an alternative review method, please contact us.