Overview
Aylesbury Town Council is seeking a compassionate Cemetery Officer to manage the smooth and respectful operation of our cemeteries, coordinating burials, maintaining records, and liaising with funeral directors, families, and contractors. The role requires balancing administrative duties with on-site responsibilities, ensuring compliance with statutory regulations and health and safety requirements.
About the role
As Cemetery Officer, you will play a key role in ensuring the smooth and respectful operation of our cemeteries. This position involves managing day-to-day activities such as coordinating burials, maintaining accurate records, and liaising with funeral directors, families, and contractors. You will ensure compliance with statutory regulations and uphold health and safety requirements. The role requires a compassionate and professional approach, balancing administrative responsibilities with on-site duties to provide a dignified service for the community.
Contract Type
Permanent, Full Time 37 hours per week
Location
Aylesbury Town Council, Town Hall, 5 Church Street, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, HP20 2QP
Tring Road Cemetery, Aylesbury HP21 7RL
Job Responsibilities
* To undertake the administration of burial provision and associated services in accordance with the burial procedures laid down by current cemetery legislation, Home Office Regulations and Council procedures and policies.
* To provide a friendly, compassionate and efficient front-line service for the Cemetery.
* To ensure that the needs of all the customers accessing the Cemetery service are treated with dignity, respect and compassion and that they receive an efficient, dignified service that focuses on their needs.
* Deliver reliable customer service via telephone, face to face and in writing. Greet, direct and assist customers in accordance with the management approach to attendance at funerals. Maintain records and information.
* To deal with any complaints in the service we provide, in a calm and professional manner, displaying empathy with the bereaved.
* To ensure that Data Protection legislation is adhered to at all times.
* Retrieving and recording bookings for burials and ancillary services.
* To coordinate and complete all necessary paperwork as required for burials in accordance with the law.
* To use Rialtas and other as required software systems.
* To answer correspondence and provide advice to the public on memorialisation, genealogical searches and other aspects of the service.
* To process all forms as necessary including monumental permits.
* To liaise with Monumental Masons to locate graves.
* To allocate new grave spaces, correctly identify and locate existing graves, maintain and update cemetery plans, interment registers and burial records.
* To take payments and provide receipts for payments made from the public both in the office and at cemetery.
* To take all necessary precautions to ensure health and safety.
* To undertake routine clerical tasks such as filing, photocopying and receiving and dispatching mail.
* To undertake all other duties as necessary, including answering the phones, assisting the public with forms, advising on memorial layouts, and dealing with bereaved members of the public in a sensitive, compassionate manner.
* Security of cemetery buildings, key holding, alarming the building, and occasional lone working.
* Ensure systems and procedures are maintained to record on-site location of cremated remains, burials and to provide all specified documentation in a timely manner.
* To accurately prepare certificates of burial and other required documentation.
* To administer the process for arranging and reviewing memorial installation and ensure the maintenance of registers is carried out efficiently.
* To ensure that financial procedures and systems are accurately administered to receive fees for burial rights, burials, memorials and related costs, issue receipts, maintain records of all monies received and administer cashing and banking procedures.
* Prepare accounts for funeral directors and other service users as necessary and required.
* Liaise with the Medical examiner, Funeral Directors, Proper Officer for the Registration Service and other stakeholders as required.
* Ensure that the details of burials and funeral services are communicated accurately and in a timely way to those officers directly providing the service.
* To compile statistical data as required on burials and other cemetery services.
* To provide training on the specialised burial systems.
* To deal with complex correspondence and provide advice and information to members of the public including memorialisation, genealogical searches and other aspects of the service.
* To receive monies and issue receipts.
Other Responsibilities
* Be prepared to attend training courses in accordance with identified training requirements.
* Be aware of the Council’s visions and strategic aims and objectives.
* Be prepared to occasionally attend evening meetings of the Direct Services Committee.
* To participate in the Council’s performance management processes.
* Be aware of the Council’s commitment to equality and diversity.
* Undertake such duties as may be required to ensure the smooth running of the Town Council.
* Undertake such duties as may be required which are reasonably consistent with the duties, grading and character of the post.
Benefits
* A generous Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS).
* Pay scales that are competitive and reviewed annually.
* 23 days annual leave plus bank holidays (pro-rated for part time).
* Increase to 26 days annual leave after 5 years’ service (pro-rated for part time).
* 2 days statutory leave.
* Health and Wellbeing services including fast-track and free counselling service.
* Reward Gateway – employee benefits that consist of dental, financial guidance, wellbeing as well as retail discounts
Application Process
If you are unable to complete the application process through the Council’s online portal, please either:
* Send a cover letter along with your CV via email: Bhavisha.tailor-chhatralia@aylesburytowncouncil.gov.uk
* Alternatively, by post to: Aylesbury Town Council, FAO Bhavisha Tailor-Chhatralia, HR Officer, Town Hall, 5 Church Street, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, HP20 2QP
Notes:
* Your CV must include your Employment History and your Educational Background.
* The shortlisting of applicants will take place in the new year. All applications received will be reviewed carefully, and shortlisted applicants will be contacted with further details regarding the next stage of the process.
* Should we receive a high volume of applications, we may bring forward the closing date.
* Applicants applying via a mobile phone, please click on the below link to create an account and access the application process: https://aylesburytc.jobs.people-first.com/jobs/search
Closing Date: 4 January 2026.
Details
* Seniority level: Mid-Senior level
* Employment type: Full-time
* Industries: Government Administration
We’re unlocking community knowledge in a new way. Experts add insights directly into each article, started with the help of AI.
#J-18808-Ljbffr