POST TITLE: Bereavement Services Officer

SECTION: Leisure & Property Services

SALARY: £26,840 - £28,434 pa pro rata

LOCATION: Maidstone, Kent

CONTRACT: Part-time, 30 hrs per week, Permanent

This is a part-time position, working 30 hours per week (Monday to Friday), on a permanent contract.

About the Role

Vinters Park Crematorium & Maidstone Cemetery are currently offering a part-time opportunity as a Bereavement Services Officer, providing administrative support to the service and a warm front-of-house presence to those who are dealing with bereavement.

We deliver in excess of 1800 cremations a year, approximately 130 burials, and offer memorials for families to remember their loved ones in our gardens of remembrance.

The postholder will focus on the administration of cremations, confirming bookings, payments and processing cremation paperwork. This role requires conversations with funeral directors and members of the public.

Although Bereavement may sound sad to some, this is a truly lovely environment to work in, very rewarding and very worthwhile. We are seeking a compassionate, organised and adaptable individual to join our team delivering a first-class service. This role is office-based on site at the crematorium, and hours need to fit within opening hours, which is 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.

About Maidstone Borough Council

Maidstone Borough Council is a confident organisation with ambition and aspirations to deliver high-quality services to our residents and local businesses. We strive to make the borough an attractive place for all and secure a successful economy. We continue to build on our strengths - assets, knowledge and expertise and our track record for innovation and improvement to create a financially sustainable future so that we can continue with our undiminished plans.

We will only achieve the results we are aiming for through the talents and hard work of all our people. You are encouraged to become part of our vision, and in return you can expect support, training, and fair reward from us. We will give you the opportunity to develop the skills to do your job well and create a positive working environment where your ideas about improving how we do things are valued, and we manage the changes needed for new ways of working well.

At Maidstone Borough Council, we recognise the importance of flexible working and the benefits this can bring to both our staff and the Council. We know that by offering employees a range of flexible working opportunities, we can positively impact their wellbeing and engagement, and drive productivity in return. As such, we have developed a highly flexible hybrid working policy, alongside our flexi time and flexible working policies, enabling staff to shape their working patterns around building a greater work-life balance.

Our Offer

A range of benefits, including:

- Generous holiday entitlement which increases after five years' LG service plus bank holidays with the option to buy additional leave.
- Additional three days' leave given to enable a close down of the offices between Christmas and New Year.
- Free parking.
- Invitations to staff events to celebrate success and support wellbeing that include holistic therapies and outdoor activities.
- Employee Assistance Programme which provides confidential & independent information and access to counsellors.
- Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) with valuable life cover and financial protection for your family.
- Life Assurance – three times your annual salary (for members of the LGPS).
- Season Ticket Loan - to help with the cost of your rail/ bus journey to & from work.
- Lease car salary sacrifice scheme allowing you to lease a brand-new car. The monthly fee includes insurance, servicing and road tax.
- Annual flu vaccine.
- Cycle to work scheme.
- Staff benefits discounts on leisure, eating out, holidays and shopping.
- Excellent learning and career opportunities for committed individuals.
- A professional fee payment, if required for the role.

About You

The ideal candidate will have an empathetic attitude and be able to converse and deal with members of the public, clergy, funeral directors and associated staff in a sensitive manner. They will also be able to work well as part of a team.

The ability to be methodical and follow rigorous set procedures relating to cremation and burial procedures is essential. Pride in your work and a high standard of accuracy and flexibility are required. Being empathetic with a keen eye for detail will make you an ideal candidate for this role.

Selection Process

Following the submission of your application form, it will be reviewed by the recruiting manager. Those who are successful in securing an interview can expect a job-specific interview assessment, followed by an interview.

The Council considers this to be a customer-focused role, and the ability to converse at ease with customers, adapting communication style to suit differing audiences and provide advice in accurate spoken English, is fundamental to the role.

Maidstone Borough Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.

If you would like to discuss this position, please contact Hannah Banfield, Bereavement Services Operational Manager, on 01622 602941.

To apply for the position, please visit our website and complete the online application form or apply by phone on 01622 602555.

Closing Date: Sunday 11th October 2026
Interview date: Friday 23rd October 2026