Job Summary
This senior leadership position requires a results-oriented strategist who will work closely with the Executive Director to oversee the administrative and service operations of Gate of Heaven Cemetery. As a key leader, you will manage a team of six office professionals while maintaining critical, proactive communication with field supervisors, financial directors, and external partners. The Manager is responsible for the operational health, sales growth, and ministerial integrity of one of most significant properties.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Sales & Financial Oversight:
- Analyze current pricing structures and market trends to make data-driven recommendations and revenue projections.
- Oversee customer sales, burial space selections (graves, crypts, niches), and the subsequent deed preparation and interment processing.
- Supervise customer payment processing, payment request vouchers, and payroll administration.
- Establish and track key performance indicators (KPIs) for the office team to ensure operational and sales targets are met.
Operational Leadership & Team Management:
- Direct, mentor, and manage a team of six office personnel, ensuring optimized weekday and weekend scheduling and high-performance standards.
- Evaluate individual and team performance, initiating improvement strategies when necessary.
- Master and manage the complexities of cemetery-specific workflows, including HMIS software updates, monument applications, affidavits, and genealogies.
- Oversee the scheduling of interments and transfers, ensuring seamless coordination between the office and field crews.
- Proactively identify challenges, propose solutions, and share operational updates without prompting.
Mission & Relationship Management:
- Ensure all deceased persons are given a dignified Catholic burial, responding with unwavering respect and compassion to bereaved families.
- Build and maintain high-level relationships with funeral directors, pastors, deacons, monument dealers, and industry influencers.
- Investigate and resolve complex customer service issues with a focus on empathy and institutional reputation.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's Degree required; Degree in Business Administration preferred.
- Minimum of 5–7 years of management experience, specifically overseeing teams and high-volume operations.
- Minimum of 5–7 years in sales management, including the ability to analyze margins, project future sales, and drive growth.
- The ability to quickly master the technical, cultural, and logistical nuances of the cemetery business.
- Exceptional verbal and written skills; a proactive "manager-up" communicator who takes initiative.
- Advanced skills in Microsoft Office (specifically Excel for data analysis) and the ability to learn specialized cemetery software (HMIS).
- Respectful of the mission and values of the Trustees of Saint Patrick's Cathedral.
Preferred Skills
- Experience in funeral home or cemetery operations.
- Knowledge of burial regulations and documentation.
- Sales experience in memorial or cemetery property.
Schedule
- Monday through Friday from 9 AM to 4:30 PM
- Occasional Saturdays
Work Environment
- Combination of office work and outdoor cemetery grounds.
- Occasional weekend or evening availability for services or appointments.
- Interaction with grieving families and community members.
Work Location and Commute Expectations: Onsite; this role requires daily commute to Gate of Heaven located in Hawthorne, NY.
Key Competencies
- Compassion and empathy
- Professional communication
- Organization and record accuracy
- Problem-solving
- Cultural sensitivity
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Dental insurance
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Retirement plan
- Vision insurance
