Executive Director of Cemeteries and Mortuary Services

DIOCESE OF ORANGE

POSITION TITLE: Executive Director of Cemeteries and Mortuary Services
SALARY RANGE: $225K - $250K salary + strong incentive bonus potential

POSITION SUMMARY

We are seeking a practicing catholic in good standing and highly experienced cemetery operations leader to serve as the Executive Director of Cemeteries and Mortuary Services. This unique leadership role blends pastoral ministry with strategic business management to serve families during their end-of-life journey with compassion and faith. This position involves comprehensive oversight of operations, financial sustainability, staff management, and community relations, all while adhering to both civil and Canon Law. Extensive experience in cemetery operations, land development, and burial services is essential for success in this role.

Employees of the Diocese of Orange represent the Roman Catholic Church and are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that upholds the mission and values of the Church in all aspects of their work

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Mission and Spiritual Leadership: Serving as a minister of the Church, ensuring all operations, burials, and commemorations align with Catholic doctrine and values. The Executive Director must be able to represent the Church in a ministerial capacity and uphold Catholic teaching in all cemetery and mortuary practices. This involves fostering a culture of compassion and service to grieving families.
• Operational Oversight: Managing daily operations, including grounds maintenance, facility management, plot sales, marketing and the coordination of burial and mortuary services.
• Financial Management: Preparing and managing annual budgets, monitoring financial performance, setting pricing structures, and developing strategies for revenue growth and long-term sustainability.
• Compliance and Regulations: Ensuring adherence to all local, state, and federal regulations regarding cemetery and mortuary operations, as well as the requirements of the Diocese of Orange and the Catholic Church.
• Strategy Management: Develop and implement a long-term strategic plan that aligns with the vision of Diocesan leadership. Designing and developing future sections of our cemeteries in line with our future needs.
• Land Development, Construction, and Master Planning: Responsible for cemetery land development initiatives, including assessment of available property, zoning requirements, and long-term utilization of cemetery land. Collaborate with internal construction department on oversight of construction projects from concept through completion, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and evangelization efforts. Evaluate annual inventory needs and adjust development priorities to support sales demand, operational capacity, and long-term sustainability of all cemetery locations.
• Marketing, Strategic Oversight & Education: Responsible for all marketing initiatives, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and inventory needs.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Active Catholic Faith: A practicing Catholic with a deep understanding of Catholic teachings and traditions related to death, burial, and the care of cemeteries.
• Leadership Experience: A minimum of 5-7 years of leadership and management experience is required, with particular emphasis on prior work in cemetery or mortuary services and experience within a Catholic or religious organizational structure.
• Business Acumen: Strong business management, financial reporting, and organizational skills. Must demonstrate strong strategic thinking skills, with the capacity to analyze trends, set priorities, and shape long-term organizational direction.
• Compassion and Communication: Excellent interpersonal and communication skills to work well with our cemetery staff and diocesan leaders as well as to provide compassionate support to grieving families and work effectively with diverse groups of people.
• Relevant Education/Licensing: A degree in Business Management, Mortuary Science, or a related field may be required or preferred, along with any applicable state funeral director’s licenses.

WORK CONDITIONS

• Environment: Primarily office-based with frequent visits to cemetery and mortuary grounds.
• Travel: Regular travel between multiple cemeteries and mortuary locations within the Diocese; occasional attendance at state and national conferences.
• Schedule: Full-time position with flexibility; must be available for emergencies during nights, weekends, and holidays.
• Tools/Equipment: Use of computer, phone, calculator, and automobile; occasional exposure to outdoor conditions during site inspections.
• Interactions: Frequent communication with clergy, parish staff, vendors, patrons, and Diocesan leadership.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Ability to sit, stand, and walk for extended periods during office work and cemetery inspections.
• Ability to drive to remote cemetery locations.
• Occasional lifting of materials or equipment up to 25 lbs. (e.g., documents, small tools).
• Compliance with Cal/OSHA safety standards for cemetery operations.
• Ability to navigate uneven terrain and outdoor environments during site visits.
• Visual and auditory capacity to interact effectively with staff and patrons and to review documents and reports.