Obituary Coordinator

Weeklys Media Group is an independent, innovative Bay Area-based company that publishes 17 community and alternative weeklies in eight greater Bay Area counties, along with specialty magazines, digital media services and events. 

The Obituary Coordinator serves as the primary point of contact for families and funeral homes submitting obituaries for publication in our community newspapers. This position combines compassionate customer service with exceptional organizational skills to ensure that every obituary is handled accurately, professionally and on time.

The successful candidate will manage obituary submissions for 14 weekly newspapers, each with its own publication schedule and deadlines. While this is not a sales position, the coordinator should be comfortable discussing publication options, explaining pricing, answering questions and helping customers select the obituary package that best meets their needs.

Primary Responsibilities

• Receive obituary submissions from families, funeral homes and other customers via phone, email and online systems.
• Communicate with customers regarding corrections, approvals, payment questions and publication dates.
• Assist customers with obituary formatting, wording, publication options and pricing.
• Review submissions for completeness, accuracy, spelling, grammar and style.
• Enter obituary information into the company's publishing and billing system.
• Coordinate publication schedules across 14 weekly newspapers, ensuring every deadline is met.
• Work closely with production staff to ensure smooth workflow.
• Maintain accurate records of submissions, communications and publication schedules.
• Respond promptly and professionally to customer inquiries while providing compassionate service during a difficult time.

Qualifications

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Outstanding customer-service skills, including empathy, patience and professionalism.
• Strong command of English grammar, spelling and punctuation.
• Exceptional organizational and time-management abilities.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines simultaneously.
• Comfortable learning and using computerized publishing, billing and office software.
• High level of attention to detail and accuracy.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Proficiency with AI tools and willingness to automate & reinvent processes
• Previous experience in customer service, publishing, newspapers, funeral services, administrative support, or office coordination is preferred but not required.

Desired Personal Qualities

The ideal candidate is:

• Calm under deadline pressure.
• Warm and compassionate when working with grieving families.
• Highly organized and dependable.
• Detail-oriented without losing sight of the larger workflow.
• Comfortable switching rapidly between multiple tasks.
• A strong problem solver who anticipates issues before they become problems.
• Able to balance customer needs with firm publication deadlines.

Physical Requirements

• Prolonged computer and telephone use.
• Ability to sit for extended periods.

Hours and Compensation

• Applicants must be available on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday mornings, when our papers have their deadlines and the bulk of the obituaries are submitted.
• Hours will be determined by the flow of obituaries. No two weeks are ever quite the same.
• Ability to work additional hours occasionally as publication schedules require.
• This position pays $20 per hour.
• This is a temporary position, which may be redefined or eliminated after 90 days.

Weeklys is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We value a diverse and inclusive workplace, and encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply. 

Apply online now!

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