Director of Bereavement & Healing

Position Overview:

The Director of Bereavement & Healing leads SBMH’s efforts in supporting families who have lost a child to pediatric cancer through our Fallen Heroes Program and Dancing For Heroes Program. This role requires a compassionate, detail-oriented individual who can provide thoughtful communication, meaningful opportunities for remembrance, and ongoing emotional support. The Director ensures families continue to feel seen, honored, and connected to the SBMH community.

Key Responsibilities:

• Family Communication & Support
  • Serve as the primary point of contact for bereaved families
  • Communicate with empathy and care, offering continued connection and support
  • Respect each family’s preferences, boundaries, and timing when engaging
• Memorial Recognition & Storytelling
  • Notify the marketing team when and how to share a spotlight honoring a child who has passed
  • Ensure all content is accurate, respectful, and approved by the family when appropriate
  • Help preserve each child’s story in a way that aligns with SBMH’s mission
• Dancing for Heroes Program Involvement
  • Oversee the bereavement-related program elements of Dancing for Heroes
  • Offer families the opportunity to:
    • Participate in the event by dancing in honor of their child
    • Share their story or speak about their journey, if they feel comfortable
  • Coordinate closely with event leadership to ensure these moments are handled with care and intention
• Data & Record Management
  • Maintain and regularly update the “Fallen Heroes” (deceased) spreadsheet
  • Ensure all records are accurate, organized, and handled with sensitivity and confidentiality
• Internal Coordination
  • Work closely with the Family Support, Events, and Marketing teams to ensure cohesive communication and support
  • Provide guidance to team members on appropriate language, timing, and approach when working with bereaved families

Commitment Expectations:

This role involves emotionally sensitive work and requires a high level of compassion, discretion, and reliability. The Director of Bereavement & Healing must be responsive, respectful, and committed to honoring each family’s experience while maintaining strong internal organization and follow-through.

Ideal Candidate:

• Deeply compassionate and empathetic, with the ability to navigate sensitive conversations
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal
• Highly organized and detail-oriented
• Able to handle confidential and emotional information with care
• Comfortable coordinating across multiple teams
• Passionate about honoring and supporting families impacted by pediatric cancer