Overview
Reference
0000027808 Salary
£55,000 - £55,000/annum Job Location
- United Kingdom -- England -- East Midlands -- Northamptonshire -- Kettering Job Type
Permanent Posted
Wednesday, December 10, 2025
National Hire Manager – UK-Wide - Leadership Role
Are you a dynamic hire operations leader looking to shape and grow a nationwide equipment hire division? This is a rare opportunity to take on a senior leadership role within a rapidly expanding materials handling and equipment solutions business. You’ll be at the forefront of driving operational excellence, commercial performance, and strategic growth across multiple UK sites.
The Opportunity
As National Hire Manager, you will lead the short-term hire operations across several business units, managing a team of Hire Controllers and ensuring seamless delivery of equipment hire services across the UK. This is a newly created, high-impact role ideal for someone who thrives in a fast-paced environment and enjoys building teams, processes, and strategy from the ground up.
What You’ll Be Doing
Operational Leadership
1. Lead, develop, and support a nationwide team of Hire Controllers.
2. Oversee all hire processes including order handling, allocation, coordination with service teams, and contract accuracy.
3. Drive consistent processes, KPIs, and standards across all locations.
4. Ensure compliance with safety, operational, and procedural requirements.
Customer Service & Relationship Management
5. Build a strong customer-first culture across the hire function.
6. Resolve escalations professionally and promptly.
7. Develop relationships with key accounts and internal teams to deliver seamless service.
Commercial & Financial Management
8. Own and manage the Hire Division P&L.
9. Drive revenue, manage costs, and improve margins.
10. Assess fleet utilisation, pricing, and financial performance to maximise commercial outcomes.
11. Forecast hire revenue, operational costs, and fleet investment.
Fleet Strategy & Growth
12. Create a long-term fleet strategy aligned to market demand and innovation.
13. Identify opportunities to expand and optimise the fleet.
14. Ensure the fleet operates to high compliance, safety, and quality standards.
Sales & Business Development
15. Grow the national hire customer base through close collaboration with sales and marketing.
16. Identify new markets, customer segments, and strategic partnerships.
17. Support targeted campaigns to boost hire activity and market presence.
Strategy & Continuous Improvement
18. Shape and deliver a long-term hire strategy focused on operational excellence and profit growth.
19. Lead continuous improvement initiatives to enhance systems, processes, and technology.
20. Monitor industry trends to keep the hire business competitive and innovative.
What You’ll Bring
Essential:
21. Leadership experience within a hire, rental, or equipment-led operation (e.g., forklifts, plant, access, MHE).
22. Strong commercial skills with P&L, budgeting, pricing, and margin optimisation experience.
23. Ability to lead multi-site or remote teams.
24. Excellent communication, organisation, and customer service capability.
25. Analytical mindset with the ability to drive strategic improvements.
Desirable:
26. Experience in materials handling or forklift operations.
27. Knowledge of hire management systems (e.g., Protean).
Personal Attributes:
28. Strategic thinker with a growth mindset.
29. Strong leadership presence with the ability to motivate and inspire.
30. Customer-focused and results-driven.
31. Confident making data-led decisions.
32. Collaborative across departments and regions.
Key Success Metrics
33. Hire revenue and margin growth
34. Fleet utilisation and ROI
35. Customer satisfaction and retention
36. Operational accuracy and efficiency
37. Expansion of the hire customer base
38. Development and performance of hire teams
What’s in It for You?
39. Competitive salary
40. 24 days holiday + 8 statutory days
41. Statutory pension
42. A strong commitment to personal development and career progression
43. Bi-annual company socials
44. Weekly group fitness sessions
INDKTT