General Manager - Southampton

Pickerings; Southampton; On-site; GBP 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading hire industry company in Southampton seeks an experienced leader to manage depot operations. Responsibilities include overseeing a diverse team, ensuring efficiency, and supporting a relocation to Alton by 2026. Ideal candidates should have management experience in hire or construction and be proactive in improving operations. Competitive salary, company car, and benefits offered.

Benefits

Competitive salary and bonus scheme

Fully expensed company car

Pension and life assurance

33 days holiday

Qualifications

• Proven management experience within hire, construction, or related industry.
• Strong leadership and people management skills.
• Experience in budgeting and performance management.
• Excellent communication and customer relationship skills.
• Proactive, hands-on approach and commitment to continuous improvement.
• Flexibility during the depot’s relocation.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop depot operations, ensuring efficiency and compliance.
• Manage a diverse team, fostering a culture of safety and teamwork.
• Oversee customer service, logistics, maintenance, and hire operations.
• Work closely with head office teams to deliver commercial targets.
• Identify opportunities to grow the business.
• Ensure health, safety, and environmental standards are maintained.
• Support the successful relocation of the depot.

Skills

Management experience

Leadership skills

Communication skills

Customer relationship management

Commercial awareness

Continuous improvement

Job description

Overview

Location: Southampton (relocating to Alton, Hampshire in late 2026 / early 2027)

Salary: Competitive + Company Car + Bonus

Pickerings Hire is one of the UK’s leading providers of modular buildings and site accommodation. With a proud history of excellence, safety, and service, we support clients across construction and education. Our success is built on our people and we’re looking for a dynamic leader to join our team at our Southampton depot. The Southampton depot is planned to relocate to Alton, Hampshire towards the end of 2026 or early 2027. The successful candidate will play a key role in supporting and managing this transition.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop depot operations, ensuring efficiency, profitability and compliance.
• Manage a diverse team, fostering a culture of safety, accountability and teamwork.
• Oversee customer service, logistics, maintenance and hire operations.
• Work closely with head office teams to deliver commercial targets.
• Identify opportunities to grow the business and improve customer experience.
• Ensure health, safety, and environmental standards are always maintained.
• Support the successful relocation of the depot to its new Alton site.

Qualifications

• Proven management experience within hire, construction, or a related industry.
• Strong leadership and people management skills.
• Commercially minded with experience in budgeting and performance management.
• Excellent communication and customer relationship skills.
• A proactive, hands-on approach and commitment to continuous improvement.
• Flexibility and readiness to manage operations through the depot’s relocation period.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and bonus scheme
• Fully expensed company car
• Pension and life assurance
• 33 days holiday (inclusive of public holidays and a festive closure)

If you’re an experienced, motivated leader ready to make a real impact at a leading name in the hire industry and help shape the next chapter of our depot’s success we’d love to hear from you.