National Hire Manager - UK Wide

Interaction Recruitment; England; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading hire solutions company is seeking a National Hire Manager to lead short-term hire operations across the UK. The successful candidate will manage a team of Hire Controllers and be responsible for driving revenue and ensuring operational excellence. Key qualifications include leadership experience in hire or equipment operations and strong commercial skills, including P&L management. This role offers competitive pay and opportunities for professional development.

Benefits

Competitive salary

24 days holiday + 8 statutory days

Statutory pension

Commitment to personal development and career progression

Bi-annual company socials

Weekly group fitness sessions

Qualifications

• Proven leadership experience in hire or equipment operations.
• Ability to lead multi-site or remote teams effectively.
• Strong analytical skills to drive strategic improvements.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the nationwide team of Hire Controllers.
• Drive revenue and manage costs to improve margins.
• Shape and deliver a long-term hire strategy.

Skills

Leadership experience within a hire, rental, or equipment-led operation

Strong commercial skills with P&L management

Excellent communication and customer service skills

Analytical mindset

Tools

Hire management systems (e.g., Protean)

Job description

National Hire Manager - UK-Wide - Leadership Role

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 newly created, high‑impact role is 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

• Lead, develop, and support a nationwide team of Hire Controllers.
• Oversee all hire processes including order handling, allocation, coordination with service teams, and contract accuracy.
• Drive consistent processes, KPIs, and standards across all locations.
• Ensure compliance with safety, operational, and procedural requirements.

Customer Service & Relationship Management

• Build a strong customer‑first culture across the hire function.
• Resolve escalations professionally and promptly.
• Develop relationships with key accounts and internal teams to deliver seamless service.

Commercial & Financial Management

• Own and manage the Hire Division P&L.
• Drive revenue, manage costs, and improve margins.
• Assess fleet utilisation, pricing, and financial performance to maximise commercial outcomes.
• Forecast hire revenue, operational costs, and fleet investment.

Fleet Strategy & Growth

• Create a long‑term fleet strategy aligned to market demand and innovation.
• Identify opportunities to expand and optimise the fleet.
• Ensure the fleet operates to high compliance, safety, and quality standards.

Sales & Business Development

• Grow the national hire customer base through close collaboration with sales and marketing.
• Identify new markets, customer segments, and strategic partnerships.
• Support targeted campaigns to boost hire activity and market presence.

Strategy & Continuous Improvement

• Shape and deliver a long‑term hire strategy focused on operational excellence and profit growth.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives to enhance systems, processes, and technology.
• Monitor industry trends to keep the hire business competitive and innovative.

What You’ll Bring

Essential

• Leadership experience within a hire, rental, or equipment‑led operation (e.g., forklifts, plant, access, MHE).
• Strong commercial skills with P&L, budgeting, pricing, and margin optimisation experience.
• Ability to lead multi‑site or remote teams.
• Excellent communication, organisation, and customer service capability.
• Analytical mindset with the ability to drive strategic improvements.

Desirable

• Experience in materials handling or forklift operations.
• Knowledge of hire management systems (e.g., Protean).

Personal Attributes

• Strategic thinker with a growth mindset.
• Strong leadership presence with the ability to motivate and inspire.
• Customer‑focused and results‑driven.
• Confident making data‑led decisions.
• Collaborative across departments and regions.

Key Success Metrics

• Hire revenue and margin growth
• Fleet utilisation and ROI
• Customer satisfaction and retention
• Operational accuracy and efficiency
• Expansion of the hire customer base
• Development and performance of hire teams

What’s in It for You?

• Competitive salary
• 24 days holiday + 8 statutory days
• Statutory pension
• A strong commitment to personal development and career progression
• Bi‑annual company socials
• Weekly group fitness sessions