National Audio Product Lead & Standards

Rentex Audio Visual & Computer Rentals; Bensenville (IL); On-site; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Rentex Audio Visual & Computer Rentals is seeking a National Product Manager (Audio) to own the audio product strategy, define QC standards, and lead the Audio Product Coordinators. You will align with Sales, Marketing, Operations, and leadership to drive category-wide improvements and ensure show-ready gear.

The role requires deep expertise in professional audio, vendor management, and capital planning, with a track record of building scalable processes and teams that deliver reliable,

Qualifications

• 5–7+ years in live events/audio rental with a focus on professional audio.
• Experience making purchasing/vendor decisions and setting technical standards.
• Advanced troubleshooting across live sound: digital consoles, DSP, networked audio (Dante), wireless mics and RF coordination, intercom, and loudspeaker systems.

Responsibilities

• Own the audio roadmap: identify, evaluate, and select consoles, DSP, loudspeaker systems, wireless/RF, intercom, playback, networked audio, cabling, and accessories.
• Build the business case (TCO, utilization, market trends) and bring recommendations to leadership for capital planning and process improvements.
• Manage purchases and guide Purchasing, Inventory, and Operations on timelines and integration plans for new gear.
• Source new vendors, negotiate with existing ones, and manage service partner and RMA relationships so parts, pricing, and support are never the bottleneck.
• Set clear expectations for warranty and post-warranty repairs with vendors and internal teams.
• Own the national damaged equipment pipeline: set priorities with order requirements in mind and get assets back into circulation fast.
• Own QC standards and packaging and handling standards for every Audio SKU.
• Keep advanced spares and plans in place for high-risk SKUs; manage firmware baselines and obsolescence.
• Make sure new inventory is fully onboarded (asset IDs, kits, barcodes, photos, documentation, substitutions, accessories) before its first show.
• Lead the Audio Product Coordinator team: set priorities, coach, develop, and make sure they are working shoulder-to-shoulder with operations and QC teams.
• Own the training curriculum and lead sessions for branch QC managers, leads, and technicians on setup, signal flow, RF coordination, and common gotchas.
• Be the audio subject matter expert for Sales and Operations and the escalation point for the 24/7 support system, including after-hours help for customers when needed.
• Provide curated, accurate product information to Sales and Marketing.
• Track utilization, failure modes, repair turnaround, and repair costs, and turn that into decisions.

Skills

Live events audio

Purchasing decisions

Technical standards

Repair workflow management

Project management

Tools

Dante networking

RF coordination

Vendor management tools

QC documentation tools

Job description

Rentex Audio Visual & Computer Rentals is seeking a National Product Manager (Audio) to own the audio product strategy, define QC standards, and lead the Audio Product Coordinators. You will align with Sales, Marketing, Operations, and leadership to drive category-wide improvements and ensure show-ready gear.

The role requires deep expertise in professional audio, vendor management, and capital planning, with a track record of building scalable processes and teams that deliver reliable,