Vehicle Rental Manager - Volkswagen Van Centre Manchester
Competitive salary of £35,000 - £40,000, depending on experience, plus bonus
Create experiences you can be proud of.
As a Van Centre Rental Manager, you will be responsible for the day-to-day operation and growth of the Volkswagen Van Rental business. You will ensure the fleet is managed efficiently, maximise vehicle utilisation and profitability, deliver exceptional customer service, and develop strong relationships with local businesses and retail customers.
Working closely with the sales, service and fleet teams, you will drive rental performance while ensuring all vehicles are maintained to Volkswagen standards and compliant with company and legal requirements.
What we can offer you
Enjoy 33 days of annual leave (including bank holidays) to rest and recharge
Save money every day with our exclusive retail discounts
Drive a great deal with discounts on new and used cars, plus servicing offers
Plan for the years ahead with our company pension scheme
Balance home and work with our industry-leading family-friendly policies designed to help you spend more time with the people that matter
Commute for less with our cycle-to-work scheme
Prioritise your wellbeing with dedicated support for you and your family
24/7 access to healthcare professionals, ensuring you get the expert advice you need quickly and easily
Make a difference with a paid day to volunteer in your community
Invest in your future with our company share purchase plan
Earn financial rewards when you refer a friend to join the team
Keep learning and growing with our training and development opportunities for everyone.
Life assurance with the option to increase cover
We’re open to flexible working options – just ask
What you’ll do day to day
Manage the day-to-day operation of the Van Rental department, ensuring a smooth and efficient customer experience.
Maximise fleet utilisation and vehicle availability through effective booking and resource management.
Oversee all vehicle handovers, returns, inspections, preparation, and rental documentation to ensure compliance and accuracy.
Manage the rental fleet lifecycle, ensuring vehicles are maintained, roadworthy, compliant, and available for hire.
Work closely with the workshop team to minimise vehicle downtime and effectively manage vehicle damage and repair processes.
Develop new business opportunities and build strong relationships with retail, SME, corporate, and key account customers.
Drive rental revenue and profitability by achieving department targets, managing pricing strategies, and promoting rental services.
Deliver exceptional customer service, resolving queries and complaints promptly while maintaining high levels of customer satisfaction and loyalty.
Monitor departmental performance, maintain accurate records, and ensure compliance with all company policies, legal requirements, and health and safety standards.
Helpful skills and qualifications
Don’t worry about ticking off every single skill here if you care about delivering great experiences as much as we do, we want to hear from you.
Minimum 3 years' experience within van rental, fleet management, commercial vehicles, or the wider automotive industry.
Proven experience managing fleet operations, maximising vehicle utilisation, and driving commercial performance.
Strong business development and account management skills, with the ability to build and maintain customer relationships.
Excellent customer service, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
Good understanding of rental compliance, vehicle legislation, and health & safety requirements.
Strong organisational and administrative skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
Proficient in Microsoft Office and fleet management systems, with experience monitoring performance and reporting on KPIs.
Proactive, commercially driven, and results-focused, with strong problem-solving abilities and attention to detail.
Full UK Driving Licence essential; knowledge of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles would be advantageous.
We value diversity and believe it strengthens our team. If you don’t meet every requirement listed but are enthusiastic about this role and eager to learn, we encourage you to apply.
Be part of something big
Group 1 Automotive is on an exciting growth journey. We are home to over 7000 colleagues dedicated to providing exceptional customer service, with 114 dealerships in the UK, representing 21 brands at the forefront of automotive retail.
But you don’t need to love cars to work with us - just need to share our mission to create outstanding and trusted experiences for our customers, our partners, and our people.
Our Values
At Group 1 Automotive we pride ourselves on our five core values that are incorporated in all we that do.
Respect - Integrity - Transparency - Teamwork – Professionalism
These are the principles that every member of our team lives by, whether that be business functions, customer interactions, how we interact with the local community and even how we view each
Neutral 2–4 sentence summary of what working at this company is like, drawn from public reviews and press coverage. Tone, collaboration style, pace, benefits highlights.
£45,000 – £60,000 (Glassdoor, Levels.fyi, 2025)
