Job Description:

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 customer journey while overseeing vehicle bookings, handovers, returns, inspections, preparation, and all associated rental documentation.

• Maximise fleet utilisation and availability by effectively managing resources, vehicle maintenance, compliance, roadworthiness, and working closely with the workshop team to minimise downtime and coordinate repairs.

• Drive rental revenue and profitability by developing new business opportunities, building strong relationships with retail, SME, corporate, and key account customers, and promoting rental services through effective pricing and commercial strategies.

• Deliver exceptional customer service by resolving customer queries and complaints, monitoring departmental performance, maintaining accurate records, and ensuring compliance with 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