Equipment Rental Manager

Rental Manager

Location: San Jose, CA | Onsite, 5 days/week

Salary: $120K-$140K + Bonus Potential

Employment Type: Full-Time

Travel Requirements: Approximately 15% of the time (roughly 10 trips per year, domestic US only - primarily CA, NV/Vegas, TX)

Relay Recruiting is proud to partner with a well-established, mission-driven communications company in California seeking a Rental Manager to lead the operational engine that powers some of the most high-profile events and facilities in the country.

About the Company

With over 30 years in mission-critical communications, this company has been protecting people, property, and productivity since 1992, and they haven't slowed down. Extensive year-over-year growth and a headcount that has doubled in just a few years puts them firmly in growth mode with no signs of stopping.

Their client roster speaks for itself. 5,000+ organizations nationwide trust them when communication cannot fail from NFL stadiums and major concert venues to leading hospital systems and global hotel brands. As a Motorola Platinum Channel Partner, they deliver a full ecosystem of two-way radio sales, rentals, and service, alongside a growing portfolio in AI video analytics, access control, body-worn cameras, and weapons detection. They aren't just renting radios; they're solving real safety problems at scale.

The culture? Startup energy inside a three-decade business. Fast-moving, all-hands, and high accountability. Where people know each other, collaborate across departments, and genuinely have each other's backs. The mission here isn't marketing language. It's something the team lives every day.

The Opportunity

The Rental Division is the financial engine of this company, representing roughly half of total revenue and an estimated 60–65% of profitability. This is not a supporting role. This is the role. The Rental Manager will own the full operational lifecycle of a $15M+ inventory portfolio, leading a team of 9 (and growing) through the fast-paced, high-stakes world of communications equipment rental for the world's largest events and organizations.

You'll step into a business that has a brand-new ERP and rental management platform that just went live, most SOPs are in place, and the team is ready for strong, grounded leadership. The Director of Sales will be your day-to-day partner, and she has run this division for six years. She knows every corner of this operation and will be invested in your success. If you're looking for a role where your impact is immediate, visible, and meaningful, this is it!

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee all day-to-day operations of the rental division, ensuring efficient execution, profitability, and exceptional customer service across order fulfillment, staging, programming, shipping, deployment, returns, and equipment breakdown.
• Develop, implement, and continuously improve rental processes, procedures, and workflows to support scalability, operational excellence, and risk reduction.
• Maintain ownership of rental inventory strategies including availability, utilization, asset tracking, lifecycle management, and inventory controls across a $15M+ equipment portfolio.
• Serve as a customer-facing leader and primary escalation point, driving timely resolution of issues and building long-term relationships with major brand-name clients.
• Lead, coach, and develop rental team members through performance management, accountability, and professional growth initiatives that support a zero-error culture.
• Establish and monitor departmental KPIs, financial performance, and reporting to drive continuous improvement across revenue, margin, labor efficiency, and inventory utilization.
• Oversee forecasting, resource planning, staffing, and scheduling to meet operational demand across a high-volume, event-driven business.
• Partner cross-functionally with Sales, Operations, Service, Procurement, Logistics, and Finance to deliver seamless execution across all three company divisions.
• Ensure compliance with company policies, safety requirements, contractual obligations, and operational standards while acting as a critical thinker and decisive leader in a fast-paced environment.

What We're Looking For

• 5+ years of progressive leadership experience managing teams in a fast-paced, logistics-heavy, or operations-intensive environment with a track record of building accountable, high-performing teams.
• A learn-it-from-the-ground-up mentality. This role requires someone who is genuinely comfortable starting hands-on shadowing technicians, packing orders, and staging equipment while stepping into the leadership seat.
• Exceptional multitasking and critical thinking skills; you thrive when managing five competing priorities with no margin for slow decisions.
• Customer-facing composure and communication skills to manage relationships with major brand-name clients under pressure, professionally and proactively.
• Strong operational instincts around inventory management, fulfillment workflows, and process improvement. You see inefficiency and fix it.
• Tech proficiency in Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and experience with ERP or inventory management platforms (NetSuite or similar strongly preferred).
• Comfort with the rhythm of an event-driven business. That means evenings and weekends are part of the reality, not the exception. If that kind of pace energizes you, you'll fit right in here.
• Grit. Internal drive. A work ethic that doesn't require supervision. This company rewards people who show up and produce.

Bonus Points If You Have:

• Background in production, live events, concerts, sports, or entertainment.
• Warehouse or supply chain management experience, particularly managing high-volume order fulfillment and large equipment inventories.
• Familiarity with two-way radio, communications technology, or AV equipment rental.
• Experience working on ERP or inventory platform implementations.
• Ability to read and manage to a P&L. 

Compensation and Benefits

• Base salary starting at $120K-$140K + Bonus Potential
• Medical coverage, HMO and PPO options
• Dental, vision, and life insurance
• FSA / HSA
• 401(k) with company match

Relay Recruiting is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other protected status under applicable law.