Zenith Vehicles
Head of Rental - 9 Month Secondment
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At Zenith
We're the UK's leading independent leasing, fleet management, and vehicle outsourcing business. Managing almost 170,000 vehicles and partnering with some of the UK's most recognisable brands, we help organisations keep their people moving through smarter, more sustainable mobility solutions.
We're now looking for a commercially minded Head of Rental to lead our Rental business during a 9-month maternity cover period.
This is a rare opportunity to take ownership of a substantial standalone business within Zenith, with full responsibility for commercial performance, customer growth, supplier strategy, and operational delivery. You'll inherit a high-performing team and play a key role in shaping the next stage of the Rental business while delivering immediate impact.
What's The Role
Our Rental business plays a critical role in supporting customers with flexible mobility solutions, from company car waiting periods and replacement vehicles through to short and long-term fleet requirements.
Working with a nationwide network of supplier partners, we provide access to more than 300,000 vehicles across the UK and manage circa 70,000 rental bookings annually, delivering market-leading service to some of the country's largest corporate fleets.
As Head of Rental, you'll lead a £10m+ EBITDAR business, a team of 27 colleagues, and a customer portfolio that spans many of Zenith's largest and most strategically important accounts.
This role is about far more than operational management. We're looking for someone who can drive growth, strengthen customer relationships, develop our proposition, and lead the business commercially.
What You'll Be Doing
- Owning and delivering the Rental business strategy, with accountability for EBITDA, revenue, rental day, and margin performance.
- Driving profitable growth through customer retention, account development, cross-sell opportunities, and new business conversion.
- Leading, developing, and inspiring a team of 27 colleagues through 9 direct reports across Customer Relationship Management, Major Accounts, Customer Service, Reservations, MI, and Operations.
- Acting as executive sponsor for Zenith's largest rental customers, building senior stakeholder relationships, and supporting long-term retention and growth.
- Developing customer relationship strategies across a portfolio of more than 300 active accounts.
- Supporting the conversion of rental opportunities generated through Zenith's wider corporate sales channels.
- Developing and enhancing the Rental proposition, identifying opportunities for new products, services, and growth initiatives.
- Managing relationships with key rental suppliers, ensuring competitive pricing, service excellence, and consistent vehicle availability.
- Leading supplier negotiations, allocation strategies, and commercial partnerships to optimise customer outcomes and profitability.
- Owning tender responses, contract negotiations, customer implementations, and commercial reviews.
- Ensuring alignment between sales, account management, operations, and customer experience teams.
- Driving continuous improvement through technology, automation, AI, and process optimisation initiatives.
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What You Can Bring
- Experience leading a business unit, function, or department with responsibility for both commercial and operational performance.
- A strong understanding of the rental, leasing, fleet management, or wider mobility sector.
- Experience leading sales, customer relationship management, or account management teams.
- Demonstrable P&L, revenue, EBITDA, or budget accountability.
- A track record of delivering growth through customer retention, business development, and strategic account management.
- Experience developing and implementing commercial and growth strategies.
- Strong customer relationship management skills, including engagement with senior decision-makers and executive stakeholders.
- Experience managing tender processes, contract negotiations, and customer implementations.
- The ability to balance customer needs, supplier relationships, and commercial performance.
- Proven people leadership experience with a track record of building high-performing, engaged teams.
- Excellent communication, influencing, and stakeholder management skills.
- Strong commercial awareness supported by a data-driven approach to decision-making.
- A continuous improvement mindset with an interest in innovation, technology, and new ways of working.
What's In It For You
- Competitive salary from £77,000k
- Annual bonus
- Pension - 6.25% employer contribution
- 24 days annual leave & 1 day for your birthday plus bank holidays
- The option to buy or sell holidays (+5 or -3)
- Individual Private Medical Insurance
- Flexible benefits where employee can opt into additional benefits such as PMI for your family, dental, cycle to work scheme, critical illness cover, and more
- Financial Benefits: Tech Scheme, Car Sacrifice Scheme, Cycle to Work Scheme, Season Ticket Loans, AA breakdown cover
- Perks at Work – save money on everyday essentials with access to a shopping discounts site.
- Support for your wellbeing – access to company GP, Employee Assistance Programme, Pensions advice, Funded HRT Treatment, and Mental Health First Aiders
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Why Zenith?
- Our customers trust us – partnering with some of the UK's largest and most recognisable brands.
- Our people stay with us – we've built a collaborative, supportive culture where people are empowered to make an impact.
- We're ambitious – backed by recent recapitalisation, major investment, a clear strategy for long-term growth, and a thriving fleet of almost 170,000 vehicles.
- We're award-winning – including Leasing Company of the Year (Fleet News 2026), Large Business of the Year and Diversity & Inclusion Award winners at the Yorkshire Post Excellence in Business Awards, and Wellbeing Award winners at Fleet News 2025.
- We're leading the transition to sustainable mobility – with over 41% of our fleet now Battery Electric Vehicles and a long-standing commitment to sustainability.
- We're invested in your future – offering clear development opportunities, structured career pathways, and the chance to build a long-term career with a market leader.
If you're looking to join a successful, ambitious business where you'll have the freedom to win, the support to succeed, and the opportunity to accelerate your career, we'd love to hear from you!
Sound Like the Right Opportunity for You? Apply Now!
We want to positively encourage differences in Zenith and believe it is critical to our success as a company. Zenith is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace that seeks to recruit, develop, and retain the most talented people from a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. We therefore encourage applications from all genders, races, religions, ages, and sexual orientations, as well as parents, veterans, people living with disabilities, and any other groups that could bring diverse perspectives to our business.
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