Manager of Facilities and Continuous Improvement in Sonoma, California at Bright Event Rentals LLC

**Position can be based in any of our locations: Sonoma, San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, Thousand Oaks, Palm Springs, Phoenix, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, or Austin. This is an office-based position, not remote**

The Bright Experience

From weddings and celebrations to corporate gatherings and major sporting productions, our team works behind the scenes to bring events to life. We take pride in delivering exceptional experiences, embracing creativity, and making every event run seamlessly.

We believe extraordinary events start with extraordinary people. If you take pride in your work, enjoy collaborating with a supportive team, and want to be part of something bigger, you’ll feel at home here.

About the Job

The Manager of Facilities & Continuous Improvement owns the strategy, execution, and ongoing performance of the company's physical footprint across three regions (Texas, Northern California, and Southern California). This role goes well beyond standing up new locations — it has full ownership of facilities on an ongoing basis, including major warehouse equipment, facility maintenance and vendor contracts (waste/trash, dish and wash line services, chemical and sanitation partners, and general maintenance), exterior and interior signage, and all required permitting with local, state, and federal agencies. The role also negotiates lease terms, designs and stands up new locations for operational efficiency, and applies Lean methodology to drive continuous improvement across warehouse, yard, and operational workflows. This is a hybrid strategic/hands-on role: part facilities operator, part Lean practitioner, responsible for ensuring our facilities are cost-effective, well-maintained, compliant, and continuously improving in how they operate.

What You’ll Do

Facilities Strategy & Lease Management

• Own the company's facilities strategy across all regions, evaluating lease/rent decisions using total cost of occupancy, growth projections, and operational needs
• Lead site selection for new or relocated facilities, partnering with Regional Presidents and Finance on business case development
• Negotiate lease terms and vendor/landlord contracts, working with legal and finance counterparts as needed
• Maintain a lease portfolio view (lease expirations, renewal options, market comparables) to proactively manage timing and leverage in negotiations
• Manage relationships with brokers, landlords, contractors, and municipal permitting bodies

Facility Layout & Startup

• Design efficient layouts for new and renovated facilities (warehouse flow, yard staging, wash/repair bays, office space) in partnership with Operations leadership
• Lead facility buildouts and openings end-to-end: scope, budget, timeline, contractor management, and go-live readiness
• Establish standard operating procedures for new sites so they reach full operational efficiency quickly post-launch
• Partner with Operations Managers and Warehouse Managers to validate that layouts support safe, efficient material and equipment flow

Ongoing Facilities Management & Vendor Contracts

• Own the ongoing management and lifecycle of major warehouse equipment (racking, dock equipment, wash/repair systems, and similar assets) across all sites
• Manage vendor relationships and contracts for facility services, including trash/waste removal, dish and wash line service, and chemical/sanitation partners
• Own facility maintenance contracts and vendor performance across all locations, ensuring service levels and cost-effectiveness
• Serve as the escalation point for facility maintenance issues, coordinating repairs and preventive maintenance schedules
• Own exterior signage across all locations, and partner with brand/marketing on interior signage needs

Permitting & Regulatory Compliance

• Lead all facility-related permitting with local, state, and federal agencies, including high-pile storage/racking permits, propane permits, and other required permits
• Maintain permit compliance and renewal tracking across all sites
• Partner with legal, EHS, and municipal officials to ensure facilities meet code, fire, and safety requirements

Continuous Improvement (Lean)

• Apply Lean tools (5S, value stream mapping, kaizen events, standard work) to identify and eliminate waste in existing facility and operational workflows
• Lead or facilitate continuous improvement initiatives at existing sites, prioritizing based on impact to cost, throughput, and labor efficiency
• Build repeatable CI frameworks and playbooks that regional teams can sustain without ongoing central intervention
• Train and coach site-level managers and staff on Lean principles to build a durable improvement culture
• Track and report on CI initiative outcomes (cost savings, productivity gains, cycle time reduction) to leadership

Cross-Functional Partnership

• Serve as the primary point of contact for facilities-related questions across regions
• Partner with Finance on capital planning and budget forecasting for facilities projects
• Coordinate with EHS/safety functions to ensure facility designs and workflows meet safety standards
• Provide input into broader Operational Excellence initiatives as the function matures

What Makes Us Special

Compensation and Benefits

• Competitive pay
• Paid time off and company holidays
• Comprehensive benefits package including:
  • Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
  • Company-Paid Basic Life and AD&D Insurance
  • Short-Term and Long-Term Disability
  • Telehealth and Wellness programs
  • Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
  • Employee Assistance Program
  • 401(k) with employer matching

Our Culture & Work

• A team that has your back: We work across sales, warehouse, logistics, and operations to make every event successful. When challenges come up, our teams step in and support each other.
• Work that creates real moments: Every event represents something meaningful—a wedding, a celebration, a milestone, or a major gathering. Our work helps create experiences people remember for years.
• Pride in craft and reliability: We deliver consistently and professionally. Our team cares about the details, the quality of our products, and the experience we provide.
• Opportunities to grow: As we continue to expand, we invest in development, training, and career growth across roles, departments, and locations.
• Innovation and creativity: We encourage fresh ideas and empower our teams to find new ways to deliver exceptional events.
• Fun with impact: We work hard, support each other, and take pride in being part of something meaningful.

What You Bring

Required:

• 5+ years of experience in facilities management or operations, including direct experience negotiating lease agreements and vendor/service contracts
• Demonstrated Lean/Continuous Improvement experience (Lean certification, Six Sigma, or equivalent hands-on kaizen/5S facilitation experience)
• Experience managing facility buildouts or relocations from planning through go-live
• Experience navigating facility-related permitting and regulatory requirements (e.g., high-pile storage, propane, local/state/federal codes)
• Strong financial acumen — comfortable building lease and vendor cost business cases and operating budgets
• Willingness to travel regularly across regions (Northeast, Texas, NorCal, SoCal)

Preferred:

• Experience in warehouse, distribution, industrial, or rental/logistics environments
• Formal Lean Six Sigma certification (Green Belt or higher)
• Experience working within a multi-site, multi-brand or PE-backed organization
• Experience managing multi-site vendor contracts for waste, sanitation, and facility maintenance services
• Familiarity with construction/buildout project management (GC coordination, permitting, timelines)