Sales Manager Job Description

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The sales department is the revenue engine of a company. A sales manager job description usually includes building and leading a team of salespeople to help drive revenue. Sales managers must motivate their teams to generate leads, build client relationships, set targets to hit or exceed revenue forecasts, and ultimately meet customer needs. The most successful candidates develop a thorough understanding of the products and services they sell, are masters at relationship building, and are able to win clients, customers, and profits.

Create a successful sales manager job description to help source and hire the ideal candidates for the role. You can use the template below and tailor it to your individual needs.

Your company needs a thorough sales manager job description to find the right person for the job. An effective post is detailed, concise, and engaging. It provides an introduction to your company and the open position. Candidates should gain a clear understanding of the sales manager role and be able to determine whether their qualifications make them a good potential employee.

Craft brief lists of qualifications, objectives, and responsibilities using bullet points. Be sure the final draft aligns with your company’s expectations and is easy to read and digest.

Sample sales manager job description

At [Company X], the sales team is the engine that drives the global consumer reach of our packaging solutions. We’re seeking a qualified sales manager who can help keep this engine running with their own sales skills as well as leadership of a team of driven sales representatives. The ideal sales manager has deep experience with the entire sales process, excelling at lead generation, relationship building, and deal closing. We’re looking for a quick learner who has strong negotiating skills — someone with a successful track record who can inspire the same performance in others. The role demands a leader who has a sharp mind and an ability to coach, advise, motivate, or replace sales representatives while building and maintaining a high-performance team.

Objectives of this role

Represent the company effectively with comprehensive knowledge of our offerings
Research consumer needs and identify how our solutions address them
Hire, train, motivate, and advise a team of sales representatives
Achieve company objectives by planning thoroughly, setting sales goals, analyzing performance data, and making forecasts
Develop skills continuously for hiring, training, and leading team members, and ensure that they're using effective sales tactics to meet revenue objectives
Generate leads, and establish and nurture client relationships

Responsibilities

Create and execute a strategic sales plan that expands our customer base and extends the company's global reach
Meet with potential clients and grow long-lasting relationships that address their needs
Recruit sales representatives, set objectives, train and coach them, and monitor their performance
Identify knowledge gaps within the team and develop plans for filling them
Ensure that company quotas are met by holding daily check-ins with sales team to set objectives and monitor progress
Manage the month-end and year-end close processes

Required skills and qualifications

Five or more years of experience in managing sales in a corporate setting
Proven record of success with the entire sales process, from planning to closing
Excellent communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills
Superb leadership ability
Ability to travel at least 20% of the time

Preferred skills and qualifications

Motivational speaking experience
Proven success rate at levels above sales quota

What does a sales manager do?

How to write a sales manager job description