Sales Manager Job Description: Top Duties and Qualifications

A sales manager manages an organisation’s entire sales process. They are responsible for supervising sales plans and the performance of an organisation to achieve the expected growth. Their duties include developing sales strategies, evaluating the effectiveness of sales teams across various locations, and overseeing team members’ performance.

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Sales Manager Duties And Responsibilities

A sales manager typically functions as the head of the sales department to manage organisational sales at various levels. They create strategic plans to extend the sales reach of the organisation and execute the plans to grow the customer base. Setting up sales quotas for sales teams and ensuring that the quota is met or exceeded is the responsibility of a sales manager. They monitor the output of sales representatives and guide the representatives to achieve sales allocations for optimal growth. Figuring out the gaps between teams and providing them with the necessary resources to meet those gaps is also the duty of a sales manager. Other responsibilities of a sales manager may include:

  • Analysing sales trends across the industry to develop effective strategies and optimise the current ones
  • Implementing the company’s sales policies at the field level and enforcing disciplinary actions
  • Hiring and training sales teams in different regions to keep up with sales goals
  • Collaborating with other teams, such as marketing, to collect and nurture leads 
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Sales Manager Job Description Examples:

What Does A Sales Manager Do?

A sales manager liaises between the field sales team and the top management to collect and relay sales reports from and to relevant teams. They also reach potential clients to understand their needs and explore new sales opportunities. Providing sales support to teams is a typical task for sales managers. Additionally, they monitor KPIs and deliver the required recognition to motivate the sales team. To understand market trends, the sales manager frequently travels to all sales territories or regions within the company. They also attend professional workshops or other events to grow their networks. Additionally, analysing the weaknesses of teams and guiding the team to develop additional skills falls under the sales manager’s duty list.

Sales Manager Skills And Qualifications

Result-oriented, analytical thinkers and professionals with leadership skills make good sales managers. They should possess excellent sales skills to develop and share a clear understanding of the sales process. Since developing the ideal sales team includes people skills and recruitment skills, they should have strong communication skills. A sales manager must have good organisational skills to lead the sales workforce and draw the best out of them. Additionally, having thorough market knowledge is a must for a promising sales manager. Other skills and qualifications of a sales manager may include the following:

  • Strong communication skills, both verbal and written
  • Proficient with numbers to analyse sales data and produce reports
  • Good understanding of sales software and the industry’s best practises
  • Ability to travel across sales territories or regions frequently
  • Possess leadership and public speaking skills in order to motivate the workforce

Sales Manager Experience Requirements

Most companies require at least 3–5 years of experience in the position of sales manager, sales executive, or a similar field. The experience requirement may be flexible for candidates with a proven track record of outstanding sales performance.

Sales Manager Education And Training Requirements

At least a bachelor’s degree in business administration, marketing, or a related field is required for the Sales Manager position. A Master’s degree in the above areas is not a mandate, but can be preferred. Proficiency certificates in sales and CRM tools are also required in some cases. Successfully onboarded candidates typically need to go through orientations and regular sales training during the service period.

Sales Manager Salary Expectations

According to Indeed Salaries, the average salary for a sales manager in India is ₹28,423 per month. Remember, this is the average base salary. So, the individual salary will vary depending on the educational qualifications, experience, certifications, skills, companies, and locations.

Job Description Samples For Similar Positions

If your organisation is not exactly looking for a sales manager, some similar job descriptions may include:

Sales Manager Job Description FAQs

What Is A Sales Manager’s Most Important Skill?

A sales manager should efficiently communicate with team members and clients to ensure there is no gap in the demand and supply processes. Furthermore, they should also come up with effective plans to achieve sales growth and possess strong analytical skills to solve problems as and when they arise. 

What Is The Difference Between A Sales Manager And A Sales Executive?

A sales manager is responsible for managing internal sales affairs within the department. On the other hand, sales executives usually handle the external portion of the sales process. They could, nevertheless, occasionally need to work together.

What Makes a Good Sales Manager Job Description?

A good sales manager’s job description must clearly mention all the necessary skills and qualifications. It should also clearly describe the duties and responsibilities a suitable candidate needs to handle after onboarding. Education and experience requirements should also be noted in the job description. Additionally, providing a synopsis of the organisation’s goals will help the candidates to determine whether they align with them.

Job Description Examples

Need help writing a job description for a specific role? Use these job description examples to create your next great job posting. Or if you’re ready to hire, post your job on Indeed.

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