Sales Manager Job Description: Qualifications and Responsibilities

How to Write a Sales Manager Job Description

To hire top sales professionals, recruiters should prioritize crafting an effective Sales Manager Job Description as the initial step. A competitive job description should focus on the growth opportunity for a Sales Manager, including the chance to lead high-performing teams, exceed targets, and receive generous compensation.

What is a Sales Manager / What does a Sales Manager do?

A Sales Manager provides strategic direction and leads the sales team in achieving target revenues. This includes setting ambitious yet realistic quotas, developing sound territory plans, and optimising pipelines. On top of client-facing responsibilities, they also perform data analysis to understand trends in demand and collaborate with the marketing and product teams to respond accordingly.

The importance of a good Sales Manager Job Description

Many companies understand the value of highly competent sales professionals, so your Sales Manager Job Description must be powerful to attract talent. Highlight parts that would make your job description stand out, including opportunities to create a meaningful impact, professional development programs, and compensation packages.

Sales Manager Job Description Template

‍About the role and the team:‍

This position covers territory management, pipeline development, and performance tracking. You will often work closely with cross-functional teams to align interests and deliver customer-centric solutions.

Education & Training:

Required education: Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Marketing, or related field.
Preferred education: MBA or sales-related certifications (e.g., Certified Sales Leadership Professional).

Responsibilities and duties:

Develop structured territory and account plans to achieve sales goals
Onboard and train new sales representatives, providing necessary guidance.
Analyze sales metrics and prepare sales reports to present predicted trends.
Build synergy with the marketing team to generate qualified leads.
Negotiate contracts and close high-value deals while maintaining customer satisfaction.

Skills Requirement:

Technical skills: Experience working with CRM systems (Salesforce, HubSpot), Excel analytics, and sales enablement tools.
Non-technical skills: Strong business acumen and people skills.
Preferred skills: Experience with data visualization tools (Tableau) or sales performance platforms.

Sales Manager Pay & Benefits

The median annual salary for Sales Managers is $138,060, with a typical range from $66,910 to $239,200. Many companies complement base pay with perks such as:

Health insurance: Offered by 97% of employers
Mental health coverage: Available at 90% of workplaces
Hybrid work options: Supported by 63% of organizations

Tailoring your Sales Manager Job Description

Common sub-types of Sales Manager roles

Regional Sales Manager: Oversees multi-state territories and local sales teams.
Inside Sales Manager: Manages remote sales teams focusing on inbound and outbound calls.
Key Account Manager: Cultivates relationships with the company’s largest clients.
Sales Operations Manager: Optimizes processes, tools, and analytics to boost team efficiency.

Adjusting for seniority

Entry-Level (0–2 years): Emphasize mentorship, training programs, and foundational sales support duties.
Mid-Level (2–5 years): Highlight independent territory ownership, quota accountability, and team leadership.
Senior (5+ years): Stress strategic planning, cross-regional coordination, and executive stakeholder management.

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