Career Overview
Plan, direct, or coordinate the actual distribution or movement of a product or service to the customer. Coordinate sales distribution by establishing sales territories, quotas, and goals and establish training programs for sales representatives. Analyze sales statistics gathered by staff to determine sales potential and inventory requirements and monitor the preferences of customers.
Also Known As
- District Sales Manager
- Sales Director
- Sales Manager
- Sales VP (Sales Vice President)
Alternate Job Titles
- Account Manager
- Area Sales Manager
- Area Supervisor
- BD Director (Business Development Director)
- BD Executive (Business Development Executive)
- BD Manager (Business Development Manager)
- Business Developer
- Channel Manager
- Client Relationship Manager
- Commercial Director
- Commercial Sales Manager
- Dealership Manager
- Department Store Manager
- District Manager
- District Sales Manager
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- Oversee regional and local sales managers and their staffs.
- Resolve customer complaints regarding sales and service.
- Monitor customer preferences to determine focus of sales efforts.
- Confer with potential customers regarding equipment needs, and advise customers on types of equipment to purchase.
- Review operational records and reports to project sales and determine profitability.
- Plan and direct staffing, training, and performance evaluations to develop and control sales and service programs.
- Direct and coordinate activities involving sales of manufactured products, services, commodities, real estate, or other subjects of sale.
Emerging Responsibilities
As this field evolves, you may also:
- Coach staff on sales tactics.
- Establish and monitor staff's sales goals.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- Sales and Marketing
- Customer and Personal Service
- English Language
- Administration and Management
Essential Skills
Success in this career requires strong skills in:
- Speaking
- Negotiation
- Active Listening
- Reading Comprehension
- Social Perceptiveness
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Persuasion
- Monitoring
- Critical Thinking
- Management of Personnel Resources
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Oral Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Written Expression
- Written Comprehension
- Inductive Reasoning
- Problem Sensitivity
- Deductive Reasoning
- Speech Recognition
- Speech Clarity
- Fluency of Ideas
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Leadership Orientation
- Social Orientation
- Dependability
- Perseverance
- Achievement Orientation
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Independence
- Working Conditions
- Achievement
- Support
- Recognition
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: Bachelor's Degree
Related Work Experience Needed: Over 4 years, up to and including 6 years
On-the-Job Training: Anything beyond short demonstration, up to and including 1 month
Education Details: Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Experience Required: A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
Technology You'll Use
Popular Technologies & Software
- Adobe Acrobat
- Adobe Creative Cloud software
- Bentley MicroStation
- Eclipse IDE
- Google Analytics
- Google Docs
- HubSpot software
- Hypertext markup language HTML
- IBM SPSS Statistics
Tools & Equipment
- Desktop computers
- Notebook computers
- Personal computers
- Scanners
- Tablet computers
Work Environment
- Telephone Conversations
- Contact With Others
- Deal With External Customers or the Public in General
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
Salary & Job Market
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $66,910 |
| Median | $138,060 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | >$239,200 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 603,710
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
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Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $161,030
Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel
Education: Not specified
Median Salary: $66,260
Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $76,950
Advertising and Promotions Managers
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $126,960
Wholesale and Retail Buyers, Except Farm Products
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: Varies
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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.