what is a sales director?
As a sales director, you're a motivator and planner. You are hired by an employer to manage salespeople across multiple teams to follow effective strategies. Additionally, you work with marketing divisions to create campaigns that increase the organisation's revenue and client base. As you are at director level of senior management, you have complete control of the sales portion of a company's budget.
role of a sales director
Sales directors are critical in every sector of industry that produces materials for public consumption. This includes business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-customer (B2C). You work with your leaders to promote the company's strengths through comprehensive plans.
coordination with other directors
In your role as a sales director, you coordinate with other executive-level leaders. This is done to verify that all teams are on the same page when it comes to boosting sales. For instance, you meet with the director of marketing to develop recommendations used in sync with sales teams.
sales director jobsaverage salary of a sales director
Every sector requires a sales director, including small to medium-sized businesses. Due to this great need, the salary range of your position is usually well above the average of other professions.
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average annual salaries
The average annual salary for a sales director is £75,000 - £85,000. At the lowest end of the scale, an area for first-time directors and executive managers seeking a change in profession, the starting rate is £53,704. When you have years of training and experience, you reach an annual salary of £134,839 or more as a sales director.
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circumstances that affect your salary
The size of your employer could affect your salary as a sales director. Usually, a smaller company's budget capacity doesn't allow for salaries above the average rate. On top of this, the organisation's geographic location also affects pay. If you work in or near a city, then your salary corresponds to the cost of housing, food, and transportation.
types of sales directors
There are several types of sales director positions. These are specified to different organisational units. For example, a role as an e-commerce manager, or your focus as a director of IT sales is the sale and service of hardware, software applications, or both. On the other hand, when you take the director position for external sales, your operations look beyond the scope of your geographic region. For instance, sales products and services in Europe or Asia.
working as a sales director
You'll succeed in the position of sales director if you can increase the revenue and customer service levels of an organisation. With the development of strategic plans and sure-fire motivation, you encourage your managers and their salespeople to go beyond their normal responsibilities. Ultimately, you set the tone for all the salespeople under you.
top executive job
Overall, the role of a sales director is one of the top professions in a company. If you're just out of college, expect to work your way up from an entry-level position before becoming a director. You must prove that the company's return on investment is well worth your hiring. However, once you gain the position as a head of sales and managerial experience, a higher-paying sales director position could be in your future.
Different companies will have different expectations for their sales directors. However, there are a few things you can expect regarding your responsibilities, an average office environment, and your typical workday.
sales director job description
As a sales director, you take on several duties to make sure your company's products or services are getting sold. Some take place on a regular schedule. Others occur on an as-needed basis.
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sales audits
The actions of your sales managers and representatives aren't done in a vacuum. As a sales director, you're responsible to audit your team members and their processes. This includes reviews of organisational charts and client information. From this, you draw up reports and presentations to address issues and suggest recommended changes.
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customer service
Customer service is an enormous responsibility for your team. In fact, it sometimes eclipses the volume of sales made by your employees, You must ensure your representatives provide the utmost care possible to the organisation's customers. This is done through regular performance reviews and training by your managers and team leads. Your job is to seamlessly coordinate all of these aspects and review their outcomes.
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reviews of sales-based information systems
Application-based information systems supplement communications within or outside the company. In your role as a sales director, you examine Customer Relationship Management (CRM) tools. These consolidate and track client interactions from cold calls to the signing of contracts. Once implemented, you regularly review the statistics generated from the CRM. From this data, you work with the application developer and your managers to fine-tune its modules.
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report generation
Regularly, your sales managers and team leaders compile reports that contain data on cold calls, purchases, and customer service issues. Once you receive this information, it's your responsibility to create a comprehensive sales report. In turn, this is presented to other executives at the director level for further consideration.
work environment
You work in an executive office that's normally on the same floor as other directors. It contains a desk and a sitting area for small meetings. Occasionally, it's connected to a larger conference room.
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office equipment
You work on a desktop or laptop computer. It has several analytical and report-creation applications to consolidate sales data and customer service statistics. Furthermore, you have a mobile device to access these programs in the cloud and communicate with your employees and sales promoter when off-site.
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transition to a virtual environment
Companies continue to move away from brick-and-mortar operations into virtual environments. As the sales director inside this type of organisation, you operate from a remote location, such as a home office or a shared workspace. You have a laptop and smart device with the necessary tools to conduct meetings and compile data.
the typical work schedule
As a sales director, you usually work a standard 9-5 schedule Monday through Friday. There are moments where you come in earlier or later. For instance, when you deal with international clients or must be available for an executive meeting. However, you don't come in for second or third shifts when the company operates on a 24/7 schedule.
shorted workweeks
To reduce stress and create a better work-life balance, you operate on a compressed schedule. Usually, this is Monday through Thursday or Tuesday through Friday, between the hours of 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. In the end, the four-day schedule grants an extra day off to you and your team.
education & skills
Here is a breakdown of the education and qualifications companies look at when they hire you as a sales director.
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qualifications
As a sales director, you need a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in one of the following industries: business admin, marketing, communications or another related field.
Many organisations prefer candidates who have a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) for the role of sales director.
skills & competencies
To be a successful sales director for any organisation, you require a strong set of skills & competencies.
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critical & logical thinking
The concepts of critical and logical thinking allow you to comprehend complex issues related to customer service or sales growth. With these skills available, take a large task and break it down into achievable goals. Additionally, critical and logical thought offers opportunities to discover new ways to create successful and profitable sales campaigns.
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communication
You must regularly connect with your sales managers and their subordinates. Therefore, the ability to communicate at all levels is crucial. Strong written and verbal skills convey positive messages and encouragement that diffuses potential friction. Furthermore, the clear distribution of instructions moves projects forward with a minimum of confusion.
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motivation
There's a mental component to your role as a sales director. You need the power of motivation to rally managers and employees to move past bursting points into new levels of sales and client acceptance. As a result, relationships are solidified and revenue increases.
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leadership
Leadership skills are paramount as a sales director. Not only to handle your managers and complete projects. Leadership is also required to organise information from several different locations.
FAQs
Here are the most asked questions about working as a sales director.
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What is the role of a sales director?
You strategise ways to increase your employer's revenue and work on ways to maximize the customer service provided by your salespeople. You're responsible for motivating managers and sales representatives to find new ways to add customers and increase revenue.
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How much do sales directors make?
The average annual salary for a sales director is £75,000 - £85,000. As a top sales director, when you have years of training and experience, you reach an annual salary of £134,839 or more.
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What does it take to be a sales director?
Experience in the field is an important factor to become a sales director. Management within the sector is also welcome.
Education-wise, the minimum degree most employers accept is a bachelor's in a business-related field. Other organisations request their sales director to have a master's degree, MBA, or doctorate.
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What is the difference between a sales director and a sales manager?
A sales director is an executive-level manager. You normally answer to the chief executive officer (CEO) of a company. On the other hand, a sales manager works for a director. In turn, they manage teams of salespeople that handle customers and purchases.
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What is the highest position in sales?
A sales director is the highest position in sales. There are also directors based in North American and international sales. In turn, they deal with their own staff.