Piplhr
Sales & MarketingJD · JS · KPIs

Sales Manager Roles and Responsibilities

The Sales Manager leads the sales team to hit revenue targets. They set targets, build the sales process, coach executives, manage key accounts and forecast accurately so the business can plan with confidence.

Also known as: Area Sales Manager, Sales Team Manager, Head of Sales

Build this role in Piplhr
Reports to
General Manager, Sales Director or CEO
Department
Sales & Marketing
Experience
5-10 years in sales, with 2+ years leading a team
Work location
Office and field

Job Description (JD)

The responsibilities a Sales Manager owns and the duties they perform.

Responsibilities

  1. 1Deliver team revenue and margin targets
  2. 2Recruit, train and develop sales executives
  3. 3Define the sales process, stages and follow-up SOPs
  4. 4Set individual targets and incentive plans
  5. 5Forecast sales accurately
  6. 6Manage key accounts and strategic deals
  7. 7Ensure CRM discipline across the team
  8. 8Work with marketing on lead generation and quality

Duties

Daily
  • Review team activity and pipeline movement
  • Join important calls or meetings
  • Approve discounts and special terms
  • Coach executives on specific deals
Weekly
  • Run the sales review meeting
  • Update the sales forecast
  • Hold one-on-ones with team members
  • Review lead quality with marketing
Monthly
  • Report results and forecast to leadership
  • Set and adjust targets for the team
  • Review pricing, competitor moves and sales SOPs

Job Specification (JS)

The job information and the skills this role needs.

Job information

Qualification
Bachelor's degree; MBA in sales or marketing preferred
Experience
5-10 years in sales, with 2+ years leading a team
Work location
Office and field
Working hours
Full-time, typically 9 hours a day, 5-6 days a week
Shift
Day shift
Employment type
Full-time, with incentives

Technical skills

  • Sales forecasting
  • Pipeline management
  • CRM reporting
  • Pricing and negotiation
  • Incentive design

Soft skills

  • Team leadership
  • Coaching
  • Motivation
  • Strategic thinking
  • Relationship management

Tools used

  • CRM
  • Sales dashboards
  • Spreadsheets
  • Proposal tools
  • Sales SOP and playbook

Career path

  1. Sales Executive
  2. Team Leader
  3. Sales Manager
  4. Regional Sales Manager
  5. Head of Sales / VP Sales

KPI

How to measure whether a Sales Manager is succeeding.

KPIWhat it measuresReview
Team revenue vs targetClosed revenue against the team targetMonthly
Forecast accuracyActual sales against the forecastMonthly
Win rateDeals won as a share of qualified opportunitiesMonthly
Executives at targetShare of the team hitting individual targetsMonthly
Average deal sizeRevenue per closed dealQuarterly

In Piplhr, KPIs become recurring daily and weekly reports that each person submits - see Reporting & KPI tracking.

Sales Manager FAQs

What does a Sales Manager do?

The Sales Manager leads the sales team to hit revenue targets. They set targets, build the sales process, coach executives, manage key accounts and forecast accurately so the business can plan with confidence.

What are the main responsibilities of a Sales Manager?

Key responsibilities include: deliver team revenue and margin targets; recruit, train and develop sales executives; define the sales process, stages and follow-up SOPs; set individual targets and incentive plans; forecast sales accurately.

What skills does a Sales Manager need?

Technical skills: Sales forecasting, Pipeline management, CRM reporting, Pricing and negotiation, Incentive design. Soft skills: Team leadership, Coaching, Motivation, Strategic thinking, Relationship management.

Who does a Sales Manager report to?

A Sales Manager typically reports to the General Manager, Sales Director or CEO.

What qualifications are required to become a Sales Manager?

Bachelor's degree; MBA in sales or marketing preferred, with 5-10 years in sales, with 2+ years leading a team.

Guides for defining roles

Give every Sales Managera role they can run on their own.

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