what is a sales director?
As a sales director, you are a motivator and planner. You manage sales professionals across multiple teams, ensuring they follow effective strategies and achieve the company's sales goals. Additionally, you work with marketing divisions to create campaigns that increase the organization's revenue and client base. Since you are at the director level of senior management, you have complete control of the sales portion of a company's budget.
Sales directors are critical in every industry that produces materials for public consumption, including the business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-customer (B2C) sectors. You work with top-level leaders to promote the company's strengths through comprehensive plans.
As a sales director, you coordinate with other executive-level leaders to define specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time-bound (SMART) goals and align them with the company's overall sales strategy. Effective coordination is needed to verify that all teams are on the same page when it comes to boosting sales. For instance, you meet with the marketing director to develop recommendations used in sync with sales teams.
Would working as a sales director suit your sales and leadership skills? Then read on to find out what competencies and qualifications you need to thrive in a sales director role.
sales director jobsaverage sales director salary
According to Job Bank, the average salary of a sales director in Canada is $175,506 per year. Your earnings vary based on various factors, including experience, qualifications and the company's size. When beginning your career as a sales director, you will likely be in charge of a smaller sales team. You start with a lower annual salary of $104,950 due to fewer responsibilities. As an experienced sales director, you earn a salary of $182,614 per year.
what factors affect your salary as a sales director?
Your earnings depend on the scope of your role. For instance, when you are a regional sales director, your salary depends on the region itself and the size of your team. If you manage a sales team in one province or territory, you earn less than a regional sales director responsible for the entire country.
When you work for a large company, there's a good chance you'll earn a higher salary since they have vast resources and can afford to pay higher salaries. Smaller companies have limited resources and less complex tasks, which reduces your earning potential.
If you have additional qualifications and experience, you are likely to earn more. Improve your earnings by gaining professional certifications and improving your leadership skills through lower managerial positions in sales.
types of sales directors
Sales director positions vary depending on the scope of the role. Some of the types of sales directors include:
- Regional sales director: you head the sales workforce of a particular region. Your job is to develop strategies and develop sales targets for the region or province.
- Product-line sales director: as a product-line sales director, you are in charge of a particular product line for the company. You study the market and build brand awareness for the product line. You are responsible for boosting sales and increasing revenue.
working as a sales director
If you enjoy working in sales and leadership positions, working as a sales director is an exciting career path. Let’s check out the specific duties, responsibilities and work environments of sales directors.
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what does a sales director do?
As a sales director, you perform several duties to ensure your company's products or services are doing well in the market. Some of the tasks you are likely to undertake include:
- Sales audits: the actions of your sales managers and representatives aren't done in a vacuum. As a sales director, you're responsible for auditing your team members and their processes. Audits include reviews of organizational charts and client information. From this process, you draw up reports and presentations to address issues and suggest recommended changes.
- Customer service: you ensure your sales representatives provide the utmost care to the organization's customers. This is done through regular performance reviews and by properly training your sales managers and team leaders.
- Reviews of sales-based information systems: application-based information systems supplement communications in and outside the company. As a sales director, you leverage customer relationship management (CRM) platforms. These tools consolidate and track client interactions, from cold calls to the signing of contracts. Once implemented, you regularly review the statistics generated by the CRM. From this data, you work with the application developer and your managers to fine-tune its modules.
- Report generation: your sales managers and team leaders compile reports that contain data on cold calls, purchases and customer service issues. Once you receive the information, you create a comprehensive sales report. In turn, this is presented to other top-level executives for further consideration.
- Keeping up with the latest sales strategies: as a sales director, you are expected to stay up to date with market conditions, sales trends and the latest sales strategies. You attend conventions and participate in professional associations to improve your skills.
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work environment of a sales director
You work in an executive office that's normally on the same floor as other directors in the company. Inside is a desk and a sitting area for small meetings. Your office may even be connected to a larger conference room. As companies continue transitioning from brick-and-mortar operations to virtual environments, you may work as a sales director from a remote location, such as a home office or shared co-working space. You have a laptop and smart device with the necessary tools to compile data and conduct online meetings.
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who are your colleagues?
As a sales director, you work alongside sales managers, marketing managers and digital marketing managers. You also work with social media managers, SEO specialists and operations managers. Other professionals you are likely to work with include production managers and account managers.
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sales director work schedule
As a sales director, you work Monday through Friday, usually on a standard 9-5 schedule. There are times when you come in earlier or later, especially when dealing with international clients. However, you don't come in for second or third shifts, even if the company operates on a 24/7 schedule.
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career opportunities as a sales director
When you are a sales director, you are the head of the sales department. You can work your way up from an entry-level sales position to a leadership role, such as a sales manager. You also have opportunities for career growth as a sales director. For instance, you can become the head of sales and marketing or vice president of sales. After gaining sufficient experience and skills, you can even become the company's chief executive officer (CEO).
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advantages of finding a job as a sales director through randstad
Working with Randstad offers you a range of benefits:
- Always a contact person you can fall back on and ask for help from
- Many training opportunities
- A range of jobs in your area
sales director skills and education
Some of the educational requirements expected of a sales director in Canada:
- University degree: to work as a sales director, you require a bachelor's degree in sales or marketing. Other relevant fields include business administration, economics and advertising. Some employers prefer candidates with advanced degrees. Hence, consider pursuing an MBA to improve your employment prospects.
- Work experience and certifications: you need extensive work experience to become a sales director. Aside from having experience in sales, you also need leadership and managerial experience. It is important to improve your leadership and sales skills with certifications, such as gaining Certified Sales Leadership Professional (CSLP) status from the Canadian College for Leadership and Management (CCLM). You should also consider becoming a Certified Sales Leader (CSL), a title offered by the Canadian Professional Sales Association (CPSA).
competencies and characteristics of sales directors
To be a successful sales director for any organization, you require a strong set of skills and competencies. These include:
- Critical and 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, you can take large tasks and break them down into achievable goals. Critical and logical thinking also offers opportunities to discover new ways to create successful, profitable sales campaigns.
- Communication: you regularly connect with your sales managers and their subordinates. Therefore, the ability to communicate at all levels is crucial. Strong written and verbal skills help you convey positive messages. Furthermore, the clear distribution of instructions moves projects forward with minimal confusion.
- 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, reaching new levels of sales and client acceptance. As a result, relationships are solidified and revenue increases.
- Leadership: as a sales director, leadership skills are not only paramount to handle your managers but also to complete projects. Leadership is required to organize information from several different locations. Your leadership skills also help you inspire and motivate workers to excel in their roles.
FAQs about accounts payable clerk jobs
Here, you will find the answers to the most frequently asked questions about the profession of a sales director.
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what does a sales director do daily?
As a sales director, you are the head of the sales department. You are responsible for all operations related to revenue generation and the employees in your sales teams. Your duties include developing and executing sales strategies and communicating company objectives to the sales teams. Other duties include training sales managers, evaluating market conditions, setting targets and keeping track of sales quotas.
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is a sales director higher than a sales manager?
Sales managers and sales directors are leaders of sales teams. However, a sales director leads the entire sales department, while a sales manager supervises a team of sales representatives. Therefore, a sales director ranks higher than a sales manager.
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what type of personality do sales directors have?
Most sales directors are assertive in encouraging their sales workforce toward a successful outcome. A sales director is decisive, feels comfortable as a leader, and works well under pressure. Combining your personal attributes with your sales skills helps you meet targets and achieve company goals. It is important to continue building your communication skills and honing technical skills to succeed in your role.
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what do you need to become a sales director?
To become a sales director in Canada, you require a degree or college diploma. Pursue a bachelor's in public relations, marketing or communications. Some employers may also require a master's degree in sales or business administration. Certifications improve your leadership skills and boost your career prospects.
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how can I be a good sales director?
A good sales director knows how to sell. While you don't sell the products, having knowledge of the sales process helps you identify areas that need improvement. You should also be good at finding the best people for the job. When you hire the best sales workforce, you're more likely to hit targets and achieve company goals. You can also be a good sales director by defining a sales process that increases the chance of closing deals and making sales.
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how do I find a job as a sales director?
Finding a job near you as a sales director is easy. Search our job offers. Have you found what you're looking for? Then submit your application using the ‘Apply’ button top right on the page. No jobs available right now? Send us your resume and we'll pass it on to a recruiter who will contact you if an opportunity opens up for you.
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