Sales Managers
Strongly human-essential role
This occupation requires complex human judgment, social interaction, and creative problem-solving that are difficult to automate.
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.
Core Tasks
- Direct and coordinate activities involving sales of manufactured products, services, commodities, real estate, or other subjects of sale.
- Resolve customer complaints regarding sales and service.
- Review operational records and reports to project sales and determine profitability.
- Oversee regional and local sales managers and their staffs.
- Determine price schedules and discount rates.
- Prepare budgets and approve budget expenditures.
- Monitor customer preferences to determine focus of sales efforts.
- Plan and direct staffing, training, and performance evaluations to develop and control sales and service programs.
- Direct, coordinate, and review sales and service accounting and record-keeping, as well as receiving and shipping.
- Direct clerical staff to keep records of export correspondence, bid requests, and credit collections, and to maintain current information on tariffs, licenses, and restrictions.
- Advise dealers and distributors on policies and operating procedures to ensure functional effectiveness of business.
- Confer or consult with department heads to plan advertising services and to secure information on equipment and customer specifications.
- Represent company at trade association meetings to promote products.
Supplemental Tasks (4)
- Confer with potential customers regarding equipment needs, and advise customers on types of equipment to purchase.
- Assess marketing potential of new and existing store locations, considering statistics and expenditures.
- Visit franchised dealers to stimulate interest in establishment or expansion of leasing programs.
- Direct foreign sales and service outlets of an organization.
Education & Training
Education Level Distribution
Percentage of workers in this occupation with each education level.
Technology & Tools
Hot Technologies
Software (103)
Tools & Equipment (5)
Where This Career Leads
Career progression organized by specialty track and experience level.
Retail & Customer Experience Advanced Manufacturing
Resume Builder
Select key tasks to generate action-oriented resume bullets for Sales Managers positions.
Your Resume Bullets
Related Occupations
Show all 20 related occupations
Real Talk
Hear from real Sales Managerss about their work: