Sales Manager

DESCRIPTION
Sales managers oversee the work of customer service representatives, salespeople, stock clerks, and order fillers to maintain quality service and effective sales performance for a department or entire business.

Sales managers develop policies, procedures, goals, incentive programs, and competitions to increase performance or production volume in their department or company. In cooperation with marketing staff, sales managers develop and execute sales and marketing plans with the intent of increasing company sales and revenue objectives. Sales managers evaluate sales performances and adjust sales and marketing strategies accordingly. Sales managers research and analyze current market trends to help their company capitalize on possible market opportunities.

Sales managers may also be responsible for interviewing, hiring, training, managing, and promoting employees in their department. They may listen or record sales calls to evaluate employee performance. They prepare work schedules and assign jobs based on employee ability and experience. Sales managers check paperwork and approve purchase orders, contracts, expense reports, timesheets, and other personnel-related forms form their department as well.

Sales managers often work with large volumes of data and have a variety of reporting responsibilities including analyzing sales statistics, preparing and delivering reports to upper management, auditors, and regulators.

Effective sales managers use strong leadership, decision making, and communication skills. Sales managers must be able to establish and maintain strong relationships with customers, partners and other industry representatives.

EMPLOYERS
Energy and utility providers, retailers, manufacturers, communication providers and a wide variety other service providers or product-selling companies.

EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS
Many employer require an associate’s degree or a bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, management, social sciences, or liberal arts for this position.

LINKS TO CAREER/INDUSTRY RESOURCES
Duties and Responsibilities of a Sales Manager: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JyFT693izQ&t=46s
American Management Association: http://www.amanet.org/
American Teleservices Association: http://paceassociation.com/
O*NET Online: http://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/11-2022.00
International Customer Service Association: http://www.icsatoday.org
National Retail Federation: http://www.nrf.com