What Is a Vice President of Sales and How to Become One
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What Does a Vice President of Sales Do?
Vice presidents of sales oversee the sales department of a company. They develop sales goals and strategies designed to meet or exceed growth projections set by senior executives in sales, product development, marketing, and accounting. As a vice president of sales, your job duties include assessing your sales team's production and successful transactions, analyzing current sales processes, strategizing with sales department heads to increase sales figures and profits, and training employees in new products and services the company offers. For larger or high-profile clients, you may be involved in the sales pitch and negotiations with your sales team. You also create reports for the company's top executives on the performance of the sales staff and quarterly sales projections.
How to Become a Vice President of Sales
To become a vice president of sales, you must have extensive sales experience, a history of successful transactions, and previous management roles. Most candidates have at least a bachelor's degree in business, business administration, marketing, or a related field, and some companies prefer their vice presidents of sales to have a Master of Business Administration (MBA). But the most essential qualification is a substantial portfolio of closing deals. Acquire a sales position and learn from veteran sales professionals. Seek leadership roles in your sales department, developing sales strategies and leading the team to a successful closing. Earn the trust of your supervisors so that you are assigned to handle important clients and promoted to manager positions. Once you have established yourself as a successful manager, seek vice president of sales positions.
Vice President of Sales Job Description Sample
With this Vice President of Sales job description sample, you can get a good idea of what employers are looking for when hiring for this position. Remember, every employer is different and each will have unique qualifications when they hire for a Vice President of Sales role.
Job Summary
Our company is looking for a seasoned expert to serve as Vice President of Sales. Our ideal candidate is equally talented working with numbers and people. You should have a strong record of closing high-profile deals and several years of experience working with customer relationship management (CRM) software. In this role, you will use forecasting to develop sales strategies and help carry our company into the future. While candidates with an MBA are preferred, we will consider individuals with a bachelor's degree if they have proven experience leading sales teams.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Develop and drive key sales strategies or initiatives
- Participate in strategic account planning
- Collaborate with marketing and other departments to develop effective strategies
- Analyze and improve current processes
- Assess staff performance
- Deliver quarterly sales projections
- Stay up-to-date with developments in the marketplace
Requirements and Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in business, marketing, or an industry-relevant field
- MBA (strongly preferred)
- Professional experience with high-profile sales
- Experience with CRM software
- Analytical skills
- Leadership skills
