Sales Director job description
If you’re looking to hire a Sales Director, this job description and template can help you define the key responsibilities, skills and experience required for the role.
Whether you’re scaling a high-performing sales function, entering new markets or driving sustainable revenue growth, this template provides a practical framework to attract experienced commercial leaders and support your recruitment process.
Job description template
Reporting to: Commercial Director/Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer
Level/experience: Typically eight to 12 years’ experience in sales or commercial leadership, with a proven track record of leading high-performing teams and delivering sustained revenue growth.
General role and responsibilities
The Sales Director is responsible for developing and delivering the organisation’s sales strategies, strategic plans and sales plans to achieve sustainable revenue growth and ambitious revenue targets. Working closely with the Managing Director, executive teams and senior commercial leaders, they ensure sales activity aligns with wider business objectives and the organisation’s long-term corporate strategy.
Operating as a senior commercial leader, the Sales Director oversees sales operations, monitors sales data, KPIs, sales quotas and sales volumes, and uses market research and market trends to inform strategic decision-making. They work closely with marketing, finance and customer success teams to optimise performance, increase market share and strengthen the organisation’s commercial position.
Success in this role requires exceptional leadership skills, commercial awareness and strategic thinking. The Sales Director balances long-term planning with operational excellence, mentoring senior sales leaders, developing future talent and ensuring the business consistently delivers against its commercial objectives while maintaining high levels of customer satisfaction.
Key responsibilities
- Develop and implement the organisation’s sales strategies, strategic plans and sales plans to achieve sustainable revenue growth and commercial objectives
- Lead, coach and mentor Sales Managers, Senior Sales Managers, Regional Sales Managers, Sales Executives and Sales Representatives, creating a high-performing sales culture
- Set sales targets, sales quotas, budgets and performance metrics, ensuring teams consistently achieve revenue targets
- Monitor sales operations, sales data, KPIs, pipeline health and forecasting to support informed commercial decision-making
- Identify new business opportunities, emerging market trends and competitive threats to strengthen market position and increase market share
- Work closely with marketing to align lead generation initiatives with sales priorities and revenue goals
- Collaborate with finance and executive leadership on budgeting, forecasting and long-term business planning
- Oversee key account management for the organisation’s most strategic clients while supporting enterprise growth opportunities
- Drive customer satisfaction by working closely with customer success and account management teams to strengthen client retention and long-term growth
- Prepare regular commercial updates, forecasts and strategic recommendations for the executive team and Board
Experience and qualifications
- Proven experience as a Sales Director, Director of Sales, Head of Sales or other senior commercial leadership role
- Demonstrated success in developing sales strategies and delivering sustained revenue growth across multiple markets
- Strong track record of leading, coaching and developing high-performing sales managers and commercial teams
- Experience managing sales forecasting, budgets, sales quotas, KPIs and performance metrics
- Strong commercial awareness with the ability to identify growth opportunities and respond to changing market conditions
- Excellent communication, presentation and negotiation skills, with experience influencing Boards and executive stakeholders
- Experience using CRM platforms such as Salesforce, HubSpot or Microsoft Dynamics to support strategic decision-making
- A bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, business administration or a related discipline is beneficial. An MBA or postgraduate qualification may also be advantageous
Key skills
- Sales leadership
- Leadership skills
- Strategic planning
- Corporate strategy
- Revenue growth
- Sales operations
- Enterprise sales
- Key account management
- Mentoring and coaching
- Negotiation skills
- Commercial awareness
- CRM proficiency
Optional sector-specific responsibilities
Depending on the organisation’s industry and commercial model, additional responsibilities may include:
- Leading enterprise sales programmes within SaaS, technology and other high-growth businesses
- Driving commercial growth across professional services, financial services, manufacturing or retail organisations
- Managing strategic partnerships and major enterprise accounts across domestic and international markets
- Supporting mergers, acquisitions and market expansion initiatives
- Leading geographically dispersed teams, including Regional Sales Managers across multiple territories
- Representing the organisation at industry conferences and networking events to strengthen market presence and develop strategic relationships
Sales Directors often progress into executive leadership positions such as Chief Revenue Officer, Managing Director or Sales and Marketing Director, where they assume responsibility for broader commercial performance, corporate strategy and organisational growth.
