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Sales Manager job description template

A sales manager leads a team of sellers, setting targets, coaching reps, and running the processes that turn pipeline into predictable revenue. They hire and develop salespeople, inspect deals, and report the forecast to leadership. Copy this template, replace the bracketed parts, then run it through the free JD Analyzer.

Check it for bias

Sales Manager

About the role

[Company Name] is looking for a Sales Manager to lead and grow our sales team. You will hire, coach, and develop sellers while owning the team's targets and forecast. You will refine our sales process, partner with marketing and customer success, and keep leadership informed with clear, accurate reporting. This role is ideal for someone who gets satisfaction from helping others hit their goals.

Responsibilities

Lead a team of sales representatives or account executives to meet team revenue targets
Recruit, interview, and onboard new sellers
Coach reps through call reviews, deal strategy sessions, and regular one-on-ones
Run weekly pipeline reviews and inspect deals for risk
Produce an accurate weekly and quarterly forecast for leadership
Set and manage quotas, territories, and activity expectations
Address performance issues with clear plans and documentation in partnership with HR
Improve sales processes, playbooks, and CRM hygiene
Collaborate with marketing on lead quality and with customer success on retention
Support key deals as an executive sponsor when needed

Requirements

Experience meeting or exceeding targets in a quota-carrying sales role
Experience leading, mentoring, or coaching salespeople
Strong forecasting and pipeline management skills
Comfort with CRM reporting and sales metrics
Ability to give direct, constructive feedback and handle difficult conversations
Experience hiring or interviewing sales candidates
Clear communication with executives and cross-functional partners

Nice to have

Experience building or scaling a team in a growing company
Familiarity with sales enablement and conversation intelligence tools
Experience designing compensation plans or territories
Formal management or coaching training

Pay

[Pay range] · [Benefits summary]

Pay transparency

Many states, including CA, CO, NY, WA, and IL, require a good-faith pay range in job postings, and that may include describing bonus or override structures; check your state's rules.

See the rules for your state in HR laws by state.

Write a more inclusive posting

Avoid 'young, high-energy team' or 'recent sales grads', which signal age preference; describe the pace of the work instead.
Swap 'dominant leader' or 'alpha' for language like 'confident, supportive leader who holds the team accountable'.
Do not require a set number of years managing people if strong team leads or player-coaches could succeed; describe the team size and scope instead.

Hiring a sales manager?

Prepare the interview too: 15 questions, red flags and questions to avoid.

Sales Manager interview questions

Frequently asked questions

What should I look for when interviewing a sales manager?

Look for evidence that they have improved other people's results through coaching, hiring, and process. Great individual sellers do not always make great managers, so ask about their team's numbers, not just their own.

Should a sales manager job description include team size?

Yes. Stating how many direct reports and what segment they sell to helps candidates gauge fit and reduces mismatched applicants.

How do I assess a sales manager's forecasting ability?

Give them a sample pipeline with deal notes and ask them to build a commit forecast and explain which deals they doubt. Their questions will show their inspection habits.

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