Group Sales Manager Responsibilities

Sales managers sell services and products and they generally work in the hospitality industry. Like any other job, the sales field also has a hierarchy where the position of a group sales manager is slightly at the higher end of mid-level professionals. When you become a group sales manager, you will have to lead a team and ensure that they all meet their sales targets. In this article, we will talk about the group sales manager responsibilities.

Key Group Sales Manager Responsibilities

• Get new clients by networking, prospecting, etc.
• Ensure customer satisfaction
• Achieve targets for sales growth, revenue, etc.
• Come up with strategies, tactics, profit targets, sales plans, etc.
• Develop and maintain relationships with partners
• Plan new programs to increase business and profits
• Work with the marketing manager for sales initiatives on different mediums like the internet, print and electronic media
• Maintain the existing client base
• Develop and maintain good relations with the VIP and key clients of the company
• Represent the organization at trade shows and events
• Ensure that the team follows the company's procedures and policies
• A group sales manager should lead by example. He/she should maintain a professional image at all times, follow the rules and regulations and do his/her work sincerely and well
• Set weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual goals for the sales staff
• Follow up on the progress made in achieving the goals and come up with solutions to any problems faced by the workers
• Keep an accurate record of the pricings and sales
• Ensure that the team is sticking to the budget and prepare expense reports for the senior management to review

Essential Skills and Abilities

• Excellent communication skills. This is one of the most important skills for any sales manager or even sales staff to possess. The members of a sales team interact directly with the client and are often the first people a potential client meets with. Hence, it is essential for a group sales manager to be ale to communicate effectively and persuasively
• A good sense of business
• Good organizational skills
• Ability to work under deadlines and often under pressure
• Ability to take initiative
• Knowledge of any additional languages. In this age of globalization, a sales manager has to interact with suppliers and clients around the globe. In this scenario, knowing other languages is an important asset and can give you an edge
• The ability to delegate work. You work in a team and you should learn to work AS a team. A manager cannot be expected to do the sales activity for the whole team all by himself. You should learn how to delegate work among your subordinates and hence maximize your own performance while at the same time ensure that the team as a whole achieves its goal
• The ability to focus on others. To become a successful group sales manager, you have to able to focus on the other person instead of yourself
• Good leadership skills. A team is only as good as its leader. As a group sales manager, you will have a number of people working under you and the responsibility of their performance lies with you. Hence, it is your job to motivate them and help them achieve their goals and you can only do this if you have the leadership abilities
• High levels of energy. A sales job can be quite hectic at times as any sales professionals will tell you. Hence, you need to have lots of energy to be able to cope with the demands of the job
• Good judge of character. As a group sales manager, you will have to fire and hire people. During the hiring process, you should be able to accurately assess whether the candidate will be a good match for the job. Also, a manager must know when and how to remove an employee from the team so that the negative repercussions are minimal
• A sales manager should also have good negotiation skills
• Willingness to travel. A sales job is not always desk-bound and can involve a lot of travel at short notice. Hence, the manager has to be willing to travel when and where the job demands
• A team player. One should always try and be a good team player, but this quality is especially important in the field of sales. Sales is a profession where there is place for only team players. People who are used to working solo will find it very difficult
• Knowledge of computer software like MS Office and Excel will be an additional bonus

Educational Background

• The minimum qualification required is a high school diploma, although some companies might require you to have a college degree
• Sales is a field where you learn on the job, so your experience will be given more importance than your qualifications
• To become a group sales manager, you will need to have at least 3+ years of experience with a proven track record
• You can also choose to get advanced qualifications such as an Advanced Certificate in Sales Management and Diploma in Professional Sales from the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) or an Advanced Diploma in Sales Management from the Managing and Marketing Sales Association (MAMSA)
• Some places might also need you to have a BTEC, HND or degree in a business-related subject

Salary Details

• A majority of the employers offer a commission or bonus structure which is based on the number of sales a group sales manager is able to achieve
• This means the salary can vary widely from person to person
• The average salary for a group sales manager is around $70,000 per annum

Working in sales can be hectic and interesting. Few other jobs offer you such opportunities to travel and meet new and interesting people. Once you understand the group sales manager responsibilities, you are ready to succeed in your career while enjoying it at the same time.