Sales Director - Hire or get hired
Your complete guide to the Sales Director Role: Duties, salary & hiring tips
Purpose of the Sales Director
The Sales Director drives high-level commercial success, overseeing enterprise sales functions, setting growth objectives, and leading key strategic initiatives.
Sales Director's duties and responsibilities
• Leadership:
Lead senior sales leaders and teams across departments or verticals.
• Sales Planning:
Define sales frameworks, targets, and budgeting forecasts.
• Performance Management:
Review and analyse team KPIs and strategic deals.
• Client Strategy:
Lead high-value negotiations and build long-term relationships.
• Cross-Functional Alignment:
Collaborate with product, finance, and executive teams.
Lead senior sales leaders and teams across departments or verticals.
• Sales Planning:
Define sales frameworks, targets, and budgeting forecasts.
• Performance Management:
Review and analyse team KPIs and strategic deals.
• Client Strategy:
Lead high-value negotiations and build long-term relationships.
• Cross-Functional Alignment:
Collaborate with product, finance, and executive teams.
Requirements and qualifications for a Sales Director
• 10+ years’ experience in enterprise or B2B sales
• Strong leadership and mentoring capabilities
• Expertise in high-value contract negotiation
• Strategic and analytical mindset
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in business, sales, or marketing
• Strong leadership and mentoring capabilities
• Expertise in high-value contract negotiation
• Strategic and analytical mindset
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in business, sales, or marketing
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Sales Market Update
The demand for sales leadership talent remains strong in 2025, with businesses continuing to prioritise candidates with technical expertise, stakeholder management skills, and commercial acumen. Hiring managers face ongoing challenges in sourcing high-calibre sales professionals, particularly in roles such as Business Development Managers, Sales Representatives, and Key Account Managers. The integration of AI in sales functions is influencing the required skill set, with CRM optimisation (48%), AI-assisted content writing (43%), and sales data visualisation (36%) emerging as key competencies.
Attracting top sales talent is increasingly reliant on offering competitive KPI bonuses (57%), flexible work arrangements (53%), and career growth opportunities (50%). Notably, the percentage of companies communicating KPIs and commission structures at the interview stage has risen from 57% to 68%, reflecting a shift towards greater transparency in the recruitment process. Staff turnover remains stable, with 58% of organisations reporting no change over the past year, while 22% have seen some improvement.
Looking ahead, 57% anticipate turnover levels will remain steady, with 21% expecting further positive shifts. As businesses refine their talent strategies, the focus is on long-term career growth, AI-driven sales processes, and structured incentive plans to attract and retain top sales professionals.
Attracting top sales talent is increasingly reliant on offering competitive KPI bonuses (57%), flexible work arrangements (53%), and career growth opportunities (50%). Notably, the percentage of companies communicating KPIs and commission structures at the interview stage has risen from 57% to 68%, reflecting a shift towards greater transparency in the recruitment process. Staff turnover remains stable, with 58% of organisations reporting no change over the past year, while 22% have seen some improvement.
Looking ahead, 57% anticipate turnover levels will remain steady, with 21% expecting further positive shifts. As businesses refine their talent strategies, the focus is on long-term career growth, AI-driven sales processes, and structured incentive plans to attract and retain top sales professionals.
