Vice president (VP) of sales is a highly specialized executive position that typically requires a high level of education, experience, and leadership. A vice president of sales typically performs on a region level (such as East or West coast) or on a national level. Because they work on such a large scale, a VP of sales may perform a wide variety of duties. They normally supervise and manage a number of sales managers to ensure that product development and sale strategies are being implemented on a company-wide scale. The vice president of sales normally reports to a company's board of directors on revenue on a monthly, quarterly, and yearly basis; as a result, this position requires an ability to interpret numbers and statistics and develop strategies to increase sales and staff efficiency.
A VP of sales must work diligently to establish their products in their given market and refine company policies and strategies to increase revenue, while identifying potential issues with products or their marketing. A typical day for a VP of sales includes direct communication with their subordinate sales management staff and analyzing current sales figures to develop ideas about trends or changes in the market.
A vice president of sales must be experienced, knowledgeable, and intelligent. A bachelor’s degree in business or a related field is important, and most companies will look for eight to 10 years of sales or marketing experience.
Vice President (VP), Sales Tasks
- Develop and maintain relationships with internal sales staff, customers, and regulatory agencies.
- Plan, direct, and set the strategic direction of the sales program to maximize profit.
- Oversee sales staff operations, business planning, and budget development.
- Responsible for maximizing the potential sales volume of all segments of the market.
- Ensure services are in compliance with professional and company policy standards.