What does a corporate sales manager do?
The job of a corporate sales manager is to direct and supervise an organization's sales operations to ensure that profits are maximized and sales targets are met. The day-to-day duties of a corporate sales manager include overseeing the recruitment and training of new sales staff, monitoring team performance and sales goals, and evaluating employee output and individual sales goals. In addition, you must work closely with the marketing department to ensure that common objectives are consistent and clear.
Corporate sales manager responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real corporate sales manager resumes:
- Achieve results by developing key relationships with OEM facilities, working with OEMs to develop new products.
- Saturate market by cold calling, web leads, RFP's, and brand leads for new business opportunities.
- Manage RFP process for property, making evaluations on lodging programs to accept or reject for best financial interest of company.
- Leverage other sales office resources and administrative/support staff to achieve personal and team relate revenue goals.
- Provide follow up as well as walked clients through their event from moment of booking to post cruise relationship building.
- Perform outside sales calls with large hotels, resorts and national companies.
- Develop market specific products and booking incentives to increase market share custom to individual clients and business-type.
- Generate internal forecasting, logistic coordination, budgeting and short/long range planning to drive business with YOY growth.
- Work with AE on sales and marketing programs for Walmart, Sam's and Costco.
- Prospect and cold call potential customers in SMB segment.
- Identify opportunities and leverage market knowledge to facilitate the delivery of marketing initiatives and liaise with both internal and external partners.
Corporate sales manager skills and personality traits
We calculated that 11% of Corporate Sales Managers are proficient in Corporate Sales, Booking, and Trade Shows. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Communication skills, and Customer-service skills.
We break down the percentage of Corporate Sales Managers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Corporate Sales, 11%
Promoted to Corporate Sales Manager bypassing three management positions upon completion of college internship.
- Booking, 9%
Provided follow up as well as walked clients through their event from moment of booking to post cruise relationship building.
- Trade Shows, 6%
Managed trade shows on site as Forum Manager performing customer service, networking and logistical coordination of exhibit equipment.
- Sales Strategies, 5%
Maintained and cultivated existing client accounts while executing sales strategies to maximize profitability of the resort while ensuring guest satisfaction.
- Cold Calls, 4%
Maximized quality and quantity of sales opportunities by developing a unique cold calling strategy.
- Repeat Business, 3%
Worked directly with growers to develop and nurture working relationships and solidify long-term repeat business.
Most corporate sales managers use their skills in "corporate sales," "booking," and "trade shows" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential corporate sales manager responsibilities here:
Analytical skills. One of the key soft skills for a corporate sales manager to have is analytical skills. You can see how this relates to what corporate sales managers do because "sales managers must collect and interpret complex data to target the most promising geographic areas and demographic groups, and determine the most effective sales strategies." Additionally, a corporate sales manager resume shows how corporate sales managers use analytical skills: "determined guest room rates, prepared proposals, negotiates contracts, serviced accounts and analyzed lost business within my corporate market. "
Communication skills. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling corporate sales manager duties is communication skills. The role rewards competence in this skill because "sales managers need to work with colleagues and customers, so they must be able to communicate clearly." According to a corporate sales manager resume, here's how corporate sales managers can utilize communication skills in their job responsibilities: "direct sales of j2's business-critical communications and messaging services through its global communications/telephony/messaging network. "
Customer-service skills. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of corporate sales managers is customer-service skills. This skill is critical to many everyday corporate sales manager duties, as "when helping to make a sale, sales managers must listen and respond to the customer’s needs." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "managed direct sales, customer service, and brand awareness to promote new business with corporate clients. "
Leadership skills. A big part of what corporate sales managers do relies on "leadership skills." You can see how essential it is to corporate sales manager responsibilities because "sales managers must be able to evaluate how their sales staff performs and must develop strategies for meeting sales goals." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical corporate sales manager tasks: "define criteria for sales team and, through leadership and training, empower and motivate corporate sales group. "
The three companies that hire the most corporate sales managers are:
- Winter Park Resort10 corporate sales managers jobs
- Ilitch Holdings4 corporate sales managers jobs
- ADP3 corporate sales managers jobs
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Compare different corporate sales managers
Corporate sales manager vs. Product manager/sales
A sales product manager is responsible for monitoring the sales performance of a specific product and ensuring that the marketing strategies adhere to market standards and client requirements. Sales product managers work closely with the marketing and public relations team to enhance the product's brand image on various market platforms to reach the target audience. They also conduct data and statistical analysis to identify business opportunities that would generate more revenue resources and increase the company's profitability.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a corporate sales manager are more likely to require skills like "corporate sales," "booking," "cold calls," and "repeat business." On the other hand, a job as a product manager/sales requires skills like "customer service," "product sales," "pos," and "product management." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Product managers/sales tend to make the most money working in the education industry, where they earn an average salary of $108,541. In contrast, corporate sales managers make the biggest average salary, $90,707, in the manufacturing industry.The education levels that product managers/sales earn slightly differ from corporate sales managers. In particular, product managers/sales are 2.2% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a corporate sales manager. Additionally, they're 0.5% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Corporate sales manager vs. Sales account manager
The account sales manager is in charge of the retention of their customer relationship. They have to supervise the portfolio of existing clients, develop new business with them, and seek new sales opportunities. Account sales managers act as liaisons between the company and customer as well as build strong, long-lasting relationships by providing an improved customer experience. It is their responsibility to negotiate contracts and close deals to maximize sales profits. Also, they forecast track sales results and prepare reports on account status.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that corporate sales manager responsibilities requires skills like "corporate sales," "booking," "repeat business," and "market trends." But a sales account manager might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "customer service," "crm," "customer satisfaction," and "product knowledge."
Sales account managers may earn a lower salary than corporate sales managers, but sales account managers earn the most pay in the technology industry with an average salary of $68,777. On the other hand, corporate sales managers receive higher pay in the manufacturing industry, where they earn an average salary of $90,707.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Sales account managers tend to reach similar levels of education than corporate sales managers. In fact, they're 0.3% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.5% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for corporate sales managers in the next 3-5 years?
Bill Thorne
Executive Director of the NRF Foundation and Senior Vice President of Communication and Public Affairs of NRF, National Retail Federation
Corporate sales manager vs. Sales support manager
A sales support manager is responsible for monitoring the sales operations of an organization, evaluating the sales performance, and conducting data analysis and research to identify business opportunities that would generate more revenue resources and increase the company's profitability. Sales support managers also meet with existing potential clients to discuss services and negotiate contracts, responding to their inquiries and concerns, and addressing their requests. They also handle the training and programs for the sales staff to maximize efficiency and productivity to meet target goals and increase sales volume.
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from corporate sales manager resumes include skills like "corporate sales," "booking," "cold calls," and "repeat business," whereas a sales support manager is more likely to list skills in "project management," "crm," "salesforce," and "excellent interpersonal. "
Sales support managers earn the highest salary when working in the professional industry, where they receive an average salary of $106,396. Comparatively, corporate sales managers have the highest earning potential in the manufacturing industry, with an average salary of $90,707.Most sales support managers achieve a similar degree level compared to corporate sales managers. For example, they're 1.4% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Corporate sales manager vs. National accounts sales manager
A national accounts sales manager is responsible for maintaining healthy business relationships with clients by managing and monitoring the performance of their accounts. National accounts sales managers establish reasonable sales targets and develop techniques that would maximize sales staff productivity and efficiency. They conduct data and statistical analysis with the current market trends to identify business opportunities that would generate more revenue resources and increase profitability. A national accounts sales manager negotiates contracts and agreements with clients and ensures their brand consistency in the market.
Types of corporate sales manager
Updated January 8, 2025
