How to hire a direct sales manager

How to hire a direct sales manager, step by step

Here's a step-by-step direct sales manager hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a direct sales manager job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new direct sales manager
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

Post a direct sales manager job for free, promote it for a fee

Post free

1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your direct sales manager job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a direct sales manager for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a direct sales manager to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a direct sales manager that fits the bill.

   This list shows salaries for various types of direct sales managers.

   Type of Direct Sales Manager	Description	Hourly rate
   Direct Sales Manager	Sales managers direct organizations' sales teams. They set sales goals, analyze data, and develop training programs for organizations’ sales representatives.	$38-85
   Business Development Sales Manager	A business development sales manager is in charge of securing sales by reaching out to clients through calls, correspondence, or appointments. Their responsibilities often revolve around performing research and analysis to identify new leads and sales opportunities, offering different products and services, and creating proposals and price quotes for potential clients... Show more	$32-86
   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... Show more	$29-69

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Sales Professionals
   • Account Executives
   • Customer Service
   • Sales Management
   • Payroll
   • Direct Reports
   • Sales Performance
   • Sales Process
   • Sales Objectives
   • Sales Targets
   • Door Sales
   • Performance Management
   • Sales Training
   • Customer Satisfaction

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Lead the SEO team and direct all SEO strategies and initiatives.
   • Leverage other sales office resources and administrative/support staff to achieve personal and team relate revenue goals.
   • Conduct direct sales calls to all key accounts, both distributors and chains.
   • Utilize information technology expertise to develop and maintain web presence, create marketing opportunities, CRM management, and increase productivity.
   • Initiate resource selection, pricing, merchandising and promotion for online store utilizing email, SEO, and social media.
   • Develop ROI models to ensure profit hurdles are meet.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your direct sales manager job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A direct sales manager salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, direct sales managers' average salary in hawaii is 47% less than in oregon.
   • Seniority. Entry-level direct sales managers earn 55% less than senior-level direct sales managers.
   • Certifications. A direct sales manager with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a direct sales manager's salary.

   Average direct sales manager salary

   $120,139yearly

   $57.76 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level direct sales manager salary

   $80,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 16, 2025

4. Writing a direct sales manager job description

   A job description for a direct sales manager role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a direct sales manager job description:

   Direct sales manager job description example

   Comcast brings together the best in media and technology. We drive innovation to create the world's best entertainment and online experiences. As a Fortune 50 leader, we set the pace in a variety of innovative and fascinating businesses and create career opportunities across a wide range of locations and disciplines. We are at the forefront of change and move at an amazing pace, thanks to our remarkable people, who bring cutting-edge products and services to life for millions of customers every day. If you share in our passion for teamwork, our vision to revolutionize industries and our goal to lead the future in media and technology, we want you to fast-forward your career at Comcast.
   
   Responsible for effectively managing and monitoring a senior sales force who sells advanced commercial products to maximize sales revenues and meet corporate objectives on a consistent basis. Assures optimal sales team staffing and training readiness of sales professionals.
   Job Description
   Core Responsibilities
   Motivates team to achieve sales and compliance results by educating sales professionals in sales planning tactics to support their customer's business success.Maintains expertise on Company's products and services to effectively manage team sales of Comcast Commercial services to small-to-medium business customers.Ensures competence and continuity of qualified sales team through optimum selection, training and development, appraisal and motivation techniques.Develops, plans and coordinates sales promotions and incentives to meet business goals and objectives.Monitors employee performance and counsels and advises to ensure compatibility, maximum effectiveness and continued growth on a constant basis. Addresses personnel issues/performance issues in accordance with Company policy.Develops annual sales channel budgets and monthly forecasts for sales performance expectations, commissions, expenses and other special projects.Prepares, analyzes and maintains records of individual and group sales and performance activities relative to business goals and objectives.Designs, implements and manages overall territory team structure. Coordinates efforts with other internal teams and groups to ensure effectiveness and efficiency.Consistent exercise of independent judgment and discretion in matters of significance.Regular, consistent and punctual attendance. Must be able to work nights and weekends, variable schedule(s) and overtime as necessary.Other duties and responsibilities as assigned.
   
   Employees at all levels are expected to:
   Understand our Operating Principles; make them the guidelines for how you do your job.Own the customer experience - think and act in ways that put our customers first, give them seamless digital options at every touchpoint, and make them promoters of our products and services.Know your stuff - be enthusiastic learners, users and advocates of our game-changing technology, products and services, especially our digital tools and experiences.Win as a team - make big things happen by working together and being open to new ideas.Be an active part of the Net Promoter System - a way of working that brings more employee and customer feedback into the company - by joining huddles, making call backs and helping us elevate opportunities to do better for our customers.Drive results and growth.Respect and promote inclusion & diversity.Do what's right for each other, our customers, investors and our communities.
   
   Disclaimer:
   This information has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees in this role. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications.
   
   Comcast is an EOE/Veterans/Disabled/LGBT employer.
   
   We believe that benefits should connect you to the support you need when it matters most, and should help you care for those who matter most. That's why we provide an array of options, expert guidance and always-on tools that are personalized to meet the needs of your reality-to help support you physically, financially and emotionally through the big milestones and in your everyday life.
   Please visit the benefits summary on our careers site for more details.
   
   Education
   Bachelor's Degree
   
   While possessing the stated degree is preferred, Comcast also may consider applicants who hold some combination of coursework and experience, or who have extensive related professional experience.
   
   Certifications (if applicable)
   
   Relative Work Experience
   5-7 Years
   
   Comcast is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. We will consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other basis protected by applicable law.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find direct sales managers for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any direct sales managers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level direct sales managers with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your direct sales manager job on Zippia to find and recruit direct sales manager candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit direct sales managers, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new direct sales manager

   Once you've found the direct sales manager candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new direct sales manager first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

   Sign up to download full list

   Sign up

How much does it cost to hire a direct sales manager?