How to hire a distribution sales manager

How to hire a distribution sales manager, step by step

Here's a step-by-step distribution 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 distribution sales manager job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new distribution sales manager
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a distribution sales manager do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The distribution sales manager hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   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 distribution 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 distribution sales manager that fits the bill.

   Here's a comparison of distribution sales manager salaries for various roles:

   Type of Distribution Sales Manager	Description	Hourly rate
   Distribution Sales Manager	Sales managers direct organizations' sales teams. They set sales goals, analyze data, and develop training programs for organizations’ sales representatives.	$17-53
   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... Show more	$36-75
   Regional Sales And Marketing Manager	A regional sales and marketing manager's role is to oversee a company's marketing operations, ensuring efficiency and smooth workflow. Their responsibilities include performing research and analysis to identify new business opportunities, gathering and analyzing data to determine the strengths and weaknesses of current programs and procedures, setting goals and budgets, assessing the performance of the workforce, and monitoring the progress of the different company branches within the region... Show more	$26-58

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Customer Service
   • Customer Complaints
   • Sales People
   • Product Line
   • Retail Store
   • Business Development
   • Customer Relations
   • Route Sales
   • Sales Growth
   • Market Trends
   • Sales Strategies
   • ERP
   • Sales Territory
   • Distribution Channels

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage a distributor network throughout EMEA.
   • Travele to Quito Ecuador to manage opening of Latin American site.
   • Work as part of a team to achieve ISO 9002 certification.
   • Arrange and manage the approval process for EU and Australian product markings.
   • Manage directly a budget of $1.1MM for POS, events, and incentives ,.
   • Manage POS inventory levels and all POS purchasing, including evaluating potential suppliers and cost effectiveness.

   More distribution sales manager duties

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, distribution sales managers' average salary in maine is 62% less than in hawaii.
   • Seniority. Entry-level distribution sales managers earn 67% less than senior-level distribution sales managers.
   • Certifications. A distribution 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 distribution sales manager's salary.

   Average distribution sales manager salary

   $64,821yearly

   $31.16 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level distribution sales manager salary

   $37,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 13, 2025

   Average distribution sales manager salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$88,296	$42
   2	Pennsylvania	$71,097	$34
   3	Nevada	$69,330	$33
   4	Virginia	$69,000	$33
   5	New York	$68,859	$33
   6	New Jersey	$68,717	$33
   7	Georgia	$63,843	$31
   8	Texas	$60,400	$29
   9	Maryland	$59,733	$29
   10	Oregon	$59,647	$29
   11	Florida	$57,345	$28
   12	Illinois	$55,843	$27
   13	Arkansas	$54,627	$26
   14	North Carolina	$53,834	$26
   15	Tennessee	$52,012	$25
   16	New Hampshire	$51,358	$25
   17	Ohio	$50,850	$24
   18	Connecticut	$49,514	$24
   19	Massachusetts	$49,188	$24
   20	Colorado	$48,301	$23

   Average distribution sales manager salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Accenture	$111,203	$53.46	144
   2	Corning Incorporated	$109,189	$52.49	19
   3	IBM	$106,173	$51.04	30
   4	Barnes Group	$98,127	$47.18
   5	General Electric	$90,793	$43.65	3
   6	SABIC Innovative Plastics	$87,485	$42.06
   7	Qualcomm	$83,330	$40.06	6
   8	Enovation Controls	$81,734	$39.30
   9	Topcon Positioning Systems	$68,826	$33.09	23
   10	Phihong USA	$68,149	$32.76	3
   11	Qantas Holidays Limited	$66,286	$31.87
   12	Hunton Group	$65,690	$31.58	12
   13	FFF Enterprises	$65,505	$31.49	4
   14	Doosan Hydro Technology	$65,459	$31.47	6
   15	Raytheon Technologies	$63,764	$30.66
   16	Armstrong World Industries	$61,643	$29.64	3
   17	Hajoca	$59,012	$28.37	1
   18	Nestlé	$58,207	$27.98	20
   19	Sv	$55,667	$26.76
   20	Columbia Sportswear	$54,888	$26.39	2

4. Writing a distribution sales manager job description

   A job description for a distribution 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 distribution sales manager job description:

   Distribution sales manager job description example

   Our Company:
   Launched in 2014 by former philosophy professor David Barnett, PopSockets is a global digital-lifestyle company that sells empowering, fun and expressive products that help people phone better. PopSockets has sold over 230 million of its iconic phone grips in 75 countries and now has an expanding ecosystem of related products, including phone cases, wallets and mounts.
   
   Our mission is to become an eternal positivity machine--an enduring global brand that makes an increasingly positive impact on the health and happiness of the planet. Impact initiatives to date include a commitment to be Climate Neutral in 2022, our Poptivism platform and ChangeUp partnership that have resulted in over $4 million in donations to over 400 non-profits, low-friction recycling programs with TerraCycle, use of 99% recyclable and FSC certified packaging, Fair Labor Association affiliate status with pursuit of accreditation underway, and adoption of an animal-free policy with respect to products and corporate sponsored meals.
   
   In 2021, PopSockets was honored as one of Fast Company's World's Most Innovative Companies.
   
   The Role: **(CANDIDATE MUST BE LOCATED IN CO, CA, FL, NY, or TX)***
   Reports to Senior Sales Manager - Wireless. As a member of the PopSockets Sales Team, the Distribution Sales Manager is a critical revenue driver for the organization in the wireless channel and beyond. The role works closely with the members of the commercial team, inventory planning team, and will have additional cross-functional touch points throughout many parts of the business.
   Success will be based on the ability to understand the critical customer needs, develop and deploy creative selling solutions to drive volume and profitability, analyze customer and consumer trends, and guide the overall strategic direction with both retailers and distribution partners. This role requires a strong influencer who communicates clearly and effectively. Must possess a customer-first mindset with a drive to win and a sense of urgency to compete in the fast-moving Consumer Electronics category.
   ResponsibilitiesOutline strategic growth plan for assigned distribution partners and execute against key metrics of that vision.Manage existing relationships with large and multi-site distributors.Continually generate new areas of opportunity to grow revenue and expand product reach.Create and deploy distributor-specific marketing plans and merchandising initiatives to ensure maximum visibility in retail channels.· Coordinate with retailers and distributors to develop and maintain an accurate demand planning model.Monitor and analyze customers' product consumption and trade spend effectiveness, including proactive inventory management, promotion ROI, and other vendor investment initiatives.Work closely with sales leadership to support all sales initiatives related to revenue generation, customer service, inventory management, forecasting, brand awareness, training, and channel expansion.Conduct quarterly business reviews (QBR) and bi-weekly CPFR phone calls with distribution partners to drive the business forward and identify opportunities for growth.Ability to travel domestically up to 20%.
   Requirements5 - 7 years sales and account management experience in distribution, ideally in consumer electronics or similar CPG category.Familiarity with both the US and Canadian wireless channels strongly preferred.Demonstrated ability to communicate, present, and influence at all levels of an organization.Bachelor's Degree in appropriate field of study or equivalent work experience.Familiarity with order maintenance (ERP, CRM, etc.).Highly versed in the Microsoft Office Suite with specific emphasis in Excel. Comfortable with G-Suite platforms
   Key AttributesExceptionally organized self-starter with proven time and project management skills.Possess problem solving, attention to detail, negotiation, and analytical skills. Action-oriented and flexible. Must thrive in a fast-paced, rapidly changing growth environment.Sense of humor, personal integrity, and appreciation for the power of teamwork.
   Pay range: $90,000 - $105,000 + Bonus
   
   PopSockets is dedicated to the practice of equal opportunity employment. We prohibit unlawful discrimination against applicants and employees on the basis of age, race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, disability, military status, genetic information, color, creed, ancestry, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state or local law. This prohibition includes unlawful harassment based on any of these protected classes. Unlawful harassment includes verbal or physical conduct which has the purpose or effect of interfering with an individual's work performance, or creating an intimidating, hostile, offensive, unsafe or otherwise non-welcoming work environment. This policy applies to all employees, including managers, supervisors, co-workers; and non-employees such as customers, clients, vendors, consultants, etc.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find distribution sales managers for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

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

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with distribution sales manager candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   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 distribution sales manager

   Once you've decided on a perfect distribution sales manager candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   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 distribution 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.)

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