What does a global sales manager do?
A global sales manager oversees the daily operations of businesses with international sales territories. Their responsibilities include managing sales departments, establishing guidelines, researching new business and client opportunities, generating leads, building positive relationships with clients, and preparing sales reports, presenting them to the executives. They may also gather and analyze data and develop strategies to optimize operations. Moreover, as a global sales manager, they must lead and encourage staff to reach goals while implementing the company's policies and regulations.
Global sales manager responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real global sales manager resumes:
- Introduce a foreign manufacture into a dominant domestic automotive and aerospace markets while achieving business goals and domestic tool production plans.
- Design entire sales/marketing process (ROI's, samples, training, newsletters, CRM, etc.
- Train manufacturers' representatives in OEM selling for key markets.
- Identify and develop product specifications, secure OEM and corporate approvals, and coordinate launch strategies for product commercialization.
- Establish a record of executive leadership in guiding this national occupational healthcare services provider to record levels of sales and profitability.
- Coordinate AveraPOS POS CMR program for tracking and analyzing customer sales and inventory data.
- Develop and deliver monthly PowerPoint presentations on territory status; prepare monthly product analysis and territory analysis reports.
Global sales manager skills and personality traits
We calculated that 14% of Global Sales Managers are proficient in Global Sales, CRM, and Sales Process. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Communication skills, and Customer-service skills.
We break down the percentage of Global Sales Managers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Global Sales, 14%
Coordinate the standardization of all global sales processes and procedures increasing the accuracy /consistency of global quotations.
- CRM, 14%
Migrated Pitney's Global Client Retention team (8 Countries, 200 Users) from the existing Siebel CRM to SFDC.
- Sales Process, 13%
Identified and streamlined sales processes for increased efficiency.
- Customer Satisfaction, 11%
Focus on maximum revenue and margin generation while assuring customer satisfaction.
- Sales Support, 6%
Manage three sales support team members.
- Sales Training, 6%
Developed sales training materials for domestic and international sales distribution channels.
Most global sales managers use their skills in "global sales," "crm," and "sales process" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential global sales manager responsibilities here:
Analytical skills. One of the key soft skills for a global sales manager to have is analytical skills. You can see how this relates to what global 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 global sales manager resume shows how global sales managers use analytical skills: "gain insight into prospects business processes and develop value-add business solutions including roi analysis. "
Communication skills. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling global 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 global sales manager resume, here's how global sales managers can utilize communication skills in their job responsibilities: "expand communication between sales & product management to improve client/vendor relationship, increasing sales and customer satisfaction within target markets. "
Customer-service skills. This is an important skill for global sales managers to perform their duties. For an example of how global sales manager responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "when helping to make a sale, sales managers must listen and respond to the customer’s needs." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a global sales manager: "developed and executed customer business planning process identifying must win opportunities and product lines. ".
Leadership skills. A big part of what global sales managers do relies on "leadership skills." You can see how essential it is to global 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 global sales manager tasks: "provided operational leadership including strategic planning, resource allocation, forecasting, roi, and budget optimization. "
The three companies that hire the most global sales managers are:
- Amazon4 global sales managers jobs
- ServiceNow4 global sales managers jobs
- HSBC Bank4 global sales managers jobs
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Compare different global sales managers
Global 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 global sales manager are more likely to require skills like "global sales," "oil gas," "training programs," and "direct reports." On the other hand, a job as a product manager/sales requires skills like "customer service," "product sales," "pos," and "cycle 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, global sales managers make the biggest average salary, $104,039, in the manufacturing industry.The education levels that product managers/sales earn slightly differ from global sales managers. In particular, product managers/sales are 7.5% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a global sales manager. Additionally, they're 0.3% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Global sales manager vs. Sales development manager
Sales Development Managers oversee a specific function in the sales department. They are in charge of creating sales pitches, communication tools, and strategies to boost the company's sales performance. They may be assigned to do these activities for a specific product or service or for the whole product line of the organization. Sales Development Managers are also expected to create branding images that will help their sales strategies. They are required to fully understand the company's history, image, and target market. This will ensure that the branding and sales strategies they create are in line with the company's values.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that global sales manager responsibilities requires skills like "global sales," "oil gas," "direct sales," and "product management." But a sales development manager might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "sdr," "salesforce," "customer service," and "lead generation."
Sales development managers may earn a higher salary than global sales managers, but sales development managers earn the most pay in the manufacturing industry with an average salary of $107,980. On the other hand, global sales managers receive higher pay in the manufacturing industry, where they earn an average salary of $104,039.In general, sales development managers achieve similar levels of education than global sales managers. They're 3.7% less likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.3% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for global 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
Global sales manager vs. 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. A business development sales manager may also tailor payment plans, process billing, participate in various marketing initiatives, and produce progress reports. Furthermore, it is essential to ensure customer satisfaction and build positive relationships to strengthen the company's client base.
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, global sales managers are more likely to have skills like "global sales," "customer satisfaction," "oil gas," and "sales support." But a business development sales manager is more likely to have skills like "customer service," "healthcare," "business relationships," and "salesforce."
Business development sales managers earn the best pay in the professional industry, where they command an average salary of $130,807. Global sales managers earn the highest pay from the manufacturing industry, with an average salary of $104,039.Most business development sales managers achieve a lower degree level compared to global sales managers. For example, they're 5.5% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.3% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Global 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.
Types of global sales manager
Updated January 8, 2025
