How to hire an international sales manager

How to hire an international sales manager, step by step

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

What does an international sales manager do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the international sales manager you need to hire. Certain international sales manager roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect international sales manager also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   The following list breaks down different types of international sales managers and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of International Sales Manager	Description	Hourly rate
   International Sales Manager	Sales managers direct organizations' sales teams. They set sales goals, analyze data, and develop training programs for organizations’ sales representatives.	$22-50
   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
   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

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Product Development
   • Sales Growth
   • Distribution Channels
   • Business Development
   • Sales Strategies
   • R
   • International Business
   • Sales Plan
   • Product Line
   • Direct Sales
   • International Travel
   • International Markets
   • Sales Reps
   • Account Management

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage an average of $8M annual EDI transactions during 2009-YTD.
   • Lead a global marketing team across Asia, Europe and the Americas.
   • Lead marketing and sales efforts for communication satellite systems in Asia-Pacific.
   • Accomplish and over exceed goals set by company parameter regarding customer service, logistics operations cost management and customer retention.
   • Work closely with the online department on the implementation and execution of creative elements for affiliate campaigns, SEO and SEM.
   • Supervise search engine optimization, SEM, channel partners and online advertising teams.

   More international sales manager duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your international sales manager job description helps attract top candidates to the position. An international sales manager salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

   For example, the average salary for an international sales manager in Arkansas may be lower than in Nevada, and an entry-level international sales manager usually earns less than a senior-level international sales manager. Additionally, an international sales manager with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

   Average international sales manager salary

   $71,128yearly

   $34.20 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level international sales manager salary

   $47,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 15, 2025

   Average international sales manager salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$90,844	$44
   2	Oregon	$88,168	$42
   3	Nevada	$88,153	$42
   4	District of Columbia	$86,267	$41
   5	Virginia	$86,160	$41
   6	Delaware	$84,434	$41
   7	Massachusetts	$81,506	$39
   8	New York	$81,359	$39
   9	Indiana	$81,163	$39
   10	Maryland	$77,207	$37
   11	Louisiana	$75,471	$36
   12	Texas	$71,996	$35
   13	Minnesota	$67,115	$32
   14	Georgia	$66,752	$32
   15	Illinois	$66,199	$32
   16	Colorado	$60,815	$29
   17	Florida	$51,557	$25
   18	Puerto Rico	$49,159	$24

   Average international sales manager salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	UBS	$108,741	$52.28	3
   2	Wayfair	$106,500	$51.20	2
   3	Henry Schein	$104,692	$50.33	14
   4	Parker Palm Springs	$104,508	$50.24
   5	Brother USA	$101,437	$48.77
   6	Koch Industries	$100,606	$48.37	3
   7	Delta Air Lines	$98,313	$47.27	2
   8	Kaplan	$97,700	$46.97	2
   9	HMSHost	$95,936	$46.12
   10	PUMP	$95,794	$46.05	3
   11	Lyndex-Nikken	$95,380	$45.86
   12	HM Electronics	$93,071	$44.75	6
   13	Summer Infant	$92,786	$44.61
   14	Fortune Plastic & Metal	$91,825	$44.15
   15	Federal Signal	$91,438	$43.96	11
   16	Milk Specialties Global	$91,366	$43.93
   17	American Outdoor Brands	$90,691	$43.60
   18	Abercrombie & Fitch Co	$90,641	$43.58
   19	Daimler Trucks North America	$89,777	$43.16	1
   20	Ldr	$87,908	$42.26

4. Writing an international sales manager job description

   An international sales manager job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of an international sales manager job description:

   International sales manager job description example

   What makes DHL great? Our People! We know each employee's individual contributions make us the #1 Express Delivery and Logistics Company in the world.

   Distinguished as No. 1 World's Best Workplace™ by Great Place to Work and Fortune Magazine
   

   DHL Express is committed to maintaining an environment that empowers every team member to make the greatest possible impact on our business. Our corporate culture is about personal commitment - to our business, to each other and to our global communities. DHL is dedicated to being a great place to work. In addition to competitive compensation packages, our employees enjoy a range of programs, services and benefits that bring the best to their personal lives.

   Start YOUR career with DHL today…

   Do you have a record of Sales Success and Achievement? Do you consider yourself an Outgoing Hunter? Are you self-motivated? Are you Competitive by Nature? THEN you might be exactly what DHL needs on the team.

   The Certified International Specialists at DHL Express USA are looking for the next Manager of International Sales to consult with business owners and introduce them to the #1 Logistics Company in the world. As a sales professional at DHL you will own a territory and direct the largest, most complex and most strategically significant negotiations, reaching agreements that have significant impact on DPDHL's bottom line.

   The person who will thrive in this pivotal role must have the skills to maintain a high-level of customer service with existing customers and leverage relationships to expand business. In addition, the international sales professional will actively monitor and review customer global sales activity and make adjustments to processes and strategies to help the business grow. Entrepreneurial professionals in this role enjoy a generous commission & sales incentive plan. Sound interesting?

   How will you contribute to the success of DHL?

   Key Responsibilities:

   • Uncover opportunities for new business within assigned territory by cultivating leads and utilizing your networks
   • Design customized presentations to showcase DHL services to decision makers and close new business
   • Build revenue streams with current customers and evaluate opportunities to increase the relationship through: face to face visits, problem solving and administrative follow-up
   • Leverage you knowledge of the DHL Network as a Certified International Specialist Master to help businesses improve their relationships with customers
   • Ensure high post-sale satisfaction and positive long-term relationships
   • Collaborate with Sales and Operations teams to maximize sales and revenue growth within territory

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find international 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 international sales manager job on Zippia to find and recruit international sales manager candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit international sales managers, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up 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 international sales manager

   Once you have selected a candidate for the international sales manager position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

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 an international sales manager?