How to hire a local sales manager

How to hire a local sales manager, step by step

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the local sales manager you need to hire. Certain local 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

   A local sales manager's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, local sales managers from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

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

   Type of Local Sales Manager	Description	Hourly rate
   Local Sales Manager	Sales managers direct organizations' sales teams. They set sales goals, analyze data, and develop training programs for organizations’ sales representatives.	$28-56
   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... Show more	$31-75
   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:

   • Account Management
   • Customer Satisfaction
   • Sales Process
   • Account Executives
   • Media Sales
   • Sales Strategies
   • Sales Management
   • Business Development
   • Digital Sales
   • Integrated Marketing
   • Sales Presentations
   • Digital Marketing
   • Local Clients
   • Sales Plan

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Participate in annual seminars from managing AE's to training on new computer systems for sales, programming and production.
   • Leverage other sales office resources and administrative/support staff to achieve personal and team relate revenue goals.
   • Oversee day-to-day administration of CRM system.
   • Monitor sales activity within Salesforce CRM tool.
   • Partner with dealership management to create a positive environment that are directed towards sales generation and attainment of dealership goals.
   • Hire, train, and develop new business/project revenue AE's, in addition to developing projects for them to sell.

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, local sales managers' average salary in hawaii is 46% less than in washington.
   • Seniority. Entry-level local sales managers earn 49% less than senior-level local sales managers.
   • Certifications. A local 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 local sales manager's salary.

   Average local sales manager salary

   $84,983yearly

   $40.86 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level local sales manager salary

   $60,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 27, 2025

4. Writing a local sales manager job description

   A local 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 a local sales manager job description:

   Local sales manager job description example

   Nexstar's KTVI/KPLR, has an exciting opportunity for a Local Sales Manager at the only duopoly and the largest local broadcast and digital footprint in St. Louis, market rank 23.
   
   The Local Sales Manager for KTVI/KPLR is responsible for leading a team of sellers in a positive and collaborative way. Our new sales manager will have a creative mindset, a proven track record of growing revenue and share across both broadcast and digital platforms and a proven track record with development of new business. We are looking for a strong leader with a passion for creating solutions for our customers using the power of our media assets. If this sounds like your next opportunity, we are excited to hear from you!
   Primary responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
   Develops and executes sales strategies which result in hitting revenue goals in local, new business and digital revenue
   Help develop and implement client-based solutions and effective sales presentations to generate new local direct business
   Strong presentation skills
   Track and accurately forecast pending business
   Manage recruitment, training, evaluation and development of sales team
   Manage Accounts Receivable
   Develop and maintain excellent client relationships, making sales calls with your Account Executives
   Manage inventory control, rate structure and keep orders flowing into traffic system
   Sustain effective internal systems to ensure Account Executives are on track to achieve individual revenue goals
   Requirements & Skills:
   Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Advertising or Mass Communications, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and work-related experience
   Minimum of three-five years in media sales experience
   Fluency in English
   Excellent communication skills, both oral and written
   Valid driver's license with an acceptable driving record
   Experience guiding, directing and motivating personnel, including setting and monitoring performance standards
   
   Experience establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them
   
   Ability to identify the developmental needs of others and to coach, mentor and help them improve their knowledge and skills
   Experience with Wide Orbit Traffic, Wide Orbit Media Sales, Matrix, Nielsen and Comscore is preferred

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right local sales manager for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your local sales manager job on Zippia to find and recruit local 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 local 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.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to 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 local sales manager

   Once you've found the local 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 equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new local sales manager. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are 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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