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What does a sales vice president do?

Updated January 8, 2025
8 min read
Quoted expert
Bill Thorne
What does a sales vice president do

Sales vice presidents are top-level executives at a sales, retail, or marketing corporation. Primarily these executives are tasked to direct and lead a sales department or team within the organization. Their objective is to meet or even exceed the sales or marketing standards set for a successful business operation. They manage brands, deploy sales, and distribute the channels of the company. Also, they oversee the internal operations of the organization to establish customer relationships.

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Sales vice president responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real sales vice president resumes:

  • Set targets, monitor, review and initiate action plans to achieve target KPI's.
  • Manage SaaS product and development teams to deliver new products and execute against quarterly and annual release schedules.
  • Lead development and rebranding efforts for master and sub brands for multiple outlets, business units and operating departments.
  • Manage cross-selling opportunities between all business segments.
  • Manage RFP process that effectively earn numerous business revenue opportunities.
  • Establish and manage strategic OEM relationships and implement additional programs to drive sales success.
  • Conduct extensive RFI RFP evaluations of cloud base software providers identifying the best-in-breed and optimum ROI.
  • Conduct phone interviews and consultative sales presentations to c-suite personnel weekly.
  • Cloud base mobile platform and services provider.
  • Exceed profitability targets 9 out of 11 years as a RVP.
  • Identify and capitalize upon cross-selling opportunities which evolve into $840k new revenue.
  • Coordinate and maintain all calendar and travel activities for both SVP & VP.
  • Assist SVP in dealing with complex activities and events and organize their schedules.
  • Develop strategic and organizational growth plan for 2 start-up organizations.
  • Implement marketing communications activities including SEO website development and create marketing collateral.

Sales vice president skills and personality traits

We calculated that 6% of Sales Vice Presidents are proficient in Sales Process, Healthcare, and Customer Service. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Communication skills, and Customer-service skills.

We break down the percentage of Sales Vice Presidents that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Sales Process, 6%

    Contributed to development of corporate processes and infrastructure including CRM, Miller-Heiman Sales Process, forecast/commit, pipeline management.

  • Healthcare, 6%

    Created strong market awareness of CIGNA HealthCare and its capabilities.

  • Customer Service, 6%

    Implemented internal process improvements by adjusting job responsibilities and hiring key managers to focus on improving customer service and customer retention.

  • Sales Management, 5%

    Direct reports include 15 sales management personnel and 90+ Territory Managers/Account Executives in addition to several specialists and sales coordinators.

  • CRM, 5%

    Collaborated on social media and operations project to expand CRM platform for demand awareness, lead scoring automation and forecast accuracy.

  • Sales Strategy, 5%

    Developed channel sales strategy and expanded into new verticals and technology offerings for leading $4M virtual continuing education provider.

Common skills that a sales vice president uses to do their job include "sales process," "healthcare," and "customer service." You can find details on the most important sales vice president responsibilities below.

Analytical skills. The most essential soft skill for a sales vice president to carry out their responsibilities is analytical skills. This skill is important for the role 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 sales vice president resume shows how their duties depend on analytical skills: "direct sales forecasting activities * analyze budget and sales reports"

Communication skills. Another essential skill to perform sales vice president duties is communication skills. Sales vice presidents responsibilities require that "sales managers need to work with colleagues and customers, so they must be able to communicate clearly." Sales vice presidents also use communication skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "work in conjunction with marketing and product line mangers to plan and execute promotional activities, and key communications. "

Customer-service skills. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of sales vice presidents is customer-service skills. This skill is critical to many everyday sales vice president duties, as "when helping to make a sale, sales managers must listen and respond to the customer’s needs." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "streamlined the selling efforts of both direct sales and brokers to maximize customer development and achieve budgeted goals. "

Leadership skills. For certain sales vice president responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "leadership skills." The day-to-day duties of a sales vice president rely on this skill, as "sales managers must be able to evaluate how their sales staff performs and must develop strategies for meeting sales goals." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what sales vice presidents do: "provided leadership of all global activities related to the support of direct and indirect sales agents. "

All sales vice president skills

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Compare different sales vice presidents

Sales vice president vs. Director, national accounts

A director of national accounts is in charge of spearheading the efforts in expanding client relationships at wide locations. Their responsibilities typically revolve around setting goals and objectives, managing budgets and schedules, developing projects and clients for customer satisfaction, and devising strategies to find new business opportunities. They also develop ways to optimize business procedures, ensuring efficiency and profit growth. Furthermore, as a director, it is essential to lead and encourage the workforce to reach goals, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.

If we compare the average sales vice president annual salary with that of a director, national accounts, we find that directors, national accounts typically earn a $25,164 lower salary than sales vice presidents make annually.While the two careers have a salary gap, they share some of the same responsibilities. Employees in both sales vice president and director, national accounts positions are skilled in sales process, healthcare, and crm.

There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, sales vice president responsibilities require skills like "customer service," "sales management," "sales strategy," and "sales targets." Meanwhile a typical director, national accounts has skills in areas such as "national accounts," "pharmaceutical industry," "gpo," and "c-suite." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.

The education levels that directors, national accounts earn slightly differ from sales vice presidents. In particular, directors, national accounts are 0.9% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a sales vice president. Additionally, they're 0.2% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Sales vice president vs. Director of sales

A sales director is responsible for managing the sales operation of the team, ensuring that members comply with the sales strategies and procedures in meeting sales goals. Sales directors' duties include maintaining consistency of sales targets, providing reports and important updates for sales improvement, managing customers' inquiries and resolving complaints, launching new services to expand product offers, researching the current market trends, and improving sales plans. A sales director must have excellent leadership and decision-making skills to support and acknowledge the team's best efforts.

A career as a director of sales brings a lower average salary when compared to the average annual salary of a sales vice president. In fact, directors of sales salary is $32,455 lower than the salary of sales vice presidents per year.A few skills overlap for sales vice presidents and directors of sales. Resumes from both professions show that the duties of each career rely on skills like "sales process," "healthcare," and "customer service. "

While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that sales vice president responsibilities requires skills like "sales strategy," "real estate," "strategic direction," and "americas." But a director of sales might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "salesforce," "sales strategies," "work ethic," and "home health."

On average, directors of sales earn a lower salary than sales vice presidents. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, directors of sales earn the most pay in the finance industry with an average salary of $124,924. Whereas sales vice presidents have higher pay in the finance industry, with an average salary of $150,209.directors of sales earn similar levels of education than sales vice presidents in general. They're 0.9% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.2% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for sales vice presidents in the next 3-5 years?

Bill ThorneBill Thorne LinkedIn profile

Executive Director of the NRF Foundation and Senior Vice President of Communication and Public Affairs of NRF, National Retail Federation

COVID-19 has accelerated the trends we've seen over the past few years as retailers reimagine the customer experience, blending online and offline channels. Mobile apps provide in-store wayfinding and augmented reality to allow customers to quickly search products and identify their exact locations in the store. Additionally, many retailers offer Buy Online, Pick-up In-Store (BOPIS), or curbside pickup options so that customers can pay and checkout with minimal or no contact. We expect retailers will continue to use a variety of tools to help shoppers find the items they need and want.

Sales vice president vs. Director new business development

A director of new business development is in charge of spearheading new programs and procedures, ensuring efficiency and smooth workflow. It is their duty to set goals and objectives in adherence to the company's vision and mission, establishing guidelines, allocating budgets, and overseeing the progress of all efforts. Furthermore, as a director of new business development, it is essential to lead and encourage the workforce to reach goals, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.

An average director new business development eans a lower salary compared to the average salary of sales vice presidents. The difference in salaries amounts to directors new business development earning a $33,251 lower average salary than sales vice presidents.Using the responsibilities included on sales vice presidents and directors new business development resumes, we found that both professions have similar skill requirements, such as "sales process," "healthcare," and "crm.rdquo;

Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from sales vice president resumes include skills like "customer service," "sales management," "sales strategy," and "customer satisfaction," whereas a director new business development is more likely to list skills in "project management," "business strategies," "treasury," and "corporate clients. "

Directors new business development make a very good living in the energy industry with an average annual salary of $126,576. On the other hand, sales vice presidents are paid the highest salary in the finance industry, with average annual pay of $150,209.When it comes to education, directors new business development tend to earn similar degree levels compared to sales vice presidents. In fact, they're 4.2% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 1.0% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Sales vice president vs. Head of sales

The head of sales is primarily responsible for overseeing the sales performance of a company and devising strategies to optimize practices. Their responsibilities typically revolve around monitoring the progress of every sales effort, setting objectives and deadlines, performing research and analysis to identify sales opportunities, and coordinating with different departments to improve procedures and reach sales targets. Furthermore, as the head of sales, it is essential to lead and encourage the workforce, all while implementing the company's policies and regulations.

Heads of sales typically earn higher pay than sales vice presidents. On average, heads of sales earn a $22,577 higher salary per year.While their salaries may vary, sales vice presidents and heads of sales both use similar skills to perform their duties. Resumes from both professions include skills like "sales process," "customer service," and "crm. "

Even though a few skill sets overlap between sales vice presidents and heads of sales, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a sales vice president might have more use for skills like "healthcare," "sales management," "customer relationships," and "direct sales." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of heads of sales require skills like "product knowledge," "powerpoint," "market trends," and "business relationships. "

The technology industry tends to pay the highest salaries for heads of sales, with average annual pay of $189,378. Comparatively, the highest sales vice president annual salary comes from the finance industry.The average resume of heads of sales showed that they earn similar levels of education compared to sales vice presidents. So much so that theyacirc;euro;trade;re 1.9% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 0.1%.

Types of sales vice president

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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