Sales Executive Job Description
Hire a practical, target-focused Sales Executive to grow revenue, develop client relationships and convert opportunities across your assigned territory or accounts.
What does a Sales Executive professional do?
A Sales Executive identifies and converts sales opportunities, manages a sales pipeline and hits individual and team revenue targets through outreach, presentations and negotiations.
Sales Executive job description template
Use this employer-ready example as a starting point, then replace the placeholders and adjust the content so it accurately reflects your vacancy.
Sales Executive
About the role
[Company Name] is recruiting a Sales Executive based in [Location] to generate new business and expand relationships with existing customers. You will prospect, qualify leads, present solutions, negotiate terms and maintain accurate pipeline data in the CRM. This role offers a base salary plus commission [Salary or band] and may require travel within an assigned territory. To apply, send your CV to [email address].
Key responsibilities
- Prospect and generate new business through cold outreach, referrals and networking
- Qualify leads, manage a personal sales pipeline and progress opportunities to close
- Deliver product or service demonstrations and tailored client presentations
- Prepare quotations, proposals and negotiate commercial terms to meet margin and revenue targets
- Close sales and manage the handover to operations or account management teams
- Maintain up-to-date records in the CRM and produce regular sales reports and forecasts
- Collaborate with marketing to convert campaigns and feedback market insight to product teams
- Represent the company at client meetings, trade events and conferences where required
Essential skills and experience
- Proven track record in a sales role with demonstrable target achievement
- Strong verbal and written communication and negotiation skills
- Experience using a CRM to manage pipeline and update sales activity
- Ability to work independently and manage time across prospecting and client meetings
- Right to work in the UK
Desirable
- Experience selling in the same industry or to similar customer types
- Formal sales training or relevant sales qualification (e.g. B2B selling, consultative sales)
- Full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle for field-based roles
- Experience with proposal software or quotation tools
- Existing relationships or networks in the target sector
What we offer
- Competitive base salary plus commission/bonus scheme (details to be confirmed)
- Car allowance or company vehicle (where role requires travel)
- Pension contribution
- Private medical insurance (employer-funded option)
- Mobile phone and laptop
- Flexible and hybrid working options
How to apply
Apply with your CV and any additional information requested. Make the interview process, closing date and any assessment stages clear where known.
Use this as a starting point rather than a final advert. The strongest version will reflect the real role, salary, location, systems, responsibilities, benefits and working arrangements.
What is a Sales Executive role?
A Sales Executive sells products or services to new and existing customers by generating leads, conducting presentations and negotiating contracts. They manage a personal sales pipeline using a CRM, convert opportunities into revenue, and work with marketing and operations to ensure successful delivery. Sales Executives often cover a territory or sector and are measured on targets, margin and customer retention.
Role type
Customer-facing sales role; can be field-based, inside sales or mixed
Hours
Typically full-time with occasional evening or early meetings; flexible hours depending on client needs
Key metric
Individual revenue/targets and pipeline conversion rates
Location
Fixed office, hybrid or territory-based depending on the vacancy
Typical Sales Executive responsibilities
Responsibilities should reflect the real scope of the vacancy rather than every task someone in this profession might ever complete.
Prospect
Prospect and generate new business through cold outreach, referrals and networking
Qualify leads
Qualify leads, manage a personal sales pipeline and progress opportunities to close
Deliver product or service demonstrations
Deliver product or service demonstrations and tailored client presentations
Prepare quotations
Prepare quotations, proposals and negotiate commercial terms to meet margin and revenue targets
Close sales
Close sales and manage the handover to operations or account management teams
Maintain up-to-date records in the CRM
Maintain up-to-date records in the CRM and produce regular sales reports and forecasts
Collaborate with marketing
Collaborate with marketing to convert campaigns and feedback market insight to product teams
Represent the company at client meetings
Represent the company at client meetings, trade events and conferences where required
Sales Executive skills and experience to look for
Keep the essential list focused on what the person really needs to perform the role. Move useful-but-trainable experience into desirable criteria.
Usually worth prioritising
- Proven track record in a sales role with demonstrable target achievement
- Strong verbal and written communication and negotiation skills
- Experience using a CRM to manage pipeline and update sales activity
- Ability to work independently and manage time across prospecting and client meetings
- Right to work in the UK
Useful where relevant
- Experience selling in the same industry or to similar customer types
- Formal sales training or relevant sales qualification (e.g. B2B selling, consultative sales)
- Full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle for field-based roles
- Experience with proposal software or quotation tools
- Existing relationships or networks in the target sector
See our guide to what to include in a job advert before publishing.
How to write a Sales Executive job advert
Small role-specific details can make the advert much easier for suitable candidates to assess.
Lead with outcomes
Open the advert with the commercial goals and the typical monthly or annual targets the role will influence — candidates want clarity on what success looks like.
Quantify achievements to attract high performers
Request concrete examples in applications (for example: 'Closed £X of new business in 12 months' or 'Increased renewal rate by Y%') to screen for proven sellers.
Be explicit about travel and territory
State whether the role requires regular travel, overnight stays or a company car so applicants can self-assess fit before applying.
Clarify earning structure
Briefly describe the commission model (uncapped/capped, pay-out frequency, on-target earnings) or say where candidates can see the full scheme during interview.
Sales Executive salary considerations
Sales pay varies widely by sector, experience and commission structure. Instead of a single figure, consider how base salary, commission, bonuses and non-cash benefits combine to form total earnings when setting or advertising pay.
depending on experience
- Use a genuine range
- Separate variable pay
- Avoid “competitive” alone
- Match salary to seniority
What Sales Executive candidates will want to know
Practical details can influence whether a suitable candidate applies, even when the title and salary are attractive.
How is commission structured and what is typical on-target earnings?
Candidates need to know whether commission is uncapped, how it is calculated, when it is paid and what an achievable OTE looks like.
Will I have an assigned territory or accounts and how much travel is expected?
Experienced sellers will want clarity on travel frequency, overnight stays and whether a company vehicle or mileage expenses are provided.
What are the sales targets and how are they set?
Applicants will ask how targets are measured (monthly/quarterly), whether they are individual or team-based and how realistic the targets are.
What training and career progression is available?
Candidates want to know about initial onboarding, sales coaching, product training and promotion pathways to senior sales or account roles.
Which CRM and sales tools does the business use?
Sellers often prefer roles using modern CRM and pipeline management tools and will ask about access to lead lists and marketing support.
Who will I work with day-to-day?
Clarify reporting lines, whether there is a sales support function and how closely the role works with marketing, product or delivery teams.
Where to post a Sales Executive job
For a Sales Executive, advertise across broad UK job boards and professional networks like LinkedIn to attract active and passive candidates. Use sector-specific boards and trade publications when hiring for technical or niche products, and local/regional channels for territory-based roles. Consider shortlisting from inbound applicants and supplementing with candidate searches or specialist sales recruiters for hard-to-fill sectors.
Related sales / business development job descriptions
Recruiting for a slightly different role? These templates may be a closer fit.
Sales Executive job description FAQs
Do I need a degree to hire a Sales Executive?
No — many effective salespeople do not hold a degree. Employers should prioritise demonstrable sales results, sector knowledge and interpersonal skills over formal academic qualifications unless the product requires technical expertise.
When should I advertise a field role as requiring a driving licence?
Specify a driving licence and vehicle requirement only when the role involves regular travel or where the employer cannot reasonably provide alternative transport arrangements. Be clear whether mileage is reimbursed or a car allowance is provided.
How long will it typically take to fill this role?
Time-to-hire varies by sector and seniority. For mid-level Sales Executives expect several weeks to two months from posting to offer, longer if sourcing passive candidates or niche experience is required.
What probation period should I offer?
A common probation period is three to six months; use this time to assess pipeline development, target progression and cultural fit. Ensure objectives during probation are realistic and measurable.
Should I advertise specific sales targets in the job advert?
Yes — including target bands or a clear indication of expectations helps attract candidates who are confident they can perform and reduces unsuitable applications. If targets are confidential, indicate typical KPIs instead.
Ready to hire a Sales Executive?
Use this template to create a tailored advert, then advertise on the channels that best match the role (national boards, sector sites and LinkedIn). If you need support reaching qualified sales candidates, consider targeted job board packages or specialist recruitment partners.
