VP of Sales Job Description Template
Own end-to-end revenue generation, sales strategy, and team leadership for a growing SMB. Build and scale a high-performing sales organization from hiring through compensation, forecast accuracy, and customer acquisition.
Begin with the role. Keep every hiring decision with your team.
Why hire a VP of Sales?
SMBs hit a revenue ceiling with founder-led sales and need a dedicated leader to systematize pipeline generation, hire and retain quota-carrying reps, and establish repeatable sales processes that don't depend on one person.
VP of Sales salary ranges
Approximate annual gross salary bands (Q2 2026). Always adjust for your city, seniority, and the candidate’s experience.
United States
$180,000 – $280,000 base + 20–40% commission/bonus (total comp $220k–$400k+)
United Kingdom
£140,000 – £220,000 base + 15–35% bonus (total comp £160k–£300k)
Eurozone
€160,000 – €250,000 base + 15–30% bonus (total comp €185k–€330k)
VP of Sales responsibilities
- Build and manage a sales team of 3–15 reps, handling recruitment, onboarding, coaching, and performance management to hit individual and team quotas
- Develop a 12-month sales strategy including territory design, pricing, ideal customer profile, and go-to-market approach aligned with product roadmap
- Establish and own monthly/quarterly revenue forecasts with >85% accuracy, flag risks early, and adjust tactics to hit board-committed numbers
- Create and refine a documented sales process covering lead qualification, discovery, demo, negotiation, and close—then measure rep adherence and iterate
- Negotiate and manage relationships with 5–10 strategic partners, resellers, or channel partners where applicable to expand reach without direct headcount
- Own customer retention metrics and work with Customer Success to define account health scoring, reduce churn, and grow annual contract value
Skills & requirements
Required
- 8+ years of B2B sales experience, with at least 3 years in a sales leadership or VP role managing a team
- Proven ability to build and scale a sales function from 0–15+ people, including hiring, training, and accountability systems
- Demonstrated track record of hitting or exceeding annual revenue targets in a SaaS, software, or high-ticket B2B environment
- Expertise with CRM platforms (Salesforce, HubSpot, Pipedrive) and sales analytics; comfort with spreadsheets and data-driven decision-making
- Experience negotiating enterprise or mid-market contracts, including multi-stakeholder deals and complex sales cycles (6–12 month ACV)
- Strong communication skills: ability to pitch to investors, coach reps through objection handling, and present quarterly business reviews to boards
Nice to have
- Track record of opening new markets or launching product lines that drove 20%+ YoY revenue growth
- Experience in a startup or hypergrowth environment where you've scaled revenue from <$5M to $20M+
- Background in the same vertical (SaaS, fintech, HR tech, etc.) as the target SMB, with existing buyer relationships or domain credibility
Copy-ready VP of Sales job description
VP of Sales [Company name] · [City], [Country] · [On-site / Hybrid / Remote] $180,000 – $280,000 base + 20–40% commission/bonus (total comp $220k–$400k+) (US) · £140,000 – £220,000 base + 15–35% bonus (total comp £160k–£300k) (UK) · €160,000 – €250,000 base + 15–30% bonus (total comp €185k–€330k) (EU) — gross/year
Own end-to-end revenue generation, sales strategy, and team leadership for a growing SMB. Build and scale a high-performing sales organization from hiring through compensation, forecast accuracy, and customer acquisition.
Why this role exists SMBs hit a revenue ceiling with founder-led sales and need a dedicated leader to systematize pipeline generation, hire and retain quota-carrying reps, and establish repeatable sales processes that don't depend on one person.
What you'll do
- Build and manage a sales team of 3–15 reps, handling recruitment, onboarding, coaching, and performance management to hit individual and team quotas
- Develop a 12-month sales strategy including territory design, pricing, ideal customer profile, and go-to-market approach aligned with product roadmap
- Establish and own monthly/quarterly revenue forecasts with >85% accuracy, flag risks early, and adjust tactics to hit board-committed numbers
- Create and refine a documented sales process covering lead qualification, discovery, demo, negotiation, and close—then measure rep adherence and iterate
- Negotiate and manage relationships with 5–10 strategic partners, resellers, or channel partners where applicable to expand reach without direct headcount
- Own customer retention metrics and work with Customer Success to define account health scoring, reduce churn, and grow annual contract value
What you'll need
- 8+ years of B2B sales experience, with at least 3 years in a sales leadership or VP role managing a team
- Proven ability to build and scale a sales function from 0–15+ people, including hiring, training, and accountability systems
- Demonstrated track record of hitting or exceeding annual revenue targets in a SaaS, software, or high-ticket B2B environment
- Expertise with CRM platforms (Salesforce, HubSpot, Pipedrive) and sales analytics; comfort with spreadsheets and data-driven decision-making
- Experience negotiating enterprise or mid-market contracts, including multi-stakeholder deals and complex sales cycles (6–12 month ACV)
- Strong communication skills: ability to pitch to investors, coach reps through objection handling, and present quarterly business reviews to boards
Nice to have
- Track record of opening new markets or launching product lines that drove 20%+ YoY revenue growth
- Experience in a startup or hypergrowth environment where you've scaled revenue from <$5M to $20M+
- Background in the same vertical (SaaS, fintech, HR tech, etc.) as the target SMB, with existing buyer relationships or domain credibility
What we offer
- Salary: [range, gross, with currency and time unit]
- [Equity / bonus / commission if applicable]
- [Health, PTO, learning budget, equipment — only what's real]
- [Work mode + flexibility]
About [Company] [2–3 sentences: stage, customers, traction. Keep it specific.]
Want it tailored to your company and country?
Prepare a thoughtful, country-aware listing and keep every application attached to the same hire.
Frequently asked
What does the VP of Sales role involve?
Own end-to-end revenue generation, sales strategy, and team leadership for a growing SMB. Build and scale a high-performing sales organization from hiring through compensation, forecast accuracy, and customer acquisition. SMBs hit a revenue ceiling with founder-led sales and need a dedicated leader to systematize pipeline generation, hire and retain quota-carrying reps, and establish repeatable sales processes that don't depend on one person.
What should the job description for VP of Sales include?
A strong VP of Sales job post has a one-line hook, why the role exists, 6 outcome-led responsibilities, a clear list of required skills, the salary range, and a country-specific compliance line. Use the copy-ready template above as a starting point.
What is typical pay for VP of Sales?
Approximate annual gross bands (Q2 2026): $180,000 – $280,000 base + 20–40% commission/bonus (total comp $220k–$400k+) in the US, £140,000 – £220,000 base + 15–35% bonus (total comp £160k–£300k) in the UK, and €160,000 – €250,000 base + 15–30% bonus (total comp €185k–€330k) in the Eurozone. Adjust for city, seniority, and experience.
How do I write the job description for VP of Sales quickly?
Use Penroll's free job description generator — enter the title and country and it produces a complete, inclusive, salary-formatted VP of Sales post in about 30 seconds, no signup required.
More Sales job descriptions
Account Executive
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Account Manager
Own a portfolio of existing client relationships, drive upsell and retention revenue, and serve as the primary point of contact for customer success. You'll expand account value while ensuring customers hit their goals with our product.
Business Development Manager
Identify and pursue new revenue opportunities by building relationships with prospects, negotiating partnerships, and closing deals. You own the pipeline from lead discovery through contract signature.
Channel Sales Manager
Build and manage a network of reseller and distributor partners to drive revenue growth. You own partner recruitment, enablement, and performance tracking across assigned territories or verticals.
Next step: interview them well
Job post done? The harder part is the interview. We paired every question with what a strong answer sounds like — and the red flag to catch.