Sales specialists are in charge of establishing sales objectives and handle all sales activities in order to fulfil these objectives. Their main responsibilities include preparing promotional materials, handle sales and coordinate and supervise sales staff in performing their daily tasks.

Tasks:

1. Supports the success of an assigned team of salespeople, including Account Managers, and Business Development Sales Representatives.
2. Meets assigned targets for profitable sales growth in assigned product lines.
3. Provides coaching and professional development to team-member sales associates in order to enhance their product knowledge and sales skills.
4. Lead demand-generating marketing activities in the assigned market for the assigned product specialty.
5. Establish productive, professional relationships with key personnel in assigned customer accounts.
6. Coordinate the customer involvement of other company personnel when needed, including support resources, team members, and management.

Key skills for sales specialist:

• Excellent communication and negotiation skills
• Interpersonal competences and presentation skills
• Time management and organization
• Stress endurance
• Ability to work in a team
• Ability to supervise and coordinate a team
• Motivation skills
• Customer service
• Results oriented and detail focused
  
• Basic math and accounting competence
• IT knowledge and computer competences
• Analytic and rational thinking
• Business awareness

Average salary (2014):

The United Kingdom: £29,559 per year
The United States of America: $13.86 per hour
Australia: AU$66,865 per year

Qualifications and training required:

For those who want to work as sales specialists, academic education is a compulsory condition. Most companies require a Bachelor’s Degree in one of these fields: Sales, Accounting, Marketing, Advertising, Economics or Business Administration. Previous experience in sales or promotion as well as coordinating and supervising a team are also very important.