VP of Sales: Facts, Skills, and Next Paths

A VP of Sales leads the sales organization, setting revenue targets, managing sales teams, and driving business development. They oversee forecasting, account management, and cross-functional collaboration with marketing and product teams, using CRM tools to track pipeline and analytics to report on performance.

Core responsibilities include developing sales strategy, managing key accounts, and expanding into new markets. For example, at G-P, the VP of Sales would drive expansion into over 180 countries using their Global Employment Platform. At Black Duck Software, the role focuses on selling application security solutions to government agencies like the Department of War and US Air Force. This role typically reports to the CEO or CRO and works closely with marketing and product leadership.

The median salary for a VP of Sales is approximately $175,000. The most requested skills in current job postings are Business Development (50%), Forecasting (40%), and Cross-functional Leadership (40%), followed by Analytics & Reporting, Sales Strategy, Account Management, User Acquisition, and CRM (each 30%).