The director of marketing and sales will oversee the development of policies, procedures and objectives for marketing and selling the organization’s products and services. This job requires overseeing product/service development, pricing, marketing budgets, and sales objectives. The person in this role often directs the sales force, marketing staff and/or distributors and provides marketing expertise to the executive management team.

The marketing director will determine the demand for products and services, study competitors and identify potential customers. Often times it is their job to develop pricing strategies with the goal of maximizing the company’s profits or share of the market while ensuring the firm’s customers are satisfied. They will also oversee product development or monitor trends that indicate the need for new products and services.

Responsibilities include:

• Consulting with product development teams on product specifications such as design, color, and packaging.
• Describing product or service offerings.
• Establishing distribution networks and developing distribution strategies.
• Forecasting sales and strategic planning to ensure the sale and profitability of products, lines, or services
• Initiating market research studies and analyzing their findings.
• Analyzing business developments and monitoring market trends.
• Negotiating contracts with vendors and distributors to manage product distribution.
• Working with legal staff to resolve problems, (e.g. copyright infringement and royalty sharing with outside distributors.)
• Selecting products and accessories to be displayed at trade or special production shows.
• Consult with buying personnel regarding the types of products or services expected to be in demand.

Average Salary: $168,106

Average Hours (per week): Long hours, including evenings and weekends are common. 40 to 50 plus hours per week with substantial travel at times. A director must work well under pressure and thrive on meeting deadlines and goals. Advertising, marketing, promotions, public relations, and sales managers work in offices close to those of top managers.

Union: No

Certifications: For marketing, this position usually requires a four year degree and eight or more years of relevant experience, and employers often prefer a bachelor’s or master’s degree in business administration with an emphasis on marketing. Courses in business law, sales management, economics, accounting, finance, mathematics, and statistics are also helpful, as is the completion of an internship while the candidate is in school is highly recommended.

Training Period: Varies per industry category.

Strongest Market(s): Anywhere. There is a trend today for marketing jobs to be dispersed throughout the United States, but primarily concentrated in large metro areas like New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, and Washington, D.C.

Entry Level Salary: $92,438

Top Salary: $196,345

Job Growth Forecast: Overall employment of interactive marketing is expected to increase by 13 percent through 2018. The marketing industry is expected to increase faster than average, spurred by intense domestic and global competition in products and services offered to consumers and online marketing. Marketing jobs are highly coveted and are growing faster than the national average.

Related posts:

1. SPV/Vice President, Marketing
2. Marketing Assistant (or Coordinator)
3. Advertising Manager
4. SVP/Vice President, Interactive Marketing
5. Advertising Sales Agent