Hiring a national sales director
We recruit national sales directors who build sales structure, lead managers and deliver a national number.
What a national sales director does
National sales directors lead the full sales organization in a country, usually through regional managers. They set structure, territories and compensation, own the national forecast and work closely with marketing, finance and the general manager.
Typical territory: National, sometimes Canada and the US together.
Also called: National Sales Manager, Director of National Sales. Job titles vary by company, and we recruit at this level whatever the title is.
What we screen for
- Leadership of leaders, with results across a full country.
- Experience designing territories and compensation plans.
- Partnership with marketing, finance and senior leadership.
- Hiring results at the manager level.
Common hiring mistakes
- Hiring a strong regional manager who has never led managers.
- Overlooking cross-border experience when the role spans Canada and the US.
- Moving too slowly; strong directors are rarely on the market for long.
Specialties where we fill this role
What hiring leaders say
80+ five-star reviews on Google. See more reviews
Have been working with Linda and Brad for close to 2 years now and both have been tremendously supportive and communicative. I have learn so much from them!!! Their quick turnaround always results with great potential candidates and consequently, great additions to our team. I mostly enjoy our touchbase calls :) - Always a pleasure!!
I have worked with Linda for over 10 years. Linda and her team have been a true pleasure to work with. Linda is a dedicated professional who consistently delivers!
Linda is an amazing business and talent advisor for her clients, She goes over and above to deliver excellent care and service at all times. Clients rave about her customer care and advice.
Questions hiring managers ask
Do you run confidential searches for sales directors?
Ask us in the first consult. Leadership searches often call for discretion, and we agree how to handle it before we begin.
Can you recruit a national director for a company new to Canada?
Yes.
How long does a leadership search take?
Our average across searches is 60 days to hire; senior searches can take longer, and we set expectations at kickoff.
Related roles
- Regional or District Sales Manager
- VP of Sales
- VP of Sales and Marketing
- Director of Sales
- Director of Marketing
- Country Sales Manager
- Sales and Marketing Director
- VP of Marketing
- General Manager
- Director of Business Development
- Director of Product Management
- Director of Operations
- Director of Production
- How we recruit
Tell us about the role you need to fill
Book a free hiring consult. We will learn about the role, the territory and your team, then start the search within 24 hours of the kickoff meeting.
- Call (905) 333-9188 or toll-free (866) 333-9188
- Recruiting across Canada and the United States
Book a hiring consult
Page last reviewed October 2026.