Commercial director
Also known as: commercial marketing specialist, commercial manager, commercial strategy director, marketing director, chief commercial officer, business development director
About this occupation
Commercial directors are responsible for the income generation for the commercial sector of their company. They manage several commercial tasks such as setting targets, overseeing the development of products, planning and developing selling efforts, managing sales agents, and determining product prices.
Essential skills and knowledge
- use analytics for commercial purposes
- implement marketing strategies
- manage sales teams
- build business relationships
- align efforts towards business development
- customer relationship management
- integrate new products in manufacturing
- manage contracts
- commercial law
- product comprehension
- develop professional network
- risk management
Typical tasks and preparation
From the related US occupation profile Marketing Managers (O*NET 11-2021.00). Linked by an official crosswalk: related, not identical; details vary by country.
- Formulate, direct, or coordinate marketing activities or policies to promote products or services, working with advertising or promotion managers.
- Use sales forecasting or strategic planning to ensure the sale and profitability of products, lines, or services, analyzing business developments and monitoring market trends.
- Identify, develop, or evaluate marketing strategy, based on knowledge of establishment objectives, market characteristics, and cost and markup factors.
- Direct the hiring, training, or performance evaluations of marketing or sales staff and oversee their daily activities.
- Evaluate the financial aspects of product development, such as budgets, expenditures, research and development appropriations, or return-on-investment and profit-loss projections.
- Develop pricing strategies, balancing firm objectives and customer satisfaction.
- Preparation
- Job Zone 4 of 5
- Interests
- Enterprising, Conventional, Investigative
Top skills: Active Listening, Speaking, Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking, Active Learning, Monitoring
US median pay: US$166,790 a year (2025), 395,240 employed. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Subjects this work relies on
How important each subject's knowledge is in the job itself, rated by people doing it (1 to 5).
- English or Literature in EnglishO*NET: English LanguageExtremely important (4.5)
- Media StudiesO*NET: Communications and MediaVery important (4.1)
- Business Studies or EntrepreneurshipO*NET: Administration and ManagementVery important (4.0)
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Preparation needed
Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
- Experience
- A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Related occupations
Occupations O*NET links to this one by similar work, skills and knowledge.
- Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists
- Sales Managers
- Advertising and Promotions Managers
- Search Marketing Strategists
- Advertising Sales Agents
- Business Intelligence Analysts
- Public Relations Managers
- Public Relations Specialists
- Purchasing Managers
- Online Merchants
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.