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Sales and Business Development · Mid level

Institutional Sales Executive job description

An Institutional Sales Executive sells to institutions such as hospitals, schools, colleges, offices and government departments, handling the field work of institutional business. They meet decision makers, present offerings, support tenders and follow up through long buying cycles. A good institutional sales executive builds trust with institutional buyers, keeps the pipeline moving and helps close large orders. The role reports to an institutional or sales manager and focuses on winning and servicing institutional accounts in a territory.

DetailFor this role
DepartmentSales and Business Development
LevelMid level
Reports toInstitutional Sales Manager
Direct reportsNone
Experience2 to 5 years in institutional or B2B sales

Institutional Sales Executive job description template

Copy this job description, replace the text in square brackets and post it on your careers page or a job portal.

Job title: Institutional Sales Executive

Department: Sales and Business Development

Reports to: Institutional Sales Manager

Location: [City], [office, branch or site]

About the role

An Institutional Sales Executive sells to institutions such as hospitals, schools, colleges, offices and government departments, handling the field work of institutional business. They meet decision makers, present offerings, support tenders and follow up through long buying cycles. A good institutional sales executive builds trust with institutional buyers, keeps the pipeline moving and helps close large orders. The role reports to an institutional or sales manager and focuses on winning and servicing institutional accounts in a territory.

Key responsibilities

  • Identify institutions in the territory and reach the right decision makers.
  • Present products and solutions to procurement, admin and department heads.
  • Support tender preparation and submission with documents and pricing inputs.
  • Follow up through long institutional buying cycles until orders close.
  • Coordinate demonstrations, trials and samples where institutions require them.
  • Build relationships that lead to repeat orders and empanelment.
  • Coordinate delivery, installation and after sales service for institutions.
  • Follow up on institutional payments that often run long.
  • Record account activity and pipeline in the CRM accurately.
  • Report pipeline, orders and market feedback to the reporting manager.

Requirements

  • Graduate in business, commerce or a relevant field
  • Field sales experience, ideally with institutions
  • Good communication and presentation skills
  • 2 to 5 years in institutional or B2B sales

KRAs and KPIs for a Institutional Sales Executive

Key result areas for the appraisal form, each with a KPI you can measure every month or quarter.

Key result areaHow to measure it
Institutional salesInstitutional order value meets the assigned target
Pipeline movementOpportunities advanced through stages within expected times
New institutionsNew institutional accounts opened as per the plan
Tender supportAssigned tenders supported and submitted on time
CollectionsInstitutional payments followed up and collected within terms
Relationship buildingKey decision makers engaged across target institutions

Skills and tools

Institutional sellingRelationship buildingTender supportProduct presentationLong cycle follow upNegotiationCoordinationReceivables follow upCommunication

Tools used day to day: CRM platform, E-procurement portals, MS Excel, Presentation tools, Smartphone reporting app.

Reporting line and career path

Institutional SalesManagerInstitutional SalesExecutive
Moves up from: Sales Executive, Sales Officer, Sales Trainee
Next roles: Senior Institutional Sales Executive, Institutional Sales Manager, Key Account Manager

Interview questions for a Institutional Sales Executive

  1. How do you reach the right decision maker in a large institution?
  2. How do you keep a long institutional deal moving?
  3. How do you support a tender submission from the field?
  4. How do you handle an institution that delays payment?
  5. How do you build trust with a hospital or college buyer?
  6. Tell me about an institutional account you opened.

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Frequently asked questions

What does an institutional sales executive do?

An institutional sales executive sells to institutions such as hospitals, schools, colleges, offices and government departments. They meet decision makers, present offerings, support tenders and follow up through long buying cycles. They coordinate demos, delivery and service, build relationships that lead to repeat orders, and follow up on payments that often run long.

How is institutional selling different from retail selling?

Institutional selling deals with organizations that buy in bulk through formal processes, often tenders, with long cycles and several decision makers. Retail selling reaches individual shops or consumers and is faster and more transactional. Institutional selling rewards patience, relationship building and comfort with procurement and documentation, while retail rewards coverage and quick order booking.

What skills does an institutional sales executive need?

They need patience for long cycles, strong relationship building with procurement and administrative buyers, and comfort with tenders and documentation. Good product presentation, follow up discipline and coordination with delivery and service teams matter. Since institutional payments can run long, receivables follow up is important too, along with clear and professional communication.