# Need English translation for "technischer Vertriebsleiter"

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-english-translation-for-technischer-vertriebsleiter/717832>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [April 16, 2015, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-english-translation-for-technischer-vertriebsleiter/717832 "2015-04-16T14:57:06Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\
**Post date:** [April 16, 2015, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-english-translation-for-technischer-vertriebsleiter/717832/1 "2015-04-16T14:57:06Z")

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A friend of mine has got a new job and is designing his business card. So he asked me for the English translation for his post, “technischer Vertriebsleiter” in German, which means he’ll be the company’s top guy in technical sales. I proposed either “technical sales manager” or “head of technical sales”, but I can’t decide which fits better. Please help me out.

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**Author:** ![stillownedbysetters](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/41988e/32.png) [@stillownedbysetters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stillownedbysetters)\
**Post date:** [April 16, 2015, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-english-translation-for-technischer-vertriebsleiter/717832/2 "2015-04-16T15:07:07Z")

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I’d go with Technical Sales Manager. That corresponds exactly to a familiar English-language job title, so should be understandable to any English-speaking customers he may have.

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**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\
**Post date:** [April 16, 2015, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-english-translation-for-technischer-vertriebsleiter/717832/3 "2015-04-16T15:15:28Z")

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> [@stillownedbysetters](#):
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> I’d go with Technical Sales Manager. That corresponds exactly to a familiar English-language job title, so should be understandable to any English-speaking customers he may have.

That was my hunch, and this is exactly the confirmation I needed. Thanks.

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**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\
**Post date:** [April 16, 2015, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-english-translation-for-technischer-vertriebsleiter/717832/4 "2015-04-16T15:50:24Z")

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Sounds like a position created by Don Martin.

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**Author:** ![mind\_the\_gap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ea666f/32.png) [@mind\_the\_gap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mind_the_gap)\
**Post date:** [April 17, 2015, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-english-translation-for-technischer-vertriebsleiter/717832/5 "2015-04-17T03:34:13Z")

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> [@beowulff](#):
>
> Sounds like a position created by Don Martin.

Congratulations, you just make Coke shoot out of my nose.😃

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**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\
**Post date:** [April 17, 2015, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-english-translation-for-technischer-vertriebsleiter/717832/6 "2015-04-17T03:47:17Z")

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“Head of” is not a traditional business rank in the English-speaking world. “Manager” is - it’s the position above supervisor, but below director. So it makes sense.