The Ultimate Guide to a Career as a Salesforce Delivery Manager

Salesforce is the world’s No.1 CRM platform with over 150,000 partners worldwide. The entirely cloud-based platform offers a diverse range of career pathways, each offering unique opportunities for professionals to excel.

With an extensive range of career opportunities, competitive salaries, excellent career progression and a flexible work-life balance, a career in Salesforce might be the best decision you ever make. And with a predicted 9.3 million new Salesforce jobs to be created by 2026, there is no better time to start a career in Salesforce.

As a Salesforce recruitment agency, at Resource On Demand we are frequently asked by clients for advice around the many Salesforce career titles, what they mean and what skills they require. In this Salesforce careers guide we’ll provide an overview of the Salesforce Delivery Manager position to help connect you with your ideal Salesforce job.

What is a Salesforce Delivery Manager?

The Salesforce Delivery Manager is an integral role in the Salesforce ecosystem. A Salesforce Delivery Manager plays a crucial role in driving the success of projects with Salesforce, overseeing the project pipeline, and ensuring the delivery of high-quality solutions in line with Salesforce best practices. They oversee the end-to-end delivery of Salesforce projects, from the initial planning and design to the implementation and support.

Typically, they are responsible for leading a team of Salesforce Developers, Salesforce Administrators and Salesforce Consultants, and will collaborate with stakeholders to understand requirements and define project scope. They are instrumental in ensuring that teams deliver their services in an agile and efficient way, keeping teams on track in relation to budget and timeline constraints. Additionally, the Delivery Manager plays a key role in communicating between the project team and the client.

What does a Salesforce Delivery Manager do?

The core purpose of the Salesforce Delivery Manager is to develop and maintain project roadmaps, ensuring alignment with client goals and objectives and to ensure projects are delivered in a structured way, keeping teams on track with the agreed project timelines. They collaborate closely with clients to understand their needs and provide strategic guidance on Salesforce solutions, acting as prime point of contact for project stakeholders.

A Salesforce Delivery Manager is also responsible for monitoring project progress, identifying potential risks and implementing proactive measures to mitigate them. They facilitate cross-training of team members to enhance skill sets and promote collaboration, fostering a culture of continuous improvement, driving efficiency and innovation within the team. Essentially, they make sure everything runs smoothly, from timelines to budgets and ensure that the client’s needs are met.

Why is a Salesforce Delivery Manager role so interesting?

The Salesforce Delivery Manager role is fascinating because it involves overseeing the end-to-end delivery of Salesforce projects from the initial planning and design to the implementation and support. It’s a dynamic role that combines technical expertise with strategic planning, making it an engaging role for those who enjoy problem solving and driving business outcomes through technology. The Salesforce Delivery Manager role is best suited to an individual with extensive experience with Salesforce projects and who is comfortable in a largely client-facing position.

How do I get a role as a Salesforce Delivery Manager?

To land a role as a Salesforce Delivery Manager, candidates need a strong background in Salesforce implementation and they typically come from functional roles with a focus on business processes, requirements gathering and solution design.

As well as technical expertise, successful candidates will have a number of key skills including strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a keen attention to detail, excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively collaborate with cross-functional teams and clients. Salesforce certifications such as Salesforce Certified Administrator, Salesforce Certified Platform App Builder or Salesforce Certified Platform Developer are highly desirable.

In terms of the interview process, employers will likely include a series of scenario-based questions to assess your problem-solving skills and gauge your leadership abilities. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their experience managing Salesforce projects, handling challenges and driving successful outcomes by drawing on real-life scenarios. This task requires the individual to call upon their own experience and allows them to demonstrate the expertise and skills that the panel are looking for.

What progression opportunities are there for a Salesforce Delivery Manager?

One of the most attractive qualities of a career in Salesforce is the opportunity for rapid career growth and advancement. An experienced Salesforce Delivery Manager might choose to progress into a Senior Salesforce Delivery Manager role, which would typically involve taking on more complex projects, mentoring junior team members and showcasing their ability to successfully deliver large-scale Salesforce projects.

Alternatively, Salesforce Delivery Managers may find they transition well into a Salesforce Solutions Architect position which would involve gaining experience in designing and implementing complex Salesforce solutions. This role leverages their expertise in Salesforce implementation and management while offering opportunities to oversee broader projects.

For each one of these Salesforce pathways, it is essential to continue to develop skills, stay updated on industry trends and obtain relevant Salesforce certifications to enhance your career growth in this field.

Salesforce certifications can enhance career prospects and open doors to more challenging and rewarding roles such as those highlighted above. Though Salesforce certifications prove that an individual knows what they are talking about, above all, experience is the most valuable asset you can have as a Salesforce Delivery Manager.

What salary can I expect as a Salesforce Delivery Manager?

In addition to excellent professional development and career stability, careers in Salesforce promise competitive salaries. The Salesforce Delivery Manager salary can vary depending on factors such as experience, location and company size. In the UK, Salesforce Delivery Managers can attain a base salary of £65k-£75k. However, a Salesforce job’s salary can range higher based on expertise, certifications and the complexity of the projects handled. A more senior Salesforce Delivery Manager can command a higher salary because of their greater experience level and specialist skills.