Head of Software Asset Management and Strategic Partnership

The Head of SoftwareAsset Management and Strategic Partnership is a senior leadership role responsible for overseeing the strategic direction, management, and operation of the Software Asset Management services within out client.

The Head of SoftwareAsset Management and Strategic Partnership will:

• Manage Strategic Partnership with key IT Suppliers.
• Oversee the licensing agreements and relationships with IT vendors (almost 800 distinguished software vendors including Cloud vendors) to ensure optimal utilisation of Software resources while maintaining compliance with legal and contractual obligations.
• Lead the SAM organisation to ensure proper ordering, optimisation, and rebilling of Software Asset within the business group.

Technical Skills:

• Expertise in Cloud computing platforms architecture preferably Microsoft Azure or Google Cloud Platform (GCP)/Amazon Web Services (AWS).
• Expertise in managing and leveraging FinOps solutions.
• Technical understanding of IT infrastructure, software architecture, and deployment methodologies.

Key Responsibilities: With 15 direct reports, the Head of SoftwareAsset Management and Strategic Partnership will have the following responsibilities:

SAM Operations:

• Manage and monitor software compliance together with the appropriated teams.
• Continuously improve existing workflows and processes related to software licences Management and internal rebilling.
• Capture metrics in terms of optimisation and demand management.
• Oversee software licensing agreements, including tracking usage and renewal dates.
• Develop and implement policies and procedures related to IT procurement and vendor management.

SAM Optimisation:

• Build and develop the company licensing strategy. Prepare and implement comprehensive business plans to achieve software licenses cost efficiency and optimisations.
• Actively support the procurement process for IT software, including negotiating contracts, pricing, and terms with vendors.
• Monitor market trends and industry developments to identify opportunities for process improvements and cost savings.
• Deploy FinOps tooling (Apptio) and process best practices to optimise Cloud spent.

Strategic Partnership with key IT Suppliers:

• Develop and maintain strong relationships with IT suppliers, ensuring alignment with business objectives and service level agreements.

Cost and Budget Management:

• Manage the budget for IT SAM in adherence to financial guidelines.
• Track and report on budget variances, and cost-saving initiatives to senior management.
• Support for all matters related to budget planning for software licenses.
• Lead any SAM/Cloud cost optimisation initiatives.
• Design and implement business case driven rationalisations and cost/benefit analyses for IT investments and initiatives fitting cost appetite of our various internal businesses.
• Provide greater insight and clarity into the annual budgets of various Cloud consumers and provide analysis of savings opportunities.
• Get involved in long-term business planning for software licenses at the senior management.

Qualifications

• Experience in developing and executing long-term SAM and Cloud strategies, with proven ability to create and improve new and existing SAM and Cloud processes to drive efficiency, quality, and cost-effective solutions
• Proven excellence in leading “matrix style” reporting relationships across multiple teamswhile delivering daily operations and project/program within a global organisation
• Proven experience in IT procurement, vendor management, and software licensing, preferably in an international environment.
• Solid understanding of Software licensing models, including perpetual, subscription, and volume licensing agreement.
• Strong negotiation and contract management skills, with a track record of achieving cost savings and favourable terms.
• Demonstrated experience and success with IT organisational process design (or re- engineering) and implementation in a decentralized organisation.
• Strong financial acumen and ability to develop budgets, monthly variance reporting and monthly re-forecasting across multiple cost centres
• Ability to analyse and structure data that matters to build reports, metrics, and KPIs, and couple them with analysis and insights
• Ability to look at the helicopter view as well as on details when required.
• Experience in vendor selection, contract negotiation, and vendor relationship management.