JOB OVERVIEW
The Software Asset Management (SAM) Lead is a strategic role responsible for managing the full lifecycle of the organization's software assets. This position goes beyond basic license administration, requiring a process-driven professional who can establish governance frameworks, lead commercial negotiations, and maintain strict financial oversight across a portfolio of 20-30+ SaaS and on-premise applications.
As the central authority for software assets, you will work closely with technical teams responsible for individual systems to ensure that business needs are aligned with cost efficiency and compliance requirements.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Process Engineering & Governance
- Framework Development: Design, document, and implement the organization's first comprehensive Software Asset Management (SAM) policies and procedures.
- Standardization: Establish consistent workflows covering software requests, approvals, procurement, deployment, and decommissioning.
- Governance Oversight: Act as the key authority on software standards, ensuring adherence to procurement and security policies across all departments.
- Continuous Improvement: Regularly review and enhance processes to remove inefficiencies, reduce manual work, and improve turnaround time for software requests.
2. Budgetary Control & Financial Optimization
- Budget Ownership: Manage the overall software licensing budget, track actual spend against forecasts, and provide regular reporting to Finance and senior leadership.
- Demand Forecasting: Engage with business units to assess licensing needs for renewals and growth requirements.
- License Optimization: Implement proactive measures to identify and recover underutilized or inactive licenses before acquiring new ones.
- Cost Allocation: Oversee chargeback or show-back models to ensure accurate cost distribution across departments or cost centers.
3. Strategic Negotiations & Vendor Management
- Commercial Leadership: Lead negotiations for renewals and new purchases, leveraging usage insights to secure favorable pricing and contract terms.
- Stakeholder Collaboration: Work with business and technical teams to understand requirements while aligning with overall company strategy.
- Vendor Rationalization: Identify overlapping tools across the organization and drive consolidation efforts to reduce costs and complexity.
4. Procurement Approval & Executive Communication
- Business Case Development: Prepare clear justifications and business cases for software investments, renewals, and new implementations.
- Approval Management: Initiate procurement requests and manage the full approval workflow, ensuring all stakeholders assess commercial and operational impact.
- Advisory Role: Act as a subject matter expert for leadership, providing guidance on licensing models, cost-benefit analysis, and strategic software decisions.
- Reporting: Deliver concise, high-level reports that translate technical licensing data into actionable business insights.
5. License Operations & Compliance
- Centralized Inventory: Maintain a single, accurate repository of all software licenses, contracts, and agreements.
- Provisioning Oversight: Manage license allocation and distribution across various platforms (e.g., Google Workspace, Adobe Creative Cloud, SuccessFactors, Zoom, DocuSign).
- Compliance Assurance: Ensure full compliance with licensing agreements and SaaS terms through regular reconciliation of usage against entitlements.
QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
- Experience: Minimum 5 years in Software Asset Management, IT Procurement, or IT Operations.
- Process Development: Demonstrated ability to design and implement processes from scratch.
- SaaS Knowledge: Strong understanding of subscription models, true-up processes, and cloud licensing structures.
- Financial Acumen: Ability to manage budgets, conduct ROI analysis, and present financial insights to non-technical stakeholders.
- Negotiation Skills: Strong communication and influencing abilities, with experience handling high-value contract negotiations.
Preferred Qualifications
- Certifications: CSAM (Certified Software Asset Manager), ITIL Foundation, or equivalent.
- Data & Reporting Skills: Advanced proficiency in Excel/Google Sheets (e.g., Pivot Tables, Lookups) and data visualization tools.
- System Experience: Hands-on experience managing licenses through SaaS administrative platforms.
Fely (R2198783)
Just Recruit Singapore (EA12C6295)
