Software Asset Manager

SOFTWARE ASSET MANAGER

Columbia, SC

1 YEAR+ CONTRACT

Responsible for daily and strategic management and control of a software portfolio. Oversees software asset life cycle activities to optimize the value, cost, and risk of software.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE EQUIVALENCY:

- Bachelor's Degree with eight years of experience or a total of 12 years of related work experience required

Licenses And Certificates:

Asset Management or Procurement Management training/certification such as ITIL or IAITAM.

INTERVIEW PROCESS:

Manager prefers to do a phone screen with candidates first before meeting them in-person. Interview will be conducted by the hiring manager.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

- Responsible for daily and strategic management and control of a software portfolio valued at as much as $600-800 million. Oversees all server software asset life cycle activities to optimize the value, cost and risk of software.
- Drives decisions regarding license models, maintenance, renewals to balance financial risks of unnecessary procurement (over-buying) versus penalties or fines from software vendors (under-buying).
- Serves as primary interface to the business for server software asset management functions including annual planning activities, delivering demand planning capabilities for key identified products, driving enhanced visibility into software spend and providing ongoing reporting capabilities which allow the business to more effectively manage the portfolio of products across the enterprise.
- Scope of responsibilities span from software demand management, procurement, deployment, entitlements, inventory management, harvesting and disposal.

BREAKDOWN OF RESPONSIBILITIES:

- 25% - Provides strategic guidance to the architecture, contractual, procurement and vendor management functions. Strongly influences vendor negotiations and provides counsel on contractual provisions with software vendors like Microsoft, IBM, and Oracle. Serves as technical software licensing expert on licensing models, product use rights and licensing metrics/entitlements for vendor-published server software assets. Serves as primary point of contact for server software asset management functions including annual planning activities such as demand forecasting, standards migration, maintenance and renewals.
- 25% Drives cost management by reviewing licensing models for cost saving opportunities. Implements methods to harvest and reuse licenses. Works to minimize inventory investment while avoiding vendor penalties. Oversees all server software asset management activity across the organization to enable collaboration for reducing life cycle cost and risk.
- 25% - Supervises the organization's response to the following activities: a) software vendor audit or license validation requests; b) requests for data and input in support of procurement activities, including device, installation and usage data (or other license or subscription metric information), potential product metrics and options, and demand data needed to ensure accurate volume purchasing; c) risk mitigation and remediation.
- 25% - Develops and enhances methodologies policies and practices for software asset life cycle management in line with best practice and practical experience as part of a cycle of continuous improvement and compliance. Develops quality assurance practices and practices for the administration of software license contracts, maintenance and entitlements. Implements and manages production of software asset life cycle management status reporting, metrics and benchmarks. Ensures that all software asset life cycle-related cost and risk is correctly identified and appropriately communicated.

EXPERIENCE/BACKGROUND:

- 8-10 years of broad IT experience to include 5 years server software asset management or procurement experience. (Required)
- Proven abilities to manage server software licensing models and product use rights across major software vendors. (Required
- Experience in working with high value server software contracts with either Microsoft, IBM, or Oracle. (Required)
- Track record to effectively communicate with executive management to include assisting them to understand the dynamics of the software portfolio, risks, and opportunities. (Required)
- Proven influencing and negotiating skills. (Required)
- Proactive use of own initiative and ability to take the lead to devise solutions. (Required)
- Should demonstrate a high commitment to quality and attention to detail. (Required)
- Experience working with IT asset management systems and IT asset discovery technologies. (Required)
- Proficiency with word processing and spreadsheet software. (Required)
- Knowledge of software asset management concepts, policies, procedures and techniques.
- Ability to balance multiple parallel priories across the software life cycle/operations.
- Knowledge of implementation and administration of server software assurance metrics/entitlements/product use rights.
- Strong analytical, assessment and problem-solving skills.
- Understanding of hardware/server software licensing/maintenance models.

Excellent people leadership, interpersonal, communication and organizational skills. - Ability to translate conceptual ideas to practical solutions in a cost effective manner which adheres to relevant controls and compliance requirements.
- Seeking candidates who demonstrate reliability, initiative, and a 'can do' attitude

SYSTEMS:

Interact with IT Asset Management Systems

Primary Working Relationships:

IT Contract Management, IT Procurement

TEAM SIZE:

Will be part of the asset management team of 10 people