Software Asset Manager

The role maximizes the business value of KONE IT’s software investments through effective SAM, licensing governance, compliance, cost optimization, and data-driven decisions. The Manager, Software Asset Management, owns and continuously improves SAM in KONE IT, ensuring software investments are optimized, compliant, cost-effective, and aligned with business objectives. The role combines strategic governance with hands-on execution and close collaboration with IT, Purchasing, Finance, Legal, Cybersecurity, vendors, and business stakeholders. Main Responsibilities - Own and improve SAM processes, governance, controls, tools, reporting, and data quality. - Manage software assets, entitlements, deployments, usage, compliance, and analytics across the lifecycle. - Embed SAM practices into IT operations, sourcing, architecture, product management, and service management. - Manage effective license positions for key vendors and support renewals, budgeting, forecasting, and negotiations. - Identify and deliver cost optimization, savings, risk reduction, and license harvesting opportunities. - Identify licensing, contractual, operational, and compliance risks and drive mitigation actions. - Produce executive reporting, utilization insights, SAM KPIs, and recommendations for decisions and vendor management. - Govern SaaS, cloud software consumption, subscriptions, access, software requests, and renewals. - Lead software vendor audits, remediation, ongoing compliance monitoring, and audit preparedness. - Build strong partnerships across IT, Finance, Purchasing, Legal, Cybersecurity, vendors, and business stakeholders. - Promote SAM awareness and translate complex licensing topics into clear business insights. Key Skills Required - Strong knowledge of SAM frameworks, licensing models, entitlements, compliance, audits, and vendor rules. - Experience with major enterprise software vendors such as Microsoft, SAP, Salesforce, Oracle, Adobe, and ServiceNow. - Strong analytical skills to interpret license, usage, deployment, and financial data and identify optimization opportunities. - Understanding of budgeting, forecasting, software spend management, and financial reporting. - Understanding of SaaS, cloud consumption, subscriptions, user-based licensing, Cloud FinOps, and cloud cost management. - Familiarity with CMDB, ITAM, ITSM, enterprise architecture, SAM, ITAM, discovery, and reporting tools. - Ability to assess licensing, contractual, operational, commercial, and compliance risks and support remediation. - Excellent stakeholder, influencing, negotiation, and relationship management skills across IT, Finance, Purchasing, Legal, Cybersecurity, vendors, and business functions. - Strong communication and presentation skills, with the ability to simplify complex licensing and technical topics for senior audiences. - Continuous improvement mindset with the ability to challenge practices and improve automation, reporting, efficiency, processes, controls, and governance. Requirements for the Role - Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in IT, Business, Finance, Engineering, or a related field. - 5–10+ years of relevant experience in SAM, ITAM, sourcing, IT operations, FinOps, or vendor management. - Strategic, analytical, and business-minded, with strong problem-solving and decision-making skills. - Hands-on, results-oriented, proactive, and able to work independently. - Able to manage multiple priorities and stakeholders in collaboration with others. - Continuous learner focused on optimization and value creation. - Practical experience with major software vendors, licensing models, SAM/ITAM tools, and license management dashboards. Advantages: - IAITAM, CSAM, CITAM, ITIL, FinOps, or other relevant certifications. - Experience with ISO/IEC 19770 standards or mature ITAM/SAM governance frameworks. - Experience in financial management, cost optimization, or vendor commercial management. - Experience working in a global matrix organization. - Experience developing dashboards, automation, or data-driven SAM reporting. - Experience with Microsoft enterprise agreements, SAP licensing, Salesforce licensing, or large SaaS optimization programs.