Director Software Asset Management

Our vision for the future is based on the idea that transforming financial lives starts by giving our people the freedom to transform their own. We have a flexible work environment, and fluid career paths. We not only encourage but celebrate internal mobility. We also recognize the importance of purpose, well-being, and work-life balance. Within Empower and our communities, we work hard to create a welcoming and inclusive environment, and our associates dedicate thousands of hours to volunteering for causes that matter most to them.

Chart your own path and grow your career while helping more customers achieve financial freedom. Empower Yourself.

***Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa at this time, including CPT/OPT.***

 

The Director of Software Asset Management (SAM) leads the enterprise-wide SAM function, owning strategy, governance, process, tooling, and team performance for software assets across the organization. This is a critical role that will be responsible for implementing and managing SAM across all 550 software applications across the enterprise. This role ensures license compliance, optimizes software spend, mitigates risk, enables software lifecycle management (from purchase through retirement), and aligns SAM with procurement, IT, finance, security, and business stakeholders.

What you will do:

• Define and execute the SAM strategy aligned with business objectives: software cost optimization, compliance, vendor risk, and technology enablement.
• Build and lead the SAM organization (people, process, platforms), including talent recruitment, development, team structure, performance metrics and culture of continuous improvement.
• Establish and govern SAM program policies, standards, frameworks (including definitions of roles/responsibilities, entitlements, metrics, audit readiness).
• Partner with stakeholders across IT, Procurement, Legal, Finance, Security, Business Units to ensure software acquisitions, usage, renewals and retirements are effectively managed and compliant.
• Manage licensing and entitlement positions for major vendor agreements (e.g., Microsoft, Oracle, SAP) and monitor renewal / true-up cycles, usage, audits and audits readiness.
• Drive software use-rights and optimization initiatives: identify under-used licenses, re-harvest or redeploy, rationalize portfolios, negotiate vendor contracts with full insight into effective license position.
• Oversee the full software lifecycle: procurement/acquisition, deployment, managed usage, renewal/maintenance, retirement/disposition.
• Select, implement and optimize SAM tools (inventory/discovery, entitlement repository, reporting & dashboards) and integrate with ITAM, ITSM, CMDB, and procurement systems.
• Lead risk management: identify and address software license compliance risk, audit exposure, shadow IT, cybersecurity implications of unmanaged software.
• Monitor performance via KPIs: cost savings, software spend under control, compliance posture, time to value, audit findings, usage/optimization metrics.
• Drive communications and change management: build awareness of SAM processes, establish governance forums, engage leadership, guide culture toward disciplined software management.
• Stay abreast of industry best practices, vendor licensing models, regulatory/licensing changes, technology trends (cloud, SaaS/subscription, hybrid usage) and ensure the SAM strategy evolves accordingly.

What you will bring:

• Significant leadership experience (10+ years) in software asset management, IT asset management (ITAM), software licensing, procurement or a related field. For senior/VP level, experience leading large global SAM programs is preferred.
• Deep understanding of software licensing models (perpetual, subscription, SaaS, enterprise agreements) and major vendor ecosystems (Microsoft, Oracle, SAP, Adobe, etc.) and audit/licensing risk.
• Proven track record of delivering cost savings and value through software license optimization, rationalization, contract negotiation, and lifecycle management.
• Strong experience with SAM tools, ITAM/CMDB/ITSM integration, software discovery/inventory, usage metering and dashboards.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement, collaboration, influencing and communication skills—capable of working with C-suite, IT, procurement, finance and business leaders.
• Strategic mindset and analytical orientation: able to translate data and metrics into actionable program strategy; adept at building business case, governance frameworks, and driving long-term value.
• Leadership skills: able to build and manage an effective team, develop talent, drive change, manage through complexity