Manager, Software Asset Management

KONE Oyj; Espoo; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

KONE Oyj in Espoo is seeking a Manager, Software Asset Management to optimize software investments and drive data-driven decisions across SAM program governance. You will collaborate with IT, Purchasing, Finance, Legal, Cybersecurity, vendors, and business stakeholders to ensure compliance, cost efficiency, and business alignment.

The role combines strategic governance with hands-on execution, including audits, renewals, and developing executive reporting to support vendor management and cost

Qualifications

• 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.

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.
• Lead license positions for key vendors including renewals, budgeting, forecasting, and negotiations.
• Identify and deliver cost optimization, savings, risk reduction, and license harvesting opportunities.

Skills

SAM governance

Licensing models

Vendor management

Data analytics

Cloud FinOps

ITAM/SAM tools

Stakeholder management

Negotiation

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in IT/Business

Tools

CMDB

ITAM tools

Discovery tools

Reporting dashboards

Job description

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.

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, 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, 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, and reporting tools, Excellent stakeholder, influencing, negotiation, and relationship management skills, Strong communication and presentation skills