Software Asset Manager

Arnold Clark Group; Glasgow; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

33 days holiday

Retail discounts

Private healthcare

GP access 24/7

Pension scheme

Maternity/Paternity packages

Training & progression

Job summary

Arnold Clark is recruiting an experienced Software Asset Manager to join our Digital Workplace team in Glasgow. This hybrid role will govern the software estate and drive value through compliance, cost control, and strategic licensing decisions.

You will lead SAM activities, collaborate with suppliers and internal teams, and develop a capable SAM Analysts team to deliver high-quality, auditable processes across the business.

Qualifications

• Proven experience delivering Software Asset Management in a medium to large organisation.
• Strong practical understanding of software licensing models, including enterprise and SaaS vendors (e.g. Microsoft, Adobe).
• Experience supporting licence audits, true-ups and contract renewals.
• Demonstrated ability to analyse usage and entitlement data to drive optimisation and cost savings.
• Experience working collaboratively with stakeholders of all levels.
• Familiarity with SAM tools, inventory systems and licence reporting solutions.
• Experience operating within governance, risk and compliance frameworks.
• Line management or supervisory experience, with a focus on developing and supporting specialist roles.

Responsibilities

• Define, implement and maintain software governance controls, policies and standards, ensuring compliance with licensing terms, internal controls and audit requirements.
• Shape demand for software sourcing, advise on licensing models and usage requirements, and contribute SAM expertise to sourcing decisions.
• Manage operational aspects of software contracts, ensuring licence entitlements and obligations are clear, maintained and reflected in compliance and renewals.
• Manage relationships with key software suppliers, supporting negotiations, renewals and audits with relevant teams.
• Lead software asset management end-to-end, ensuring licences are recorded, compliant and optimised through lifecycle.
• Oversee software licensing spend and commitments, identify cost-avoidance and optimisation opportunities.
• Ensure SAM data is accurate, reliable and well governed, delivering reporting and insights to senior stakeholders.
• Build relationships with business stakeholders and digital teams, translating licensing requirements into guidance.
• Lead and develop SAM Analysts, prioritising workloads and ensuring delivery of licence reviews and renewal processes.

Skills

Governance

Sourcing

IT Contract Management

Supplier Management

Asset Management

Financial Management

Information Management

Stakeholder Relationship Management

People Management

Tools

SAM tools

Inventory systems

Licence reporting solutions

Job description

We’re recruiting for an experienced Software Asset Manager to join our Digital team at Arnold Clark.

Why choose us?

• 33 days’ holiday allowance with room to grow
• Generous retail discounts
• Private healthcare
• Simplyhealth – all employees have access to a GP 24/7 and can claim money back on medical and dental treatments
• Pension scheme
• Maternity and paternity packages
• Opportunities for training and progression

Location

This is a hybrid role, with your time split between your home and Head Offices in Hillington or Kilbirnie Street, Glasgow.

Hours

Full time: Monday – Friday, 37.5 hours per week

About the role

As Software Asset Manager at Arnold Clark, you’ll lead the governance, optimisation and compliance of our software estate, helping ensure our technology investments deliver maximum value to the business.

Working within our Digital Workplace function, you’ll play a central role in shaping and maturing our Software Asset Management (SAM) capability, ensuring software assets are managed effectively, securely and in line with business needs, licensing obligations and commercial agreements.

This is an opportunity to influence how software is managed across the organisation, working closely with stakeholders, suppliers and digital teams to drive best practice, improve visibility and identify cost‑saving opportunities.

You’ll oversee licence compliance, supplier engagement, audit readiness and optimisation initiatives, while also leading and developing a team of SAM Analysts to deliver a consistent, high-quality SAM service across the business.

Skills and Day‑to‑day activities

• Governance - Define, implement and maintain software governance controls, policies and standards, ensuring compliance with licensing terms, internal controls and audit requirements.
• Sourcing - Support software sourcing activity by shaping demand, advising on appropriate licensing models and usage requirements, and contributing SAM expertise to sourcing decisions with key internal stakeholders.
• IT Contract Management - Manage the operational aspects of software contracts, ensuring licence entitlements, usage rights and contractual obligations are clearly understood, maintained and reflected in compliance, audit and renewal activities.
• Supplier Management - Manage relationships with key software suppliers and licensing partners, supporting commercial negotiations, renewals and audit activities in collaboration with relevant business and technology teams.
• Asset Management - Lead software asset management practices end-to-end, ensuring licences are accurately recorded, compliant and optimised throughout their lifecycle, from acquisition through to retirement.
• Financial Management - Oversee software licensing spend and contractual commitments, identifying cost‑avoidance and optimisation opportunities while supporting accurate forecasting and renewal planning.
• Information Management - Ensure SAM data is accurate, reliable and well governed, delivering meaningful reporting and insights on licence position, software usage and compliance risk to senior stakeholders.
• Stakeholder Relationship Management - Build effective relationships with business stakeholders and digital teams, translating technical licensing and compliance requirements into clear, practical guidance.
• People Management - Lead and develop SAM Analysts, setting direction, prioritising workloads and ensuring consistent delivery of licence reviews, audit activities and renewal processes.

Essential knowledge and experience

• Proven experience delivering Software Asset Management in a medium to large organisation
• Strong practical understanding of software licensing models, including enterprise and SaaS vendors (e.g. Microsoft, Adobe)
• Experience supporting licence audits, true‑ups and contract renewals
• Demonstrated ability to analyse usage and entitlement data to drive optimisation and cost savings
• Experience working collaboratively with stakeholders of all levels
• Familiarity with SAM tools, inventory systems and licence reporting solutions
• Experience operating within governance, risk and compliance frameworks
• Line management or supervisory experience, with a focus on developing and supporting specialist roles

At Arnold Clark we are adopting SFIA Version 9 framework for all roles that require digital / IT skills. In the case of this role, we have reviewed the required skills and skills levels that we regard as essential. To find out more about SFIA and version 9 of the framework you can visit: https://sfia-online.org/en

You may be asked to evidence how you are already operating at these skill levels if you are invited to interview with us.

Our Culture

Arnold Clark is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. We strive to create an environment where collaboration, unique perspectives and multiple approaches are celebrated. We care about our employees and our communities, we nurture talent and encourage ambition, and we are passionate about people who take pride in their work. Our employees are at the heart of everything we do – diverse in our make-up, united in our goals. To find out more about Life at Arnold Clark, visit our website.