Lead Software Asset Manager

Empowering Africa’s tomorrow, together…one story at a time With over 100 years of rich history and strongly positioned as a local bank with regional and international expertise, a career with our family offers the opportunity to be part of this exciting growth journey, to reset our future and shape our destiny as a proudly African group Job Summary Develop, implement and manage the end-to-end IT Asset Management capability & manage, maintain and enhance the organization’s asset portfolio to deliver optimised asset performance & related customer & business impacts. Asset management includes but may not be limited to: • Overall OR specified Asset portfolio management (HAM & OR; SAM) • Asset Planning & Acquisition • Asset Deployment, Operation & Maintenance • Asset Tracking / Monitoring • Asset Upgrades & Disposals Job Description We are seeking a strategic and experienced Lead Software Asset Manager to develop and lead an integrated Software Asset Management (SAM) function. This role combines leadership, technical expertise, and strategic vision to optimize software provisioning, ensure licensing compliance, and manage software-related cost and value delivery across the enterprise. The successful candidate will help shape the SAM vision, implement best practices, and enable effective governance of the software asset lifecycle Key Accountabilities: 1.Strategy & Transformation

• Define the future-state SAM vision aligned to business and technology goals.
• Lead the development and execution of a transformational asset management strategy.
• Champion SAM practices across business and technology teams, driving awareness and alignment.
• Continuously assess and evolve the organization's SAM maturity, processes, and tooling.
• Own and manage critical SAM data sets to improve visibility, accuracy, and decision-making.
• Design and implement a best-practice software asset cost model to drive transparency and efficiency.
• Monitor and improve the performance of SAM operations, ensuring minimal business disruption.

2. Operational Excellence & Lifecycle Management

• Oversee end-to-end software asset lifecycle: acquisition, deployment, usage optimization, renewal, and retirement.
• Collaborate with IT teams to ensure seamless integration of SAM processes into operational workflows.
• Analyze operational software spend, identify optimization opportunities, and drive adoption of cost-saving measures.
• Ensure effective tooling and data integration (e.g., SCCM, Intune, JAMF, ServiceNow).

3. License & Compliance Management

• Manage software entitlements, ensuring accurate tracking of licenses across the environment.
• Advise technology teams on optimal licensing strategies and usage rights.
• Lead or support complex software contract negotiations with major vendors.
• Prepare for and respond to internal and external license audits.
• Ensure compliance with licensing terms, procurement standards, and regulatory requirements.

4. Vendor & Commercial Management

• Partner with Group Procurement to support commercial engagements and renewals.
• Provide strategic input into contracting models, vendor relationships, and software sourcing.
• Ensure adherence to governance frameworks and participate in audit, risk, and compliance reporting.

5. People Leadership

• Build and lead a high-performing SAM team focused on service excellence and continuous improvement.
• Attract, retain, and develop top SAM talent, fostering a diverse and inclusive culture.
• Drive a culture of accountability, coaching, and cross-functional collaboration.
• Act as a thought leader and coach to stakeholders on SAM value, trends, and emerging practices.

Required Skills & Experience Software Asset & License Management

• Deep understanding of software licensing models (per device, per user, SaaS, etc.)
• Experience managing software assets across the full ITAM lifecycle.
• Proven ability to optimize license usage and manage compliance risks.
• Direct involvement in major software contract negotiations (Microsoft, Oracle, IBM, etc.)

Data & Financial Acumen

• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret entitlement, usage, and cost data.
• Proficient in creating financial models and reports to support executive decision-making.
• Experience with SAM tools and platforms (e.g., Flexera, Snow, ServiceNow SAM Pro).
• Knowledge of cloud-based software asset management and SaaS optimization.

Lifecycle & Tooling Knowledge

• Familiarity with software distribution and management tools (e.g., SCCM, Intune, JAMF).
• Understanding of enterprise asset lifecycle stages and associated risks.

Contract & Vendor Management

• Strong experience in contract review, negotiation, and vendor relationship management.
• Familiarity with procurement processes and commercial best practices.

Preferred Qualifications

• Certification in SAM or ITAM (e.g., CSAM, ITIL, ISO 19770).
• Experience with enterprise SAM transformation programs.

Education Bachelor's Degree: Information Technology Absa Bank Limited is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. In compliance with the Employment Equity Act 55 of 1998, preference will be given to suitable candidates from designated groups whose appointments will contribute towards achievement of equitable demographic representation of our workforce profile and add to the diversity of the Bank. Absa Bank Limited reserves the right not to make an appointment to the post as advertised