L&I IT Vendor Management - Senior/Specialist

State of Washington • Thurston County – Tumwater, WA

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Department of Labor & Industries (L&I), IT Division, is seeking an IT Vendor Management - Senior/ Specialist to join their team. The Information Technology (IT) Division is an internal service organization responsible for providing information technology products and services in support of the Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) agency’s business priorities. The L&I Technology Business Management (TBM) program area reports directly to the Chief Information Officer (AD/CIO) and is responsible for managing, monitoring, tracking and reporting all IT expenditures for the agency, and establishing governance, policies, standards, practices, and processes needed to monitor IT investments on an ongoing basis. The program uses dedicated software products, mandated by WaTech, for reporting and modeling the L&I agency's IT costs. The analysis of IT spend is used to align IT investments with the organization’s mission and strategic direction. Additionally, the TBM Program is the lead program area for managing the agency's software, inclusive of all desktop, end-user, and system software. These responsibilities include software portfolio management, contract and vendor management, asset management, licensing compliance, budget, and procurement. The program provides recommendations and implements changes for the IT purchase process, particularly for the agency’s software. The TBM Program serves as the agency's central authority for IT financial transparency, software portfolio management, software licensing compliance, vendor management, procurement coordination, and technology investment analysis. The program provides executive leaders, business stakeholders, WaTech, the Office of Financial Management (OFM), and legislative stakeholders with information necessary to support informed decision-making regarding technology investments, risk management, and operational sustainability. Reporting to the Technology Business Management (TBM) Director, you'll serve as L&I's expert on IT vendor management, software licensing, software asset management, and technology contracts. Your job is to make sure the agency's investments in software, subscriptions, maintenance agreements, and vendor services are cost-effective, meet contract and licensing requirements, and support the agency's business and technology goals. Working with a high degree of independence, you'll research, negotiate, and recommend vendor solutions, licensing options, and software purchasing strategies. You'll set the standards and processes the agency follows for managing vendors, licenses, contract renewals, and the software lifecycle. You'll also advise executives, IT leaders, and business partners on vendor relationships, software investments, compliance risks, and ways to save money over the long term. This work keeps L&I's critical software available, compliant, and sustainable, so the agency can deliver reliable services to Washington's workers, employers, and communities.

Requirements

• Ten (10) years of qualifying experience working full-time within a professional IT environment.
• Four (4) years of professional experience in IT vendor management, Contract administration, Software asset management, Software licensing management, Technology procurement, Supplier relationship management, and/or Technology financial management.
• Experience analyzing, negotiating, administering, or managing technology contracts, software licensing agreements, software subscriptions, maintenance agreements, or vendor relationships.
• Three (3) years of experience performing analysis, planning, budgeting, forecasting, cost management, or financial evaluation related to information technology products, software assets, contracts, or technology investments.
• Intermediate to advanced level Microsoft Excel experience such as the ability to manage large data sets, write complex formulas, and automate tasks.
• The ability to take action to learn and grow.
• The ability to take action to meet the needs of others.

Nice To Haves

• Completion of Washington State Purchasing and Procurement Ethics training
• Completion of Washington State Purchasing and Procurement 101 or equivalent public-sector procurement training.
• Professional certification or training in one or more of the following: Contract Management, Vendor Management, Software Asset Management (SAM), Information Technology Asset Management (ITAM), Technology Business Management (TBM), IT Service Management (ITIL)
• Experience working within Washington State government technology, procurement, budget, contract, or vendor management programs.

Responsibilities

• Lead vendor relationship management activities for enterprise software suppliers and technology service providers.
• Coordinate software contract renewals, amendments, maintenance agreements, and subscription services.
• Negotiate pricing, licensing terms, service levels, and contract provisions.
• Identify risks associated with vendor deliverables and develop mitigation strategies.
• Coordinate vendor procurement activities with Contracts & Purchasing staff.
• Develop cost estimates and budget projections for planned software acquisitions.
• Maintain oversight of enterprise software licensing inventories and usage.
• Review software deployments and licensing utilization.
• Identify opportunities to consolidate software products and reduce costs.
• Ensure compliance with vendor licensing terms and contract requirements.
• Track software maintenance, support agreements, and subscription renewals.
• Develop software expenditure forecasts and budget projections.
• Reconcile projected costs against actual expenditures.
• Research emerging vendor products, licensing models, and service offerings.
• Evaluate vendor solutions against agency business and technical requirements.
• Advise leadership regarding software acquisition and investment strategies.
• Assesses vendor capabilities and product viability.
• Develop recommendations for technology modernization and cost optimization.
• Develop and maintain vendor management procedures and best practices.
• Establish standards for software procurement and contract administration processes.
• Supports audits and compliance reviews involving software assets and vendor agreements.
• Monitor compliance with state policies, procurement requirements, and vendor contract obligations.
• Develop reporting and performance metrics related to software expenditures and vendor performance.

Benefits

• paid leave
• tuition reimbursement
• Infants at Work Program
• a generous retirement package for qualified employees at the end of their career
• flexible custom work schedules
• flexible schedule (4/10’s, 9/80’s, 5/8’s, etc.) upon approval by management
• teleworking may be up to full time with the expectation of attending in person meetings and training occasionally or upon business needs

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior