Senior Manager, Software Asset Management

Verizon • Alpharetta, GA

3d • $124,000 - $238,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

Verizon is seeking a leader to develop and manage its Software Asset Management (SAM) team and mature an enterprise-wide SAM governance program. The role sets organizational direction, develops talent, and drives accountability across Verizon employees and third-party partners. The Senior Manager also personally owns Verizon’s IBM SAM function, serving as the accountable leader and subject matter expert for IBM entitlements, compliance, audit readiness, renewal strategy, and spend optimization.

The position leads SAM analysts and specialists, directs third-party managed service providers, and partners with senior stakeholders across Technology, Finance, Sourcing, Vendor Management, Security, Supply Chain, and business units. The team is responsible for improving software-asset transparency, maintaining consolidated entitlement information, reducing compliance and audit exposure, completing savings initiatives, and shaping publisher roadmaps. These efforts aim to reduce costs, strengthen security and data governance, and improve commercial negotiations.

This is a hybrid role with a defined work location, working from home and at least three days per week in the office. The manager sets the office location, and employees must comply with Verizon’s hybrid work policies. The schedule is 40 hours per week. The annual salary range is $124,000 to $238,000, depending on location, skills, and experience; the position is incentive-based and may offer additional compensation.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or six or more years of work experience.
• Four or more years of people-leadership experience, including hiring, developing, and managing teams and directing external partners or MSPs.
• Six or more years of relevant experience in enterprise software asset management or software licensing.
• Five or more years of hands-on IBM licensing experience at enterprise scale, including Passport Advantage, ELA structures, and the IBM CVA program.
• Deep working knowledge of IBM license metrics (PVU, RVU, VPC, Authorized User, and Concurrent User) and sub-capacity rules, including ILMT deployment and reporting requirements.
• Direct experience leading IBM audits or license reviews through to resolution.
• Demonstrated ability to influence senior stakeholders across Technology, Finance, Procurement, and business units.

Nice To Haves

• Experience building or scaling a SAM function or team, including defining its operating model and KPIs.
• Experience leading IBM ELA, CVA, or S&S renewal analysis, including true-up and quantity-adjustment modeling.
• Licensing experience with other tier-one publishers such as Oracle, Microsoft, SAP, Broadcom/VMware, or Salesforce.
• Experience with SAM platforms such as Flexera One.
• Experience with IBM Cloud Paks, OpenShift, and licensing in container or hybrid-cloud environments.
• SAM certifications such as IAITAM CSAM, CHAMP, ITAM Forum, or ITIL.
• Experience operating within a large, complex enterprise or telecommunications environment.
• A track record of delivering quantifiable savings tied to transformation or cost-takeout programs.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, hire, and develop a high-performing team of SAM professionals; set priorities and performance goals and build publisher expertise and succession depth.
• Define the SAM team’s mission, structure, operating model, roles, KPIs, and roadmap to scale with Verizon’s software portfolio and maturity goals.
• Foster ownership, data-driven decisions, and continuous improvement, holding team members and partners accountable for measurable savings, compliance, and risk-reduction outcomes.
• Align IT, Finance, Vendor Management, Sourcing, Security, Supply Chain, and business-unit stakeholders on strategic SAM programs and software-spend direction.
• Direct third-party SAM managed service providers, establish service expectations, manage performance against KPIs, and ensure reporting meets Verizon’s needs.
• Own Verizon’s IBM SAM function and licensing position, including Passport Advantage, ELA and CVA program structures, PVU/RVU/VPC metrics, sub-capacity eligibility, and IBM Cloud Paks; advise executives on IBM entitlements, compliance, and commercial strategy.
• Own the effective license position and usage baseline supporting licensing agreements, CVA, and S&S renewals; develop and validate true-up and quantity-adjustment scenarios, challenge vendor claims with defensible data, and partner with Sourcing on commercial outcomes.
• Lead the internal SAM response to software vendor audits and serve as the IBM licensing authority for IBM audits and license reviews; define audit strategy, govern data collection and disclosure, analyze and dispute findings, and drive mitigation plans.
• Ensure IBM License Metric Tool (ILMT) or an approved alternative is deployed, current, and accurately reporting across virtualized, container, and cloud environments; maintain quarterly reporting and audit-ready evidence.
• Improve license deployment, tracking, and re-harvesting processes to avoid unnecessary spend and maximize value.
• Lead identification and validation of savings across publishers and software titles, improve the quality of MSP recommendations, and drive savings to monetized completion.
• Lead implementation of an enterprise-wide software catalog providing a consolidated view of entitlements, usage, supported platforms, versions, ownership, and license terms.
• Establish and enforce license-compliance and audit-readiness governance across business units and technology organizations.
• Recommend mature technology category-management practices and align SAM processes with Verizon’s North Star Architecture standards.
• Optimize discovery and inventory tooling and own the long-term SAM tools roadmap, including capabilities for cloud, containers, and AI-driven license management.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Short- and long-term disability insurance
• Basic and supplemental life insurance
• AD&D insurance
• Identity theft protection
• Pet insurance
• Group home and auto insurance
• Matched 401(k) savings plan
• Up to 8 company-paid holidays per year
• Up to 6 personal days per year
• Paid parental leave
• Adoption assistance
• Tuition assistance
• Vacation of up to 15 days per year for newly hired employees, increasing with service
• Potential premium pay, including overtime, shift differential, holiday pay, and allowances
• Other incentives and an award-winning total rewards package

What This Job Offers

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