Senior Manager, Software Asset Management

Verizon • Irving, TX

2d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Manager, Software Asset Management will lead and develop Verizon’s Software Asset Management (SAM) team and mature an enterprise-wide SAM governance program. The role sets the team’s direction, operating model, structure, priorities, and performance measures, while developing talent and accountability across internal staff and third-party partners.

The position also personally owns Verizon’s IBM SAM function as its accountable leader and subject matter expert. This includes IBM entitlements, licensing compliance, audit readiness, renewal strategy, and spend optimization. The manager leads SAM analysts and specialists, directs third-party SAM managed service providers, and partners with stakeholders in Technology, Finance, Sourcing, Vendor Management, Security, Supply Chain, and business units.

The team provides transparency into enterprise software assets, maintains a consolidated view of entitlements, reduces compliance and audit exposure, completes savings projects, and shapes publisher roadmaps. The role also leads an enterprise software catalog, oversees compliance governance, aligns SAM processes with Verizon’s North Star Architecture standards, and owns the long-term SAM tools roadmap, including capabilities for cloud, containers, and AI-driven license management.

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 enterprise-scale IBM licensing experience, 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 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, or 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, retain, and develop a team of SAM professionals; set priorities and performance goals and build publisher expertise and succession depth.
• Define the SAM team’s mission, operating model, roadmap, structure, roles, and KPIs.
• Foster ownership, data-driven decision-making, and continuous improvement, holding the team and partners accountable for savings, compliance, and risk-reduction outcomes.
• Influence and align Technology, Finance, Vendor Management, Sourcing, Security, Supply Chain, and business-unit partners on SAM programs and software-spend direction.
• Direct third-party SAM managed service providers, set service expectations, monitor KPIs, drive improvement, 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 IBM licensing agreements, CVA, and S&S renewals.
• Build and validate true-up and quantity-adjustment scenarios, challenge vendor usage claims with defensible data, and partner with Sourcing to improve commercial outcomes.
• Lead the internal SAM response to software vendor audits and act 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 processes for deploying, tracking, and re-harvesting licenses to avoid unnecessary spending and maximize value.
• Identify and validate savings across publishers and software titles, improve the quality of MSP-sourced recommendations, and drive savings through monetized completion.
• Lead implementation of an enterprise-wide software catalog covering entitlements, usage, supported platforms and 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 emerging cloud, container, and AI-driven license-management capabilities.

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
• Other incentives and an award-winning total rewards package
• Potential premium pay, such as overtime, shift differential, holiday pay, or allowances, depending on the role
• Up to 15 days of vacation per year for newly hired employees, increasing with additional service

What This Job Offers

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