IS Service Manager, Software Asset & License Management (Cary, North Carolina)

At ABB , we help industries run leaner and cleaner—and every person here makes that happen. You’ll be empowered to lead, supported to grow, and proud of the impact we create together. Join us and help run what runs the world.

This position reports to:

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The Software Asset Manager (SAM) is a strategic role within the Country Information Systems (IS) organization responsible for governing the full lifecycle of software assets across the enterprise. This position leads software license strategy, cost optimization, vendor alignment, and compliance management to ensure the organization maximizes value from software investments while minimizing risk.

The role combines financial stewardship, vendor negotiation support, and operational governance to deliver transparency, efficiency, and control over the country’s software portfolio. The Software Asset Manager partners closely with IS Domain Delivery Managers, Procurement, Finance, Security, Architecture, and Business leaders to enable compliant, cost-effective, and scalable technology solutions.

The work model for the role is: Hybrid in Cleveland OH, Cary NC, Fort Smith AR

Core Responsibilities:

Strategy & Governance

• Implement the country’s Software Asset Management (SAM) strategy, policies, and standards aligned with global Divisions and Business Areas
• Deploy established governance frameworks for software acquisition, deployment, usage, and retirement – aligned to the existing software ordering processes
• Create visibility into software spend, utilization, and risk across the estate
• Align software portfolio decisions with business and IS strategy, including support for all M&A transactions that require license management activity

License & Asset Lifecycle Management

• Manage the end-to-end lifecycle of software assets: request, procurement, deployment, maintenance, renewal, and retirement
• Validate and ensure accurate license entitlement and consumption reporting
• Support software rationalization and optimization initiatives
• Facilitate redundant or underutilized software to reduce cost and complexity

Cost Management & Optimization

• Provide software budget transparency and cost tracking
• Identify savings opportunities through license optimization, right-sizing, and contract consolidation
• Support forecasting and budgeting of software renewals and true-ups/true-downs
• Develop total cost of ownership (TCO) models and ROI analysis

Vendor & Contract Management

• Serve as primary IS point of contact for key software vendors and publishers
• Provide licensing expertise during negotiations, renewals, and enterprise agreements
• Interpret and advise on complex licensing models (subscription, SaaS, consumption, perpetual, hybrid)
• Partner with Procurement to optimize contract terms and pricing

Compliance & Risk Management

• Ensure compliance with vendor licensing terms and regulatory requirements
• Lead internal license audits and readiness for external vendor audits, aligned with global SAM team
• Mitigate legal and financial exposure related to non-compliance
• Establish controls and reporting to proactively manage risk

Data, Reporting & Tooling

• Leverage SAM/ITAM tools to track inventory, usage, and entitlements
• Develop dashboards and KPIs for software spend, compliance posture, and optimization progress
• Provide regular reporting to IS and business leadership

Stakeholder Partnership

• Collaborate with Infrastructure, Security, Architecture, and Application teams to standardize software usage
• Advise project teams on licensing implications during solution design
• Educate stakeholders on licensing best practices and cost accountability

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Information Systems, Business, Finance, or related field
• 8+ years experience in Software Asset Management, IT Asset Management, or technology financial management
• Strong knowledge of software licensing models and contract structures
• Experience managing major vendors (e.g., Microsoft, Oracle, Adobe, SAP, SaaS providers, cloud platforms)
• Demonstrated success driving cost savings and optimization initiatives
• Experience preparing for and managing software audits
• Strong analytical, financial, and negotiation skills
• Ability to translate technical and licensing concepts into business impact

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience within a country or regional IS/IT organization
• Familiarity with SAM/ITAM tools (ServiceNow SAM, Flexera, Snow, etc.)
• Knowledge of cloud licensing (Azure/AWS/GCP consumption models)
• Certifications such as:
  • CSAM
  • ITIL
  • IAITAM (CHAMP/CSAM)
  • SAM or ITAM tool certifications
• Experience working cross-functionally with Procurement and Finance

What's in it for you

We empower you to take initiative, challenge ideas, and lead with confidence. You’ll grow through meaningful work, continuous learning, and support that’s tailored to your goals. Every idea you share and every action you take contributes to something bigger

ABB is an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer for protected Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities at ABB.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their- sex (gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation), marital status, citizenship, age, race and ethnicity, inclusive of traits historically associated with race or ethnicity, including but not limited to hair texture and protective hairstyles, color, religious creed, national origin, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, genetic information, protected Veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal and state law.

For more information regarding your (EEO) rights as an applicant, please visit the following websites:

As an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer for Protected Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities, applicants may request to review the plan of a particular ABB facility between the hours of 9:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M. EST Monday through Friday by contacting an ABB HR Representative at View phone number on apply.placed-app.com.

Protected Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities may request reasonable accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to use or access ABB's career site as a result of your disability. You may request reasonable accommodations by calling an ABB HR Representative at View phone number on apply.placed-app.com or by sending an email to View email address on apply.placed-app.com . Resumes and applications will not be accepted in this manner.

ABB Benefit Summary for eligible US employees

[excludes ABB E-mobility, Athens union, Puerto Rico]

Go to MyBenefitsABB.com and click on “Candidate/Guest” to learn more

Health, Life & Disability

• Choice between two medical plan options: A PPO plan called the Copay Plan OR a High Deductible Health Plan (with a Health Savings Account) called the High Deductible Plan. 
• Choice between two dental plan options: Core and Core Plus
• Vision benefit
• Company paid life insurance (2X base pay)
• Company paid AD&D (1X base pay)
• Voluntary life and AD&D – 100% employee paid up to maximums
• Short Term Disability – up to 26 weeks – Company paid
• Long Term Disability – 60% of pay – Company paid. Ability to “buy-up” to 66 2/3% of pay.
• Supplemental benefits – 100% employee paid (Accident insurance, hospital indemnity, critical illness, pet insurance
• Parental Leave – up to 6 weeks
• Employee Assistance Program
• Health Advocate support resources for mental/behavioral health, general health navigation and virtual health, and infertility/adoption
• Employee discount program

Retirement

• 401k Savings Plan with Company Contributions 
• Employee Stock Acquisition Plan (ESAP)

Time off

• ABB provides 11 paid holidays.
• Salaried exempt positions are provided vacation under a permissive time away policy.

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