About Olympus
We are an equal opportunities employer and we are committed to ensuring that no applicant or employee receives less favorable treatment on the grounds of gender, age, disability, religion, belief, sexual orientation, marital status, or race, or is disadvantaged by conditions or requirements which cannot be shown.
The job is conducted in line with our Core Values which are: Patient Focus, Integrity, Innovation, Impact and Empathy. Olympus is an equal opportunities employer championing a culture of equality, diversity and inclusion embedded throughout the organization and workforce.
Job Summary
The Global Software Asset Manager is globally responsible for the effective delivery, governance, and continual improvement of the organization's Software Asset Management (SAM) capabilities across all regions. This role oversees end-to-end software asset lifecycle management—including procurement, deployment, compliance, optimization, and retirement—while leveraging Managed Service Providers (MSPs) for day-to-day operational execution.
The role is accountable for establishing and standardizing global SAM processes, integrating and fully leveraging ServiceNow for asset visibility, automation, reporting, and workflow management. Working jointly with the accountable Service Owner and key stakeholders across IT, Procurement, Finance, Legal, and Security, the Global Software Asset Manager ensures software assets are compliant, cost-effective, and aligned with organizational objectives.
Software Asset Management plays a critical role in controlling cost, reducing risk, and enabling operational efficiency. The Global Software Asset Manager connects operational execution with business strategy to ensure transparency, compliance, and continual improvement of software asset services worldwide.
Key stakeholders for the service manager includes, service owners, service managers process managers, provider managers, regional delivery leads and external partners to deliver consistent and effective Global IT services.
Primary Responsibilities
Global Service Delivery, Performance & Improvement
- Own the global delivery of Software Asset Management (SAM) services across all regions and business units
- Oversee Managed Service Providers responsible for day-to-day SAM operations, ensuring consistent execution and service quality
- Establish and maintain standardized global SAM operating models, processes, and governance frameworks
- Ensure seamless service transition, stabilization, and operational handover for new software assets, tools, and vendors
- Coordinate cross-region SAM activities to ensure consistent service delivery and data integrity
- Ensure software asset lifecycle activities (request, procurement, deployment, renewal, and retirement) are executed effectively
- Define, monitor, and report on SLAs, KPIs, and service performance metrics for SAM services
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives to optimize software usage, reduce waste, and improve service efficiency
- Identify cost optimization, license re-harvesting, and spend-avoidance opportunities across the global software portfolio
- Review MSP performance regularly and implement corrective actions and service enhancements as needed
- Use performance data and trend analysis to inform strategic planning and service improvements
- Lead post-incident and post-audit reviews to identify root causes and drive systemic improvements
Risk & Compliance
- Ensure global compliance with software licensing agreements, vendor contracts, and regulatory requirements
- Manage software audit readiness and coordinate internal and external license audits
- Maintain accurate software entitlement records and audit trails to support compliance and governance
- Establish and enforce SAM controls to prevent unlicensed usage and over-deployment
- Partner with Legal, Procurement, Finance, and Security to address compliance findings and risk exposure
Customer & Stakeholder Engagement
- Act as the primary point of accountability for SAM services with internal customers and stakeholders
- Build strong partnerships with Procurement, Finance, Legal, Security, and business leadership
- Support decision-making by providing insights into software usage, cost, and compliance impacts
- Manage vendor relationships in collaboration with Procurement, including renewals and contract negotiations
Technical Competencies:
Technical
- Responsible for the integration of Software Asset Management capabilities within ServiceNow
- Ensure accurate discovery, normalization, and reconciliation of software asset data
- Define technical requirements and configurations to support SAM processes and controls
- Use ServiceNow workflows, automation, and reporting to improve visibility and efficiency
- Partner with IT teams to ensure tool integrations (discovery, CMDB, procurement systems) support SAM accuracy
Drive improvements in tooling, data quality, and automation to support scalable global SAM operations
- Ability to manage vendor audits, maintain entitlements, and ensure ongoing compliance
- Strong understanding of software licensing models and vendor negotiation support
- Capable to operate and scale SAM services across regions and time zones
- Experience governing managed service providers and holding them accountable to SLAs and outcomes
- Establishes and enforces standardized global processes and controls
- Defines, tracks, and improves SLAs, KPIs, and service health metrics
- Proactively identifies and delivers process, cost, and efficiency improvements
- Leverages analytics and reporting to inform optimization and strategic decisions
- Proactively identifies financial, operational, and compliance risks related to software assets
- Understanding of software spend, budgeting, and cost-avoidance strategies
- Ensures policies, controls, and evidence support regulatory and audit requirements
- Builds trust and partnerships across IT, Procurement, Finance, Legal, and Security
- Effectively communicates SAM value, risks, and recommendations to technical and non-technical audiences
- Effectively manages complex issues and escalations to timely resolution
- Hands-on knowledge of ServiceNow SAM modules and best practices
- Ability to leverage workflows, discovery, CMDB, and integrations to improve SAM accuracy
- Develops meaningful reports and dashboards to drive visibility and decisions
- Strong understanding of ITIL practices and their application to SAM services
- Ability to operate SAM services within ITIL-aligned processes
Ensures new services and changes are transitioned smoothly into operations
Other Competencies (Behavioral, Leadership)
- Strategic mindset - Seeing ahead to future possibilities and translating them into breakthrough strategies.
- Cultivates innovation - Creating new and better ways for the organization to be successful.
- Drives results - Consistently achieving results, even under tough circumstances.
- Decision quality - Making good and timely decisions that keep the organization moving forward.
- Balances stakeholders - Anticipating and balancing the needs of multiple stakeholders.
- Collaborates - Building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives.
- Instills trust - Gaining the confidence and trust of others through honesty, integrity, and authenticity.
- Situational adaptability - Adapting approach and demeanor in real time to match the shifting demands of different situations.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Education
- Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science or a related field (or equivalent and related experience preferred).
Professional Experience
- 5-7 years experience managing global Software Asset Management (SAM) programs, ensuring license compliance, optimization, and cost control across multiple regions and business units.
- 5+ years experience partnering with Procurement, Legal, Finance, and IT stakeholders to govern software lifecycle management, contract alignment, and vendor negotiations at a global scale.
- Strong expertise in SAM frameworks and ITIL-based service management, integrating Software Asset Management with Incident, Change, and Configuration Management processes.
- Proven ability to drive software license optimization and cost avoidance, using usage analysis, entitlement reconciliation, and audit defense strategies to reduce financial and compliance risk.
- Advanced analytical and reporting skills, leveraging SAM and ITSM tools to provide executive-level insights on software spend, compliance posture, and optimization opportunities.
- Experience managing Global IT Services and working with global service providers.
Technical Skills
- SAM and ITSM tool expertise (e.g., ServiceNow SAM Pro, Flexera, Snow, USU), integrating asset data with Incident, Change, and Configuration Management processes.
- Global Software Asset Management (SAM) frameworks and governance, including license compliance, entitlement management, and optimization across multi-region environments.
- Software lifecycle management covering request, deployment, usage monitoring, reclamation, and retirement within enterprise environments.
- Software license reconciliation and Effective License Position (ELP) analysis for major publishers (e.g., Microsoft, Oracle, SAP, IBM, Adobe).
- Integration of SAM with CMDB and discovery tools, ensuring accurate asset inventories and dependency mapping across on-prem and cloud environments.
- Automation and data analytics for SAM, leveraging workflows, reporting, and dashboards to identify optimization opportunities and drive cost avoidance.
Certifications (Optional)
- IAITAM Certified Software Asset Manager (CSAM)
- IAITAM Certified Software Asset Management Professional (C-SAM)
- ITIL 4 Managing Professional (MP)
Soft Skills
- Excellent skills in communicating and managing stakeholder relationships.
- Ability to think analytically and effectively solve problems.
Other Considerations (travel/hours availability, etc.):
- Travel, domestic or international, may be needed based on project and operational requirements.
- Having knowledge of Japanese culture and business practices is beneficial.
- Knowledge of MedTech or similar industries is a plus.
