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10–12 years of experience in software procurement, managing contracts exceeding $1M, maintaining software libraries including SLAs and warranties, and working with various software vendors and licensing models.
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Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, Commerce, or a related field.
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Equivalent combination of education and/or work experience in related field may be substituted.
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Certified Supply Chain or Procurement Professional -- NISCL-CIPS or ISM designation is an asset (not required).
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Deep understanding of various licensing structures (per user, per core, consumption-based, perpetual vs. subscription) and the legal jargon within Master Service Agreements (MSAs).
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Familiarity with industry standards (like ISO/IEC 19770) for managing the lifecycle of software assets from procurement to retirement.
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Knowledge of Total Cost of Ownership (TCO), Capex vs. Opex, and financial depreciation of technology assets.
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Understanding of the vendor landscape, including major players (AWS, Microsoft, Salesforce) and emerging niche tools to identify duplicative functionality.
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Knowledge of how to defend license positions during vendor audits and the legal implications of non-compliance.
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The ability to move beyond price-slashing to negotiate for "flexibility," such as favorable termination for convenience, price-increase caps, and data portability.
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Proficiency in auditing a Software Management Database (SMDB) and using Excel or BI tools to identify trends, over-deployment, or under-utilization.
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The ability to look at a 3-year contract and predict how the organization’s growth might impact licensing costs or "shelfware."
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The skill to build and refine workflows (like the Software Approval Process) that balance corporate agility with strict fiscal control.
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Balancing a "firm but fair" approach to ensure vendors meet SLAs while maintaining a partnership that yields long-term value.
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Anticipating renewals 6–12 months in advance to avoid "panic buying" and ensure leverage during negotiations.
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The discipline to maintain 100% accuracy in inventory records—one missed renewal date or miscounted seat can cost thousands.
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The ability to speak "Legal" to the compliance team, "Finance" to the CFO, and "Technical" to the IT departments.
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Maintaining objectivity and professional ethics when dealing with high-value contracts and external vendors.
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The agility to pivot procurement strategies as the company scales or as the software industry shifts toward new delivery models.
