Manager, Software Asset Management

Founded in 1910, KONE is a global leader that provides elevators, escalators and automatic building doors, as well as solutions for maintenance and modernization that add value to buildings throughout their life cycle. Our mission is to improve the flow of urban life and make our world’s cities better places to live by providing innovative solutions that help make people’s journeys safe, convenient and reliable. Our operations in over 60 countries around the world has helped us achieve our position as an innovation and sustainability leader with repeated recognitions by Forbes, Corporate Knights for clean capitalism and others. 

KONE’s vision is to create the Best People Flow experience by providing ease, effectiveness and experience to our customers and users. In line with our strategy, Sustainable Success with Customers, we will focus on increasing the value we create for customers with new intelligent solutions and embed sustainability even deeper across all of our operations. By closer collaboration with customers and partners, KONE will increase the speed of bringing new services and solutions to the market. 

KONE Technology and Innovation Unit (KTI) is where we combine the physical world – escalators and elevators – with smart and connected digital systems. We are changing and improving the way billions of people move within buildings every day. We are on a mission to expand and develop new digital solutions that are based on emerging technologies. 

IT professionals - KONE Corporation

We are looking for

Manager, Software Asset Management, KONE IT

The role maximizes the business value of KONE IT’s software investments through effective SAM, licensing governance, compliance, cost optimization, and data-driven decisions.

The Manager, Software Asset Management, owns and continuously improves SAM in KONE IT, ensuring software investments are optimized, compliant, cost-effective, and aligned with business objectives. The role combines strategic governance with hands-on execution and close collaboration with IT, Purchasing, Finance, Legal, Cybersecurity, vendors, and business stakeholders.

The Manager, Software Asset Management, manages KONE’s software assets across their lifecycle, strengthens governance and controls, optimizes spend, ensures software vendor audits readiness when needed, and provides insights that maximize investment value. The role is the central SAM authority for licensing, compliance, vendor engagement, cost optimization, and usage analytics.

Main Responsibilities

• Own and improve SAM processes, governance, controls, tools, reporting, and data quality.

• Manage software assets, entitlements, deployments, usage, compliance, and analytics across the lifecycle.

• Embed SAM practices into IT operations, sourcing, architecture, product management, and service management.

• Manage effective license positions for key vendors and support renewals, budgeting, forecasting, and negotiations.

• Identify and deliver cost optimization, savings, risk reduction, and license harvesting opportunities.

• Identify licensing, contractual, operational, and compliance risks and drive mitigation actions.

• Produce executive reporting, utilization insights, SAM KPIs, and recommendations for decisions and vendor management.

• Govern SaaS, cloud software consumption, subscriptions, access, software requests, and renewals.

• Lead software vendor audits, remediation, ongoing compliance monitoring, and audit preparedness.

• Build strong partnerships across IT, Finance, Purchasing, Legal, Cybersecurity, vendors, and business stakeholders.

• Promote SAM awareness and translate complex licensing topics into clear business insights.

Key Skills Required

• Strong knowledge of SAM frameworks, licensing models, entitlements, compliance, audits, and vendor rules.

• Experience with major enterprise software vendors such as Microsoft, SAP, Salesforce, Oracle, Adobe, and ServiceNow.

• Strong analytical skills to interpret license, usage, deployment, and financial data and identify optimization opportunities.

• Understanding of budgeting, forecasting, software spend management, and financial reporting.

• Understanding of SaaS, cloud consumption, subscriptions, user-based licensing, Cloud FinOps, and cloud cost management.

• Familiarity with CMDB, ITAM, ITSM, enterprise architecture, SAM, ITAM, discovery, and reporting tools.

• Ability to assess licensing, contractual, operational, commercial, and compliance risks and support remediation.

• Excellent stakeholder, influencing, negotiation, and relationship management skills across IT, Finance, Purchasing, Legal, Cybersecurity, vendors, and business functions.

• Strong communication and presentation skills, with the ability to simplify complex licensing and technical topics for senior audiences.

• Continuous improvement mindset with the ability to challenge practices and improve automation, reporting, efficiency, processes, controls, and governance.

Requirements for the Role

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in IT, Business, Finance, Engineering, or a related field.

• 5–10+ years of relevant experience in SAM, ITAM, sourcing, IT operations, FinOps, or vendor management.

• Strategic, analytical, and business-minded, with strong problem-solving and decision-making skills.

• Hands-on, results-oriented, proactive, and able to work independently.

• Able to manage multiple priorities and stakeholders in collaboration with others.

• Continuous learner focused on optimization and value creation.

• Practical experience with major software vendors, licensing models, SAM/ITAM tools, and license management dashboards.

• The following are considered advantages:

  • IAITAM, CSAM, CITAM, ITIL, FinOps, or other relevant certifications.

  • Experience with ISO/IEC 19770 standards or mature ITAM/SAM governance frameworks.

  • Experience in financial management, cost optimization, or vendor commercial management.

  • Experience working in a global matrix organization.

  • Experience developing dashboards, automation, or data-driven SAM reporting.

  • Experience with Microsoft enterprise agreements, SAP licensing, Salesforce licensing, or large SaaS optimization programs.

We offer

At KONE IT, you will help shape Software Asset Management in a global technology environment, improving compliance, reducing risk, optimizing costs, and maximizing value from software investments.

The role combines strategic thinking with hands-on execution, offering the opportunity to work with global software vendors, influence sourcing decisions, strengthen data-driven decision-making, and support KONE’s digital transformation.

For further information 
Please contact Juha Koponen, Head of CIO Office via email [email protected] or via phone +358504867510 on Thursday 6.8. between 1-2pm.

Want to join the #PeopleFlow?  

If you think this could be your next inspiring challenge, please submit your application including a cover letter and CV as soon as possible via our Careers site Shape the future of cities. Join our flow. | KONE Careers latest on 20th August 2026.  

We look forward to hearing from you! 

#LI-IT 

#LI-Hybrid

At KONE, we are focused on creating an innovative and collaborative working culture where we value the contribution of each individual. Employee engagement is a key focus area for us and we encourage participation and the sharing of information and ideas. Sustainability is an integral part of our culture and the daily practice. We follow ethical business practices and we seek to develop a culture of working together where co-workers trust and respect each other and good performance is recognized. In being a great place to work, we are proud to offer a range of experiences and opportunities that will help you to achieve your career and personal goals and enable you to live a healthy and balanced life.

Read more on https://kone.com/global/en/careers.html