Senior Manager - Software Asset Management

This is a critical role for Hapag-Lloyd, focused on establishing robust Software Asset Management (SAM) function that ensures every software asset — whether deployed in the cloud, on-premises, or onboard a vessel — is compliant, cost-efficient, properly procured, centrally governed, and strategically aligned with business needs, without compromising on quality or industry standards.

Senior Manager – SAM will be part of the Run Cost Efficiency (FinOps) team, responsible for managing Hapag-Lloyd’s overall software cost. Senior Manager - SAM will oversee the end-to-end software and contract lifecycle, ensuring that software / SaaS are appropriately procured, optimally utilized, cost-controlled, and that contracts are strategically negotiated during renewals.

Lead should enhance SAM maturity level from scratch by adhering to FinOps principles.

Key Deliverables & Governance Artefacts

• SAM Charter & Policy Framework (published and board-approved)
• Software Asset Register (SAR) — complete, current, audit-ready
• Monthly SAM Governance Report (compliance, spend, renewal pipeline, risks)
• Effective License Position (ELP) Reports — per product, per renewal cycle
• Vendor Audit Evidence Packs — maintained per strategic software publisher
• Software Lifecycle Calendar — 18-month rolling view with automated alerts
• True-Up Calculation Workbooks — traceable, tool-validated, version-controlled
• Software Compliance Risk Register — quantified exposure by vendor
• SAM Toolchain Architecture & Integration Map
• Harvest Optimization Reports — savings identified, realized, and tracked
• AI & ML integration and automation

Responsibilities

• Establish SAM Charter/Framework in Hapag-Lloyd for all Softwares/SaaS applications
• End-end management software asset lifecycle (SLDC) ensuring activities such as procurement, deployment, usage tracking, renewal, and retirement are executed either directly or in collaboration with responsible teams
• Volume licensing management, SaaS licensing management (AWS & Azure), Contract negotiations and interacting legal terms during re-negotiations
• Monitor usage and entitlements to identify opportunities for consolidation, savings, and license reallocation (Harvest Optimization)
• Work with 3rd party SAM tools like Flexera, ServiceNow, Nexthink to deliver effective License Position reports on selected software products during renewals
• Maintain the accuracy of the data in the Asset Management System according to Service Level Agreements (SLAs) and responsible to maintain, update, track and report on all Software/SaaS applications
• Work with procurement and IT support teams to process purchase requests for software
• Support audits and compliance initiatives with accurate software inventory, license documentation
• True-up policy management and tracking renewals

Stakeholder interaction

• Run Cost Efficiency (FinOps) team
• CCoE, Cloud Operations Center team
• Finance and Procurement teams
• Product owners
• CISO, Legal and Compliance teams

Technical Competency Requirements

• Competency Domain

Required Technical Skills

Tools / Standards

SAM Tooling

Platform administration, connector configuration, data normalization, ELP modelling

Flexera One, ServiceNow ITAM, Nexthink

Cloud Licensing

AWS cost management, Azure licensing tiers, Reserved Instances, Savings Plans, Hybrid Benefit

AWS Billing Console, Azure Cost Management, Microsoft 365 Admin Center

Enterprise Software

Volume licensing mechanics, product use rights, metric interpretation (processor, core, user, device)

Microsoft EA/MPSA, Oracle ULA, SAP, IBM PVU

Discovery & Inventory

Endpoint discovery, software normalization, CMDB reconciliation, shadow IT detection

Flexera Discovery, ServiceNow Discovery, Nexthink, Tanium

ITAM Frameworks

Lifecycle governance, risk management, data quality management, audit defense methodology

ISO 19770-1/2, ITIL 4, SIAM

Data & Reporting

KPI design, dashboard development, ELP report construction, TCO modelling

ServiceNow Reporting, Power BI, Flexera Analytics, Excel advanced modelling

• Bachelor’s degree in information technology, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field
• 10 - 15 years of relevant experience in Software Asset Management (SAM), IT Asset Management (ITAM), or related domains
• Strong understanding of SAM tools (e.g., Flexera, ServiceNow SAM, Nexthink)
• In-depth understanding of software licensing models (Microsoft, Adobe, Oracle, SAP, SaaS, etc.)
• Good communication and stakeholder management skills.