Director, ETS - Global Software Asset Management

Job Title: Director - Software Asset Management (SAM)

GCL: F

Introduction to role:

Are you prepared to guide a global Software Asset Management capability that protects compliance, unlocks value and fuels a data-led, patient-focused enterprise? As Director, Software Asset Management, you will set the strategy and run the end-to-end software governance that keeps our business audit-ready, cost-optimized and primed to scale. Your decisions will help our scientists and teams access the right tools at the right time, so we can bring life-changing medicines to patients faster.

You will report to the Director of Service Asset and Configuration Management and lead a worldwide dispersed team. Partnering closely with sourcing, legal affairs, information security, enterprise architecture, finance and business-aligned technology groups, you will represent AstraZeneca with strategic software publishers and SAM tooling partners. Can you imagine shaping enterprise agreements and standards that save millions, reduce risk and empower thousands of colleagues—while building an energized, high-performing team?

Accountabilities:

Strategy, Governance and Compliance: Lead the global SAM strategy, policy, processes, standards and governance to ensure consistent, enterprise-wide compliance and reporting. Serve as the named control owner for software licence compliance, maintaining a continuous state of audit readiness and leading all vendor audits and internal assessments through to successful closure. Define and govern the full software lifecycle—from request and procurement, through entitlement, deployment and usage, to true-up, reallocation and retirement—ensuring a seamless AZ Software Store experience.

Value, Optimisation and FinOps: Drive measurable cost optimization and value realization from strategic enterprise agreements. Partner with Procurement and Finance to inform renewals, true-ups and rationalization, turning insights into budget decisions. Monitor and report consumption versus entitlement, identifying gaps, surplus and reharvest opportunities, and feed data-driven recommendations into planning and investment cycles. Champion software economic decision-making across technology teams to set standards, evaluate alternatives and consolidate where it counts.

Tooling, Data and Integration: Own the SAM tooling roadmap and customer success for platforms such as Flexera FNMS, ServiceNow SAM and App Portal, ensuring tight integration with IT service management, CMDB and hardware asset management. Safeguard the integrity of entitlements, contracts, installations and usage data as a single source of truth. Advance automation and self-service for software request, fulfilment and reclamation to elevate user experience and reduce manual effort.

Collaborator Engagement and Partnership: Build positive relationships with senior collaborators across Procurement, Legal, Cyber Security, Enterprise Architecture, Finance and business-aligned technology groups to embed SAM standards and controls. Manage strategic software publisher and SAM partner relationships to influence roadmaps, secure favorable commercial outcomes and unlock new capabilities. Promote SAM advocacy and license compliance across the enterprise to raise awareness and establish the right behaviors.

Leadership: Lead and continuously develop a strong, globally distributed team across the UK and our Global Technology Centre, strengthening capability, succession and engagement. Play an active role in the SACM leadership team to align strategies and deliver outcomes at scale. Define compelling business cases and interlock investments with medium-term planning to transform AstraZeneca’s software governance capability and sustain long-term impact.

Essential Skills/Experience:

• Significant IT experience leading global Software Asset Management or comparable IT governance / compliance functions.
• Demonstrable track record of leading software vendor license audits and large-scale internal compliance programmes.
• Deep knowledge of enterprise software publishers and license models – e.g. Microsoft, Oracle, SAP, IBM, Salesforce, Adobe, ServiceNow, VMware.
• Hands-on experience of SAM tooling (Flexera FNMS, ServiceNow SAM, App Portal) and integration with ITSM and CMDB.
• Experience leading large global teams and multi-million dollar software portfolios and budgets.
• Experience of dealing with Internal Audit, Risk and Compliance functions.

Desirable Skills/Experience:

• Experience working in the Biopharmaceutical / Life Sciences industry.
• Recognised SAM / ITAM certifications – e.g. IAITAM CSAM, CITAM, ITIL, ISO/IEC 19770.
• Experience of FinOps / IT cost optimisation disciplines applied to software.
• Experience working across cultures and time zones, including a Global Technology Centre operating model.
• SDLC, Agile and Scrum methodologies.

When we put unexpected teams in the same room, we unleash bold thinking with the power to inspire life-changing medicines. In-person working gives us the platform we need to connect, work at pace and challenge perceptions. That's why we work, on average, a minimum of three days per week from the office. But that doesn't mean we're not flexible. We balance the expectation of being in the office while respecting individual flexibility. Join us in our unique and ambitious world.

Why AstraZeneca:

Here you will blend technology leadership with tangible patient impact, working in a modern, fast-moving environment where curiosity and high standards go hand-in-hand. We bring together diverse experts to solve complex problems, using data, analytics and AI to scale what works and reimagine what’s next. You’ll have the autonomy to take ownership, the backing to invest in bold ideas and the support of leaders who coach and recognize growth. We value kindness alongside ambition, pairing rigorous governance with a collaborative culture so you can build capabilities that shape the enterprise and leave a legacy that matters.

Call to Action:

If you are ready to lead a global SAM capability that reduces risk, maximizes value and accelerates our impact on patients, step forward and shape what’s possible.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

Date Posted

09-Oct-2026

Closing Date

16-Oct-2026

AstraZeneca embraces diversity and equality of opportunity.  We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse team representing all backgrounds, with as wide a range of perspectives as possible, and harnessing industry-leading skills.  We believe that the more inclusive we are, the better our work will be.  We welcome and consider applications to join our team from all qualified candidates, regardless of their characteristics.  We comply with all applicable laws and regulations on non-discrimination in employment (and recruitment), as well as work authorization and employment eligibility verification requirements.

AstraZeneca embraces diversity and equality of opportunity. We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse team representing all backgrounds, with as wide a range of perspectives as possible, and harnessing industry-leading skills. We believe that the more inclusive we are, the better our work will be. We welcome and consider applications to join our team from all qualified candidates, regardless of their characteristics. We comply with all applicable laws and regulations on non-discrimination in employment (and recruitment), as well as work authorisation and employment eligibility verification requirements.