Sr. Program Manager Technology, Software Asset Management

Job Description

A strategic Senior Program Manager, Technology – Software Asset Management (SAM) will be leading High-Impact, High-Risk Programs that enable SAM transformation. The role drives SAM programs that leverages FlexeraOne, automation, and generative-AI workflows to manage the end-to-end software lifecycle at Nordstrom. Success demands deep licensing expertise, data-driven storytelling, and cross-functional leadership, with automation regarded as the default approach for delivering value across Nordstrom’s technology portfolio. This role understands and partners within and outside of Technology to strike the appropriate balance between solution and license risk management. This role requires a blend of advanced program management skills, strategic leadership, and technical understanding to deliver high-impact SAM programs that align with organizational goals that optimize software spend, enhance compliance and risk management, and drive measurable business value. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record of delivering large-scale programs on time and within budget, leveraging automation and AI-driven analytics to improve processes. They will also excel in stakeholder engagement, cross-functional collaboration, and mentoring teams to build organizational SAM maturity.

A day in the life… 

• Program Governance: Lead and oversee strategic SAM initiatives with broad organizational impact, high risk compliance programs and enterprise-impacting process improvements.
• Strategic Approach: Ensure programs are aligned with enterprise objectives, including cost containment, compliance readiness, operational efficiency, and deliver measurable outcomes.
• AI & Automation Oversight: Incorporate AI and automation technologies into SAM processes to enhance SAM operations, reduce manual effort, and improve accuracy across license management and compliance reporting.
• Stakeholder Engagement and Influence: Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including Vendor Management, Sourcing, Security, Engineering, Legal, and Tech Finance to drive a unified license-compliance process. Facilitate executive-level meetings, such as Steering Committees to provide data-driven insights on program progress, license risk, and outcomes, enabling informed decision-making. Build strong relationships with stakeholders, proactively influencing priorities and resolving conflicts to align diverse perspectives with organizational goals.
• Program and Team Leadership: Provide strategic data and process insights to cross-functional teams, ensuring clarity of roles, responsibilities, and understanding of deliverables for SAM programs. Mentor and develop team members, fostering a collaborative and solution-driven culture while building the next generation of SAM expertise. Drive projects across multiple SAM initiatives, ensuring consistency with enterprise strategies and IT asset management objectives.
• Data-Driven Program Management: Identify gaps in operational Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to measure the success of SAM programs, including cost savings, compliance adherence, and license optimization, and proposes solutions to leadership. Leverage AI-driven analytics and reporting tools to monitor progress, identify and mitigate risks, and provide actionable insights to stakeholders.
• Continuous SAM Development: Champion innovation with SAM by identifying opportunities to enhance tools, processes, and data integration to meet evolving business needs. Establish knowledge-sharing frameworks, such as playbooks, templates, and best practices, to scale SAM capabilities across organization. Act as a thought leader in SAM, inspiring teams to adopt proactive, AI-enabled, and results-driven approaches to program delivery.
  

You own this if you have… 

• 7+ years’ experience managing large-scale, cross-functional programs, with a focus on Software Asset Management (SAM)
• 7+ years of proven ability to deliver high-impact programs (multimillion-dollar programs) while overcoming challenges and exceeding stakeholder expectations
• Deep knowledge of SAM principles, software lifecycle management, and software licensing models
• Expert knowledge of FlexeraOne, including foundational back-end knowledge
• Familiarity with major software vendors both on-premise and cloud (e.g. Oracle, Google, Azure, AWS) to ensure compliance and cost optimization.
• Proven ability to manage software audits and ensure audit readiness
• Executive stakeholder management – able to brief VP/CTO level, ability to be a strategic storyteller and distill complex data into action-oriented exec narratives
• Ability to inspire others, engage in healthy debate, including demonstrated experience leading strong teams and be a change catalyst that rallies diverse teams around new tooling and processes
• Technical background and understanding of both core infrastructure and software development principals 
• Ability to build relationships cross-functionally with multiple teams both within and outside of technology from areas such as Vendor Management, Security, Engineering, Product Management, Finance, Strategic Sourcing and Procurement, and HR
• Strong leadership skills to foster collaboration among cross-functional teams and drive alignment on SAM priorities
• Track record of AI/automation enablement (e.g. Azure OpenAI, GitHub Actions, Power Automate) to optimize SAM processes and uncover actional insights, and how to implement automation workflows that reduce manual effort and enhance accuracy in reporting
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to synthesize complex data and provide clear, actionable recommendations
• Proficiency in defining and tracking metrics to measure program success and continuously improve SAM processes
• Ability to align SAM initiatives with broader organizational goals, such as cost containment, compliance, and digital transformation
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to present complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences
• Proven ability to influence and engage stakeholders at all levels, including executives, IT leaders, and business unit managers – answer the question “Why should this license risk be prioritized?”
  

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Business Administration, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
• Certifications in SAM Tools or frameworks (e.g., ITIL, IAITAM certifications like CSAM, FNMS certified) are highly desirable.
• Familiarity with discovery and IT Service Management (ITSM) tools like ServiceNow, Wiz, Configuration Management, JAMF, InTune
• Experience implementing or managing cloud-based SAM processes (e.g., for AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud)
• Familiarity with purple-team security mindset – understanding how software governance intersects with cyber risk

We’ve got you covered…

Our employees are our most important asset and that’s reflected in our benefits. Nordstrom is proud to offer a variety of benefits to support employees and their families, including:

• Medical/Vision, Dental, Retirement and Paid Time Away
• Life Insurance and Disability
• Merchandise Discount and EAP Resources

A few more important points...

The job posting highlights the most critical responsibilities and requirements of the job. It’s not all-inclusive. There may be additional duties, responsibilities and qualifications for this job.

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Pay Range Details

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Pay offers are dependent on the location, as well as job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.