SUPP111708

Within the University our IT Services department is on an exciting journey. Our vision is to provide globally accessible technical services and digital solutions to empower world class learning and research at the University. As part of this journey, we are looking for a dynamic and focused Software Licensing Specialist to join the team and increase out software licensing and management capabilities.What will you be doing? The role holder manages and coordinates the University's software licensing and procurement processes, creating and deploying software management procedures, adapting as situations, opportunities and requirements change. The role holder develops and maintains a specialist knowledge of software licensing agreements to ensure legal compliance and appropriate licensing arrangements and liaises with staff and students to raise awareness of available software and how to obtain it. The role holder monitors and forecasts spend against budget, determining required budget and manages centrally funded software contracts and subscriptions, working with service owners in contract renegotiations .

• Develop and maintain a single register of all software licences and usage in a Software Asset Management system to provide for efficient licence administration, management, and auditing and consider integration with other IT management systems.
• Create statistical reports, analyse and interpret software licensing and usage information as well as the related costs to identify software that could be retired or redistributed.
• Maintain up to date information relating to software, ensuring that staff and students understand what software is available, licencing restrictions, how to obtain software and IT Services' involvement in procurement of software.
• Gain the support of staff across the University providing guidance and responding promptly to queries or requests for advice/assistance, explaining any technical concepts clearly to ensure the delivery of an efficient and compliant licensing capability.
• Plan the timely renewal of licences, prompting others as necessary, and considering timelines when decisions about discontinuing or changing licences have to be made.
• Procure software or advise on how to proceed, liaising with other University departments and suppliers in line with procurement policies and agreements, whilst building and maintaining strong relationships.
• Maintain an awareness of software requirements across the University as well as changes or trends in licensing or availability and decide on the most appropriate response to ensure appropriate models can be put in place to meet end user and University needs.
• Decide on the best approach to licensing, challenging the need for licences where there are existing software arrangements, determining when consultation is required with stakeholders and undertaking consultation to ensure stakeholders' requirements are met.
• Advise on the risks associated with software licences and the University's approach, raising risks within IT Services for consideration by management where appropriate.
• Constantly look for ways to improve the service offered, compliance and the benefit we can obtain from our software spend, including advising on and implementing common licencing agreements across the University to converge on single contracts with vendors.
• Develop personal capabilities and expertise in licensing through professional study and/or practical application and experience.
• Continuously review processes and identify opportunities for improvement
  
  Understanding of software licensing processes and requirements, and management of them to ensure the organisation is both legal and obtains optimum value from its software spend.
• Understanding the need for demonstrable compliance, whilst remaining pragmatic and highlighting risks.
• Self-motivation and the ability to prioritise and organise own time and work effectively, using initiative and judgement without recourse to seniors.
• Experience of analysing and manipulating data using tools such as databases and spreadsheets to solve problems.
• Awareness of developments in the field of educational software licensing.
• Good awareness of stakeholder management and the maintenance of web pages.
• First degree or equivalent professional qualification and/or Proven track record of relevant work experience demonstrating practical knowledge of managing software licensing
• Ability to communicate, challenge and negotiate effectively with colleagues with a wide variety of professional backgrounds and of varying degrees of seniority.
• Ability to develop and maintaining strong supplier relationships.
• Ability to present and explain complex issues and ability to deal sensitively and effectively with confidential information.
• Proven track record of delivering a high level of customer care, whilst operating within parameters.