Software Strategic Sourcing Advisor - Director - UK in Guildford

Wanted: dynamic and creative individuals ready to connect with a like-minded team. You’ll enjoy all the autonomy you need to help our clients make their digital infrastructure faster and more effective. Free reign for free spirits doesn’t mean you’ve got to go it alone. Over 1400 teammates from around the globe are eager to help you out when things get down to the wire. Their expertise will put you on the winning path and keep you there. So get ready to kickstart your career with a team that’s connected – connected by freedom.

Position Overview

ISG seeks a Software Strategic Sourcing Director (Director) with a minimum of 15 years of software cloud, SaaS, subscription and on-premise license negotiations, leadership, software sourcing strategy, scenario analysis, opportunity identification, consulting advisory and sales support skills. The Director is expected to lead projects, and a team to support large enterprise software sourcing engagements and critical workstreams for complex multi-software sourcing engagements. The ideal candidate should possess analytical, problem-solving, conceptual, strong collaborative leadership, creative thinking, organizational, time management, and strong verbal and written communication skills. Director will be required to develop and execute strategies for Client project success and to support the growth of the Software Advisory Team. While this position is under the supervision of a Partner in the United States, the individual in this role will work with the local ISG Partners and Business Development Executives to support growing sales opportunities in region which is a major growth area. The individual in this role is expected to be able to make decisions independently and work with Clients to develop effective solutions for them to drive high customer satisfaction results.

Requirements

• 15 + years of SaaS, cloud and on-premise (i.e., perpetual, term, and subscription) software strategic sourcing delivery expertise
• Experience with negotiating agreements with leading software vendors (such as SAP, Salesforce, ServiceNow, Oracle, VMWare, Dell/EMC, and IBM/Red Hat), including understanding of their commercial models, licensing metrics, market positioning, and sales tactics, and corresponding vendor-specific sourcing strategies. This is critical and will be expected to clear in your resume and interviews
• Deep expertise across a minimum of five major enterprise software providers is required. Candidates must be capable of independently leading client engagements within 30 days of hire, including developing sourcing strategies, performing commercial analysis, and leading vendor negotiations.
• Demonstrated expertise in quantitative analysis, financial modeling, pricing analysis, and scenario development to support complex software sourcing strategies and enterprise negotiations.
• Proven experience structuring and leading complex software negotiations, including negotiation strategy development, executive stakeholder alignment, commercial risk assessment, and contract optimization.
• Experience leading multiple concurrent client engagements, including defining project objectives, work plans, milestones, deliverables, resource requirements, and executive communications.
• Lead complex, multi-disciplinary engagements across multiple countries and service lines, leveraging influence and collaboration in ISG
• Experience developing executive-level presentations and recommendations that translate complex licensing, financial, contractual, and sourcing considerations into actionable business decisions.
• Ability to identify additional advisory opportunities within existing client accounts and collaborate with Partners and Business Development Executives to develop proposals, statements of work, and sales pursuit materials.
• Lead and help scale the Software Advisory practice within key EMEA markets (“EMEA”) by supporting regional growth initiatives, expanding Client relationships, and contributing to the development of market-leading software advisory services.
• Collaborate with Partners, Business Development Executives, and regional leadership to identify, qualify, and pursue new business opportunities while supporting revenue growth objectives across the EMEA region.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to senior Client stakeholders, including CIOs, CTOs, CFOs, CPOs, Procurement Executives, and other business leaders, providing strategic guidance on software sourcing, licensing, cloud economics, vendor management, and digital transformation initiatives.
• Provide leadership, coaching, performance management, and professional development for direct reports while supporting the continued growth and expansion of the EMEA Software Advisory team.
• Support or lead hiring, and talent development to ensure continued growth and scalability of the EMEA Software Advisory team.
• Contribute to the development and enhancement of ISG methodologies, intellectual property, market research, service offerings, and delivery frameworks to strengthen the Software Advisory practice.
• Drive high levels of client satisfaction through executive engagement, successful delivery outcomes, and identification of additional opportunities to expand ISG's software advisory services within existing client accounts.
• Act as a recognized thought leader internally and externally by contributing to industry research, publishing insights, speaking at conferences and client events, and representing ISG in the marketplace.
• Strong presentation skills, with the ability to work with multiple stakeholders across a client organization
• Strong interpersonal and organizational skills, including the ability to work independently and meet deadlines

Education

Bachelor of Arts or Science degree in a technical or scientific field, ideally in information technology, finance, engineering, math/analytics, or equivalent work experience

Travel

Generally, less than 20% required

Computer Literacy

Proficient in business collaboration and analytics tools (e.g., Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Teams, etc.)

Location

Remote, but proximity to key markets is a plus.

At ISG, we don’t just accept difference—we celebrate it, support it, and thrive on it to benefit our employees, clients, and communities. We are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. ISG is proud to be an equal-opportunity workplace and is committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. The more diverse and inclusive we are, the better our work will be.

The duties and responsibilities described in this job description may be a partial list. Additional tasks may be assigned to the employee from time to time, and the job scope may change as business demands require.