Software Asset Category Manager

About Nscale

Nscale is the GPU cloud engineered for AI. We provide cost‑effective, high‑performance infrastructure for AI start‑ups and large enterprise customers. Nscale enables AI‑focused companies to achieve superior results by reducing the complexity of AI development. Our GPU cloud bolsters technical capabilities and directly supports strategic business outcomes, including cost management, rapid innovation, and environmental responsibility. We thrive on a culture of relentless innovation, ownership, and accountability, where every team member takes pride in their work and drives it with excellence and urgency. As an Nscaler, you will build trust through openness and transparency, inspiring everyone to do their best work. Joining our team means contributing to building the technology that powers the future.

About The Role

We are seeking a Software Asset Category Manager to take ownership of Nscale’s software licensing, vendor relationships, and technology procurement strategy. This role sits at the intersection of Tech operations, finance, and business enablement, ensuring we maximize value from our software investments, maintain compliance, and support teams with the tools they need to operate at peak efficiency. You will partner with the Internal TechOps team, Finance, and department heads, translating business needs into smart procurement decisions while optimizing costs and managing vendor relationships across our growing organization.

What You’ll Do

• Software Asset Management & Compliance
  • Own the complete software asset lifecycle: discovery, procurement, deployment, usage tracking, and retirement.
  • Maintain an accurate, auditable software inventory across all Nscale locations and systems.
  • Ensure compliance with software licensing agreements through regular audits and reconciliations.
  • Proactively identify and remediate licensing risks, overages, and non‑compliance issues.
  • Manage software license renewals, upgrades, and negotiations to optimize spend.
• Vendor & Category Management
  • Build and maintain strategic relationships with key software vendors and resellers.
  • Conduct market analysis and competitive benchmarking to inform category strategy.
  • Negotiate contracts, licensing terms, and volume discounts to drive cost efficiency.
  • Evaluate new tools and solutions against business requirements, total cost of ownership, and strategic fit.
  • Manage vendor performance, SLAs, and escalations.
• Cost Optimization & Financial Stewardship
  • Analyze software spend patterns and identify opportunities for consolidation, renegotiation, or elimination.
  • Model licensing scenarios (perpetual vs. subscription, seat‑based vs. usage‑based) to recommend optimal approaches.
  • Forecast software spend and budget requirements; track actuals against forecasts.
  • Support finance with accurate software asset valuations for balance sheet and audit purposes.
  • Drive adoption of cost‑effective alternatives and open‑source solutions where appropriate.
• Stakeholder Enablement & Communication
  • Partner with TechOps, HR, Finance, and department heads to understand software needs and pain points.
  • Provide clear guidance on approved tools, licensing policies, and procurement processes.
  • Educate teams on license optimisation, compliance, and responsible software usage.
  • Communicate software roadmap, policy changes, and cost‑saving initiatives across the organization.
  • Support onboarding and offboarding processes with accurate license allocation and deallocation.
• Process & Continuous Improvement
  • Design and implement software procurement policies, approval workflows, and governance frameworks.
  • Establish KPIs and dashboards to track software spend, compliance, and utilisation.
  • Identify and implement automation opportunities (e.g., license tracking, renewal alerts, usage analytics).
  • Stay current with industry trends, licensing models, and emerging tools relevant to Nscale’s business.
  • Contribute to IT strategy and technology roadmap planning.

About You

• Experience & Background
  • 5+ years in software asset management, vendor management, technology procurement, or category management.
  • Proven track record managing software licensing across multiple vendors and deployment models.
  • Experience with SaaS, perpetual licences, open‑source, and hybrid licensing models.
  • Familiarity with software asset management tools and practices.
  • Background in a fast‑paced, high‑growth tech or scale‑up environment preferred.
• Skills & Competencies
  • Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills; comfortable with data‑driven decision‑making.
  • Excellent negotiation and vendor management capabilities.
  • Proficiency with spreadsheets and data analysis (Excel, SQL, or BI tools).
  • Clear communication skills—able to explain complex licensing and financial concepts to non‑technical stakeholders.
  • Organised, detail‑oriented, and methodical in managing compliance and audit requirements.
  • Proactive mindset; ability to spot inefficiencies and drive improvements.
  • Comfortable working in ambiguous, fast‑moving environments with competing priorities.
• Technical Familiarity
  • Understanding of IT infrastructure, cloud platforms, and common enterprise software categories.
  • Familiarity with ITIL processes and governance frameworks.
  • Knowledge of compliance frameworks (SOC 2, ISO 27001) and their software licensing implications.
  • Experience with IT service management tools and HRIS/payroll systems a plus.
• Mindset
  • Ownership mentality: take end‑to‑end responsibility for outcomes.
  • Pragmatism: balance perfection with shipping useful solutions quickly.
  • Collaboration: influence without authority and build trust across teams.
  • Curiosity: stay informed on industry trends and emerging tools.

What We Can Offer You

• Highly competitive compensation package (base + equity) with annual reviews.
• Opportunities for rapid career progression and impact on cutting‑edge AI.
• Dynamic progression plan tailored to individual ambitions.
• Human‑First flexibility: work arrangements that respect personal priorities.

Equal Opportunities Statement

We strongly encourage applications from people of colour, the LGBTQ+ community, people with disabilities, neurodivergent people, parents, carers, and people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. If there is anything we can do to accommodate your specific situation, please let us know. For information on how Nscale handles candidate personal data, please see our Employee & Candidate Privacy Notice.