Director, Technology Vendor & Software Asset Management (Hybrid - Seattle, WA)

Job Description

The Director of Technology Vendor and Software Asset Management (Third-Party Vendor Management) leads a strategic function within the Technology organization to maximize the value of Technology partners and suppliers to deliver critical capabilities to Nordstrom. This leader understands and partners within and outside of Technology to strike the appropriate balance between cost and capability. This leader is a trusted advisor for all supplier-related concerns to Technology senior leaders and the Chief Technology Information Officer. This individual will influence and drive both financial and technical outcomes.

A day in the life...

• Develops and oversee integrated roadmap strategy, vision, execution, business benefits, and prioritization of goals for TVMO and SAM in support of a $300M+ annual labor and non-labor portfolio

• Define and evolve TVMO and SAM program maturity roadmap, advocating for investment and cross-functional alignment

• Translate risk exposure into business terms to drive executive and stakeholder prioritization

• Partners with Engineering, Product Management, Finance, Legal, Risk, Strategic Sourcing & Procurement, and business stakeholders to meet strategic and financial objectives

• Navigate enterprise competing priorities and unlock cross-team collaboration

• Drives ownership of supplier relationships and supplier delivery

• Collaborates with peers and leaders across the enterprise to solicit needs, define vision and ensure that outcomes align with enterprise priorities and goals

• Hires and supervises an efficient and effective team of Managers that supports the needs of the Vendor and Software Asset Management strategies

• Manages escalations with suppliers, supplier turn-around plans, and risk management for $1M+ deals

• Provides subject matter expertise in support of internal and external audit and legal matters

• Supports, communicates and enforces policy with regard to third-party engagement standards and practices

• Serve as an effective mediator when vendor complexity, contract negotiations, or risk tradeoffs become challenging

• Monitors & identifies customer needs, staying current on industry standards/trends and responding by making adjustments to priorities and workloads

• Maintains a strong understanding of available technologies and applies technology solutions, where appropriate, to improve efficiency and ultimately benefit the customer

• Reviews operating practices and procedures, determining whether improvements can be made and working to implement changes as appropriate

• Presents strategies, plans and updates to all levels of the organization, including executive leadership, on a regular basis

• Knows how to maximize value from third-party technology investment while driving compliance, risk mitigation, and operational efficiency across the software lifecycle

• Lead the development and maintenance of a scalable SAM governance framework.

• Ensure proactive license compliance, audit readiness, and lifecycle management for major publishers

• Quantify and communicate software risks (e.g. unbudgeted costs, legal exposure, shadow IT) in terms that resonate with business decision-makers

You own this if you have...

• 10+ years' experience in Technology Vendor Management and IT Asset Management
• 7+ years in leadership roles with cross-functional influence in large, matrixed environments within a technology organization or ecommerce company preferred
• Bachelor's or master's degree in technology management, computer science, or related field preferred
• Technical background and understanding of both core infrastructure and software development principals
• Experience working with legal, audit, and procurement partners to mitigate technology-related risk
• Extensive experience managing third-party providers of technology products, services and labor, including experience with contracting and supplier performance management
• Strong financial acumen. Experience with deal math, multi-variant, and multi-year scenario analysis
• Familiarity with enterprise software licensing models, compliance obligations, and asset discovery tools
• Experience with and understanding of third-party labor relationships and contracts, including the global technology labor market, onshore, offshore and nearshore software development and technology operations
• Experience with Software Asset Management tools (e.g. Flexera One)
• Ability to inspire others, including demonstrated experience managing and leading strong teams
• Proven ability to lead through ambiguity, manage competing priorities, and build internal consensus
• Ability to build relationships cross-functionally with multiple teams both within and outside of technology from areas such as Engineering, Product Management, Finance, Strategic Sourcing and Procurement, and HR
• Demonstrated ability to tell stories with data in order to inform and influence decision making
• Demonstrated ability to achieve strategic goals in an innovative and fast-paced environment
• Ability to simplify and communicate complex concepts to audiences at all levels within the organization
• Strong interpersonal, oral and written communication skills - able to "sell the why" behind risk management and program investment
• Relationship-driven authentic leadership style that thrives in complex environments and can communicate the business impact of vendor and software asset decisions with clarity and confidence

#LI-Hybrid

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.

Nordstrom conducts background checks and considers qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with all legal requirements.

Applicants with disabilities who require assistance or accommodation should contact the nearest Nordstrom location, which can be identified at

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2022 Nordstrom, Inc

Current Nordstrom employees: To apply, log into Workday, click the Careers button and then click Find Jobs.

Pay Range Details

The pay range(s) below has been provided in compliance with state specific laws. Pay ranges may be different for other locations.
Pay offers are dependent on the location, as well as job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.
$200,500.00 - $332,000.00 Annual

This position may be eligible for performance-based incentives/bonuses. Benefits include 401k, medical/vision/dental/life/disability insurance options, PTO accruals, Holidays, and more. Eligibility requirements may apply based on location, job level, classification, and length of employment. Learn more in the Nordstrom Benefits Overview by copying and pasting the following URL into your browser: _Overview_20-21.pdf