Vendor & Commercial Manager (Licensing Specialist)

Key Responsibilities
Client Delivery & Advisory
Deliver high-quality consulting engagements across vendor management and software licensing.
Act as a trusted advisor to client stakeholders, including Procurement, IT, Finance, and Legal teams.
Diagnose client challenges and develop practical, value-driven solutions.
Lead or support workshops, assessments, and strategic reviews.
Contract Negotiation & Exit Management
Lead and support complex contract negotiations with major software vendors on behalf of clients.
Develop negotiation strategies backed by data, benchmarks, and licensing expertise.
Advise on and execute contract exit strategies, including risk mitigation and transition planning.
Support clients through renewals, re-contracting, and vendor consolidation initiatives.
License Risk Analysis
Conduct detailed license position assessments and risk diagnostics.
Identify compliance gaps, audit risks, and cost inefficiencies.
Provide actionable recommendations to mitigate exposure and optimise licensing models.
Support clients during vendor audits, including audit defence strategies and negotiation support.
Benchmarking & Commercial Insight
Deliver benchmarking analysis on pricing, licensing structures, and commercial terms.
Leverage market intelligence and consulting tools to assess competitiveness.
Translate benchmarking insights into clear negotiation levers and cost-saving opportunities.
Present findings and recommendations clearly to senior client stakeholders.
Skills & Experience
Experience in consulting, advisory, or client-facing commercial/procurement roles.
Strong expertise in software licensing (e.g., SaaS, enterprise agreements, cloud licensing, subscription models).
Demonstrated success in supporting or leading vendor negotiations.
Experience with software asset management (SAM) and license compliance.
Strong analytical and problem-solving capability, including financial modelling.
Ability to communicate complex licensing concepts in a clear, client-friendly way.
Key Competencies
Client-facing consulting and stakeholder management
Commercial and negotiation expertise
Structured problem solving and analytical thinking
Risk assessment and mitigation
Ability to deliver under pressure across multiple engagements
Typical Engagement Activities
Licensing health checks and risk assessments
Pre-renewal strategy development and negotiation support
Vendor contract reviews and optimisation
Audit defence and compliance remediation
Benchmarking studies and cost optimisation programmes