APi Group is a global, market-leading business services provider of safety and specialty services in over 500 locations worldwide. APi provides statutorily mandated and other contracted services to a strong base of long-standing customers across industries. We are driven by entrepreneurial business leaders to deliver innovative solutions for our customers. As our presence across the globe increases, we are striving to become the #1 people-first company in the world.
At APi Group, our purpose is clear: We Build Great Leaders. We believe that everyone at APi is a Leader, and we provide leadership development programs across our businesses to facilitate growth. Our distinct leadership development culture creates an empowered, entrepreneurial atmosphere where our leaders can grow, thrive, and belong.
Job Title: IT Vendor Management Lead
Position Summary
The IT Vendor Management Lead is responsible for driving excellence across vendor engagement, compliance, oversight, and performance. This strategic role partners closely with Procurement, Legal, IT, and business stakeholders to ensure vendors fulfill contractual obligations and deliver maximum value to the organization.
In addition to vendor governance, this role leads the optimization of software licensing, compliance, and audit defense strategies. The ideal candidate will possess deep expertise in Oracle and Microsoft licensing models, maintain a state of audit readiness, and implement cost-saving initiatives that align licensing strategies with broader business objectives.
Success in this role requires a proactive, analytical mindset and the ability to balance cost efficiency, risk mitigation, and regulatory compliance in a fast-paced enterprise environment.
Key Responsibilities
Vendor Relationship & Governance
Manage relationships with technology vendors to promote and maintain best-in-class innovative partnerships.
Establish and implement an internal technology vendor governance framework, including oversight and performance management strategies with detailed KPI reporting.
Facilitate regular performance reviews with key vendors to evaluate compliance, resolve issues, and identify improvement areas.
Partner with IT, legal, and procurement teams to provide vendor performance data which is utilized to strategize and deliver negotiations.
Work closely with the procurement to pick up contracts for management post-execution.
Translate contractual obligations into actionable internal processes and checkpoints.
Performance, Compliance, & Audit Management
Conduct SLA reviews and ensure that liquidated damages have been correctly calculated.
Serve as point of contact for external IT supplier audits in partnership with Licensing Specialists.
Maintain audit-ready documentation and successfully navigate vendor audits with minimal financial or operational impact
Lead software audit defense efforts by collaborating with internal stakeholders and external auditors.
Serve as the primary point of contact for any software true ups.
Software Asset Management & Licensing
Establish and refine SAM processes to enhance maturity and operational efficiency including setup, configure, and optimize practices for any future implementation of SAM tools along with adjacent capabilities for software discovery, tracking, and reporting
Collaborate with Procurement, Finance, and Legal teams to anticipate future license needs, enabling strategic negotiations of software renewals and enterprise agreements.
Perform in-depth data analysis to assess software usage, license compliance, and risk mitigation.
Manage software entitlements, renewals, and contractual obligations across multiple vendors.
Maintain and optimize Effective License Positions (ELPs) to ensure cost efficiency and compliance.
Qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree in information technology, Business Administration, Supply Chain, or related field
5+ years of experience in IT vendor management, software asset management (SAM), or IT procurement
Strong understanding of contract lifecycle management, vendor governance frameworks, and SLA/KPI oversight
Proven experience managing Oracle and Microsoft licensing structures, including renewals, true-ups, and compliance
Demonstrated ability to lead audit defense strategies and maintain audit-ready documentation
Proficiency in SAM tools (e.g., Flexera, ServiceNow, Snow Software) and practices for software discovery, tracking, and reporting
Excellent analytical skills with the ability to interpret complex licensing data and identify cost-saving opportunities
Strong interpersonal and communication skills to collaborate cross-functionally with Legal, Finance, Procurement, and IT
Preferred Qualifications:
Master’s degree or relevant certifications (e.g., ITIL, CSAM, CITAM, ISO 19770)
Experience negotiating enterprise agreements and managing multi-vendor software portfolios
Familiarity with cloud licensing models (e.g., Azure, AWS, Oracle Cloud) and hybrid environments
Track record of implementing vendor performance dashboards and KPI reporting frameworks
Experience with risk mitigation strategies in software compliance and licensing
Knowledge of global licensing regulations and software entitlement management across regions
Success Measures:
Achieve high vendor compliance rates by ensuring adherence to SLAs and contractual obligations
Successfully defend software audits with minimal financial or operational impact
Reduce software expenditure through strategic licensing optimization and entitlement management
Implement and continuously improve SAM processes to enhance operational maturity for effective software discovery, tracking, and reporting that would lead to future implementation of a SAM Tool
Deliver accurate, actionable vendor performance data to support strategic negotiations
Maintain audit-ready documentation and proactive risk mitigation practices
Foster strong cross-functional collaboration with IT, Legal, Procurement, and Finance
Secure favorable terms in software renewals and enterprise agreements
Aligning licensing strategies with evolving business goals and technology needs
Benefits and Compensation:
This role will be based out of our New Brighton office. The pay range is $106,100 - $159,700, depending on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. This position is eligible for annual bonus and profit sharing based on company performance in addition to other benefits that support the total well-being of you and your family. Some benefits include:
Comprehensive Insurance coverage, Medical, Dental, Vision, and more
Access to corporate fitness center
Wellness Program
401K with employer match
Discounted company stock (Employee Stock Purchase Plan)
Profit Sharing
Generous paid time off
Growth opportunities through company sponsored leadership development courses and trainings
This position is not eligible for sponsorship.
All offers of employment are expressly contingent upon the satisfactory completion, in accordance with Company policy, of a pre-employment drug screening and background check.
