Software Portfolio Strategist

Business Operations Employee Engagement and Strategy is part of ISu0026T and shapes the strategy operations and culture of ISu0026T. The team oversees business planning ISu0026Ts partnership strategy across Apple and the technology tools that support the organizations day-to-day operations. This team also leads ISu0026Ts enterprise generative AI strategy and manages compliance across systems. Through its communications and employee programs it champions the growth inclusion and development of everyone in ISu0026T and drives the standard for ISu0026T brand and product communications across Apple. nnApples ISu0026T Software Asset Management team within the Office of the CIO governs a $450M software portfolio spanning 1300 products and 250 vendors. Our mandate is to enable and create value for Apples business ensuring every software investment delivers measurable impact through total cost of ownership (TCO) optimization strategic lifecycle management and cross-functional are hiring a Software Portfolio Strategist who thinks like a strategist moves like an operator and influences like a consultant someone who sees a renewal as an inflection point not a transaction and who treats data as a language for driving enterprise role is for someone who is restlessly curious about where software spend is headed why it is growing and what levers actually exist to shape it.n

You will not inherit a playbook you will write one. This role sits at the intersection of technology strategy financial planning and cross-functional influence within the Office of the CIO. You will own a portfolio of enterprise software investments end-to-end: setting lifecycle direction building the analytical case for action and driving decisions through rooms where you do not have positional authority but earn credibility through rigor and OCIO exists to enable Apples business and create value and this role is a direct expression of that mission. You will quantify and optimize total cost of ownership across your portfolio ensuring Apple gets maximum strategic and operational value from every software dollar spent. That means going beyond sticker price to evaluate implementation costs operational overhead integration complexity and long-term vendor operating model is shifting from manual processing to automation-enabled strategic work. That means less time chasing renewals and more time answering harder questions: Should we build or buy Where is AI-driven cost growth outpacing value Which vendors are strategic partners vs. commodity suppliers What does a 5-year TCO view of this portfolio actually look likennYou will work directly with ISu0026T leadership product teams Finance and Procurement not as a support function but as a decision-shaping partner who connects software investment strategy to business value.n

Own full lifecycle for assigned software portfolios renewals true-ups terminations migrations with a strategic lens on every decisionnDevelop and maintain directional lifecycle strategies grounded in spend criticality utilization and market trajectorynLead software rationalization efforts: classify prioritize and drive action on portfolio optimization to reduce TCO and increase value deliverynEstablish and run portfolio steering reviews with cross-functional stakeholdersnOwn multi-million-dollar budget forecasts and 5-year directional plans for your portfoliosnBuild and present build-vs-buy evaluations TCO models cost optimization analyses and scenario planningnIdentify spend trends proactively particularly AI-driven consumption growth and frame them for leadership actionnTranslate complex licensing structures into clear financial narratives that connect software costs to business value for non-technical audiencesnLead large-scale programs (migrations platform transitions rationalization initiatives) independentlynHost and drive meetings with product owners IMT leaders and executive stakeholders you set the agenda not just attendnDeliver executive presentations deal summaries and strategic recommendations that land with senior leadershipnBuild relationships that make you the person people call when a software decision needs to be made wellnEstablish governance frameworks and policies that scale across ISu0026Ts software estatenLead audit strategy and coordinate responses with Legal Finance and ProcurementnDrive proactive risk identification licensing exposure contractual risks vendor lock-in before they become escalations

Bachelors degree and 7 years in software asset management IT vendor management technology finance or strategic portfolio rolesn5 years leading complex cross-functional programs or investment portfoliosnStrong command of enterprise licensing models (ELAs subscriptions perpetual consumption/token-based hybrid)nDemonstrated ownership of multi-million-dollar software budgets and forecastsnTrack record of presenting strategic recommendations to senior leadership and influencing outcomesnHands-on analytical capability you build the analysis not just review it

Experience with software rationalization optimization or portfolio governance at enterprise scalenFamiliarity with complex license metrics (Oracle Processors IBM PVUs vCPUs points/credits)nAbility to read and interpret enterprise software contracts audit clauses and compliance frameworksnBackground in IT finance (capex vs. opex prepaid structures contractual uplifts NTE pricing)nExperience creating or re-engineering processes and tools that improve operational efficiencynComfort navigating ambiguity and making independent judgment calls with enterprise-level impactnConsulting strategy or finance background (in addition to or in lieu of traditional SAM experience) is a plus