Our client is an international home improvement retail group.
Have you got what it takes to succeed The following information should be read carefully by all candidates. We're a team made up of over 74,000 passionate people who bring our home improvement brands to life. Guided by our purpose Better Homes. Better Lives. For Everyone. We believe a better world starts with better homes, and we work every day to make that a reality. Join us and help shape the future of home improvement. We have an exciting new opportunity for a Microsoft Optimisation Manager to join us on a fixed-term contract (until no later than 1st May 2028, circa 18 months), to lead the strategy, governance and optimisation of our Microsoft technology estate in the lead up to our next Enterprise Agreement renewal. You'll work across multiple teams, influence strategic decisions and help drive measurable business value through strong governance, commercial insight and continuous improvement; ultimately ensuring that our client maintains control of licensing costs and is positioned to negotiate from a position of strength during Enterprise Agreement and cloud contract renewals. This role could be based out of our Southampton or Paddington offices, with an expectation of 12 days a month in the office. Travel will also be expected between sites in the UK and Europe, to build relationships with stakeholders across our key locations. Own the Microsoft licensing and optimisation strategy across Microsoft 365, Azure, Security, Copilot and Power Platform services.
Drive licence utilisation, cost optimisation and waste reduction through data-led analysis, governance and forecasting.
Lead Microsoft commercial management activities, including Enterprise Agreement (EA), MCA-E and CSP consumption, renewals and true-up processes.
Establish and lead Microsoft governance forums, promoting accountability, compliance and financial control across the organisation.
Develop reporting, dashboards and insights that support investment decisions, adoption strategies and commercial negotiations.
Collaborate with Finance, Procurement, HR, Identity and Technology teams to improve forecasting, strengthen Joiner-Mover-Leaver processes and maximise return on Microsoft investments.
Manage relationships with Microsoft and licensing partners to help secure maximum value from the Microsoft technology estate.
Strong knowledge of Microsoft licensing programmes, including EA, MCA-E and CSP.
Experience managing Microsoft 365 licensing within a large-scale or enterprise environment.
Commercial and financial management experience, with a focus on value optimisation.
Strong analytical skills with the ability to generate clear reporting and actionable insights.
Experience negotiating with software vendors and service providers.
Ability to build effective stakeholder relationships and translate complex licensing information into clear business value.
How We Work We believe in flexibility and balance. Our hybrid model blends home working for focus with time spent connecting and collaborating - whether in our offices or at offsite locations. On average, around 60% of your time will involve in-person collaboration. We value the perspectives new team members bring and encourage you to apply - even if you don't meet 100% of the requirements. What We Offer An inclusive environment where your potential is limited only by your imagination. We encourage new ideas, support experimentation, and strive to create a workplace where everyone can be their best self. Find out more about Diversity & Inclusion at our client here. We also offer a competitive benefits package and plenty of opportunities to stretch and grow your career. Scroll down below to find out more about our benefits. Diversity & Inclusion Our customers come from all walks of life - and so do we. We're committed to ensuring all colleagues, future colleagues, and applicants are treated equally, regardless of age, gender, marital or civil partnership status, ethnicity, culture, religion, belief, political opinion, disability, gender identity, gender expression, or sexual orientation. Interested? xrexnqw Great, apply now and help us to Power the Possible. #LI-KO1
