Enterprise Portfolio, Asset & AI Governance Manager

Neptune Technology Group•Tallassee, GA

About The Position

As the Enterprise Portfolio, Asset & AI Governance Manager, you will manage and optimize Neptune’s application portfolio, technology asset lifecycle, and AI governance program across our enterprise landscape. You will lead the strategic evaluation, rationalization, and governance of enterprise software applications and emerging AI capabilities, ensuring optimal value delivery, cost efficiency, and alignment with business strategy. Working as a bridge between IT leadership, business stakeholders, and vendor partners, you will manage the full lifecycle of enterprise applications from evaluation through retirement. Your responsibilities include application portfolio analysis, software license optimization, vendor relationship management, technology total cost of ownership (TCO) analysis, asset governance, AI tool intake and evaluation, and driving decisions around application consolidation, replacement, and retirement strategies. You will establish and maintain governance processes aligned with COBIT and ITIL frameworks, ensuring Neptune’s technology portfolio is managed with industry-standard rigor and transparency.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Business Administration, Engineering, or related field; OR equivalent combination of education and 10+ years of relevant professional experience. Master's degree preferred.
7+ years of experience in IT with at least 3+ years in application portfolio management, software asset management, or IT financial management roles
Proven experience managing enterprise application portfolios in complex multi-system environments
Experience with software license management and vendor negotiations
Demonstrated success conducting application rationalization and portfolio optimization initiatives
Background in IT financial analysis including TCO modeling and business case development
Experience with or exposure to AI tools, platforms, or governance frameworks
Excellent communication skills with the ability to present complex technical concepts to executive audiences
Strategic thinker with the ability to balance long-term vision with pragmatic execution
Strong influencing and negotiation skills to drive architectural decisions across the organization
Able to work effectively with diverse stakeholders including business leaders, IT teams, and external partners
Collaborative leadership style with ability to build consensus across functional boundaries
Expertise in application portfolio management methodologies and tools
Strong knowledge of software licensing models (perpetual, subscription, consumption-based, etc.)
Experience with portfolio management platforms (ServiceNow, LeanIX, Alfabet, Apptio, or similar)
Proficiency with financial analysis tools and TCO modeling
Understanding of enterprise application architectures and integration patterns
Familiarity with ERP platforms, CRM systems, and enterprise software suites
Knowledge of software compliance frameworks and audit processes
Experience with contract management and vendor relationship management
Strong data analysis skills for portfolio reporting
Ability to create executive-level dashboards and visualizations (PowerBI, Tableau)
Understanding of cloud economics, SaaS financial models, and FinOps practices
Familiarity with AI/ML tools, platforms, and AI licensing models (per-seat, consumption-based, API-based)
Understanding of COBIT and ITIL frameworks as applied to asset and portfolio governance

Nice To Haves

ITIL Foundation or higher certification
COBIT Foundation or equivalent IT governance certification
Certified Software Asset Manager (CSAM) or equivalent certification
Familiarity with AI governance frameworks (NIST AI RMF, ISO/IEC 42001)
Experience with enterprise ERP platforms and related software ecosystems
Background in water utilities, industrial manufacturing, or similar industries
Experience supporting large-scale ERP implementations and application transformations
Familiarity with FinOps practices and cloud cost optimization
PMP or similar project management certification

Responsibilities

Maintain comprehensive inventory and documentation of enterprise applications and integrations
Conduct regular application portfolio assessments including capability mapping, redundancy analysis, and health scoring aligned with COBIT BAI09 (Manage Assets) practices
Lead application rationalization initiatives to reduce complexity and eliminate redundant systems
Develop and maintain application lifecycle roadmaps aligned with business strategy and enterprise architecture
Perform business capability mapping to identify gaps and overlaps in the application portfolio
Create and maintain application portfolio dashboards and reporting for leadership visibility using tools such as PowerBI or Tableau
Apply ITIL Service Asset & Configuration Management practices to ensure accurate configuration and dependency tracking
Manage enterprise software licensing including renewals, compliance, and optimization across on-premises and SaaS environments
Conduct software license true-ups and coordinate vendor audit responses
Track and optimize software subscriptions, maintenance agreements, and consumption-based licensing
Analyze software utilization metrics to identify shelfware and optimization opportunities
Negotiate contract renewals and ensure favorable commercial terms with software vendors
Maintain software asset repository and license compliance documentation aligned with COBIT BAI09 and relevant compliance frameworks
Partner with procurement and legal on software contracts and vendor agreements
Develop and track total cost of ownership (TCO) models for enterprise applications including cloud, SaaS, and on-premises deployments
Build business cases for application investments, consolidations, or retirements with clear ROI analysis
Manage vendor relationships for key enterprise software platforms
Conduct market research on emerging technologies and alternative solutions
Lead RFP/RFI processes for enterprise software evaluation and selection
Track and report on software spend, utilization, and value realization across the portfolio
Apply FinOps principles to optimize cloud and SaaS expenditure
Maintain an inventory of AI capabilities across the enterprise application portfolio, including embedded AI features (e.g., Microsoft Copilot, vendor-native AI), standalone AI tools, and internal developments
Lead the intake and evaluation process for new AI tools and platforms, ensuring alignment with Neptune’s AI governance framework and acceptable use policies
Partner with Security & Compliance on AI risk assessments including data privacy, model transparency, bias evaluation, and acceptable use
Collaborate with development teams and external partners to identify, prioritize, and track internal AI use cases
Track AI-related licensing, consumption costs, and value realization across the portfolio
Monitor the evolving AI landscape across key vendors to inform technology roadmap decisions
Support AI governance committee with portfolio data, adoption metrics, and compliance reporting
Establish and enforce application portfolio governance processes and standards aligned with COBIT APO02 (Manage Strategy) and BAI09 (Manage Assets) frameworks
Support enterprise architecture decisions with portfolio data, analysis, and recommendations
Participate in IT investment planning and annual budgeting processes
Collaborate with Security & Compliance teams on application risk assessments and audit readiness
Create portfolio management policies, procedures, and best practices documentation
Present portfolio insights and recommendations to leadership and steering committees
Maintain alignment with ITIL practices for service asset management and continual improvement