Disclosed herein are embodiments of a method and system for optimizing resource management in a distributed computing environment through the use of a resource conductor. An application managed by an application manager requires resources managed by a resource manager. A resource conductor in communication with both the application manager and the resource manager receives from the application manager a processing specification for the application and workload associated with the application. The processing specification provides the resource conductor with information needed to determine the type and quantity of resources appropriate for processing the workload associated with the application. The resource conductor adjusts the quantity of resources allocated to the application by communicating with the resource manager.