Senior Account Executive - US Public Sector (SLED, Civilian and Federal)

About the Role

Cohere is seeking a seasoned Public Sector Account Executive to drive strategic sales growth within U.S. State, Local, Education (SLED), Federal, and Civilian agencies. Based in the Washington, D.C., region—the epicenter of government technology—this role demands a deep understanding of federal procurement, SLED workflows, and civilian agency priorities. The ideal candidate will leverage their extensive network and expertise to position Cohere's AI-powered solutions as mission-critical tools for public institutions.

Key Responsibilities

• Territory Ownership: Develop and execute a strategic sales plan for the U.S. public sector, focusing on high-value opportunities in SLED, Federal (DoD, Civilian), and Education markets.

• Relationship Building: Cultivate C-level and executive relationships with government decision-makers, systems integrators, and channel partners in the D.C. ecosystem.

• Procurement Expertise: Navigate complex contract vehicles (GSA Schedule, SEWP, ITES, state/local cooperatives) and compliance frameworks (FedRAMP, NIST, CMMC).

• Solution Selling: Align Cohere's AI platform with agency pain points, such as digital transformation, cybersecurity, and citizen engagement, through tailored demos and value propositions.

• Pipeline Management: Forecast accurately, manage RFPs, and collaborate with government affairs, legal, solutions engineering, and marketing teams to win deals.

• Market Intelligence: Track policy changes (e.g., AI Executive Order, NDAA) and competitor strategies to inform sales tactics.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of direct public sector sales experience in the U.S., with a proven track record of closing $5M+ annual quotas.

• Deep knowledge of federal, SLED, and civilian agency procurement cycles and decision-making processes.

• Established network in the D.C. metro area, including federal agencies, prime contractors, and industry associations (e.g., AFCEA, ACT-IAC).

• Experience selling SaaS, AI/ML, or enterprise software solutions to government clients.

• Must be based in Washington, D.C., Maryland, or Virginia with willingness to travel (25-35%).

If some of the above doesn't line up perfectly with your experience, we still encourage you to apply!

We value and celebrate diversity and strive to create an inclusive work environment for all. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and are committed to providing equal opportunities. Should you require any accommodations during the recruitment process, please submit an Accommodations Request Form, and we will work together to meet your needs.

Full-Time Employees at Cohere enjoy these perks: an open and inclusive culture and work environment; work closely with a team on the cutting edge of AI research; weekly lunch stipend, in-office lunches & snacks; full health and dental benefits, including a separate budget to take care of your mental health; 100% parental leave top-up for up to 6 months; personal enrichment benefits towards arts and culture, fitness and well-being, quality time, and workspace improvement; remote-flexible, offices in Toronto, New York, San Francisco, London and Paris, as well as a co-working stipend; 6 weeks of vacation (30 working days!)