VP of Sales - Public Sector

Cohere; Halifax; Remote; CAD 792,000 - 955,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Weekly lunch stipend

Full health and dental benefits

RRSP matching / Pension scheme

Parental leave top-up

Enrichment benefits & education budget

Six weeks paid vacation

Travel to other offices and annual off

Home office stipend

Job summary

Cohere is seeking a VP of Sales - Public Sector to spearhead growth across North America. You will lead the PUBSEC sales team, shape go-to-market strategy, and drive revenue through government partnerships and enterprise deals.

Remote-friendly role with travel up to 40% and opportunities to collaborate with Marketing, Product, and Engineering to align initiatives with Cohere’s goals. This is a high-impact leadership position.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of PUBSEC sales and leadership experience
• Established network including federal agencies, prime contractors, and industry associations
• Proven track record in capture and sales for consultative solutions
• Excellent communication and leadership skills across cross-functional teams
• Comfort operating in a matrix environment with entrepreneurial mindset
• Experience in AI or related industry is highly desirable
• Willingness to travel 25–40% and be based in North America

Responsibilities

• Develop, execute, and lead a comprehensive go-to-market growth strategy for Public Sector
• Provide sales and operational leadership to the PUBSEC sales team
• Partner with Marketing, Product, and Engineering to align efforts with company goals
• Represent Cohere at Public Sector events and in interactions with regulators and government agencies
• Manage relationships with government decision-makers and partners; pursue new opportunities and close high-value deals
• Collaborate with global teams to strengthen anchor relationships and best practices for enterprise projects

Skills

PUBSEC sales leadership

Federal network

Capture & bid management

Cross-functional leadership

Travel readiness

Job description

Who are we?

Cohere is the leading security-first enterprise AI company. We build cutting-edge foundation AI models and end-to-end products that are designed to solve real-world business problems.

Who are we?

Cohere is the leading security-first enterprise AI company. We build cutting-edge foundation AI models and end-to-end products that are designed to solve real-world business problems.

Role Overview

As our VP of Sales - Public Sector, you will spearhead year-over-year revenue growth by developing and executing on enterprise level PUBSEC customer acquisition strategies across the region. You will drive long-term success through strategic development, coaching, and expanding Cohere’s presence in the public sector. In this pivotal leadership role, you will cultivate and guide our sales team to exceed revenue targets and organizational goals, while fostering a culture of excellence and innovation.

Candidates must be based in North America to be considered for this career opportunity.

Key Responsibilities

As our VP of Public Sector Sales you will:

• Develop, execute, and lead a comprehensive go-to-market growth strategy and sales plan for the Public Sector, driving revenue growth and market expansion working with other regional sales teams.
• Provide sales and operational leadership to Cohere’s PUBSEC sales team, ensuring alignment with company objectives and priorities.
• Partner with Marketing, Product, and Engineering teams to synchronize sales efforts with broader company goals.
• Represent Cohere at PUBSEC industry events, conferences, and networking opportunities, as well as with regulators and government agencies, in collaboration with other regional and global leaders in Cohere.
• Manage and nurture relationships with government decision-makers and partners to ensure Cohere’s success in the region. Identify and pursue new business opportunities, negotiating and closing high-value deals.
• Collaborate with global teams to strengthen anchor relationships and establish best practices for enterprise-level project implementations, ensuring strong client engagement throughout project lifecycles.

Qualifications

This career opportunity may be a good match for you if you:

• Have 10+ years of PUBSEC sales and leadership experience leading go-to-market efforts and driving revenue growth for fast paced technology organizations.
• Have an established network, including federal agencies, prime contractors, and industry associations.
• Possess a proven track record of leading capture and sales efforts for consultative solution sales and business development efforts, with a deep understanding of regional procurement and budget cycles, customer success, and resource allocation.
• Have exceptional communication and leadership skills, with the ability to build cross-functional relationships and influence at all levels.
• Are comfortable operating in a matrix environment, coordinating efforts across cross-functional teams and regions without the need for a large direct organization.
• Are a self-starter with an entrepreneurial mindset, capable of working independently, rolling up sleeves, and driving impact as a ‘builder.’
• Experience in AI or a related industry is highly desirable.
• Must be based in North America with willingness to travel (25-40%).

Working Location

This role can be based remotely or from one of our office locations listed on the job description - there is no minimum in-office qualification requirement. We care most about hiring exceptional people regardless of locations, though please check the location listed on the posting for guidance around the core time zone or working hours alignment expected for the role.

Full-Time Employees At Cohere Enjoy These Perks

• A weekly lunch stipend of $75/£75 or equivalent in your local currency for lunch.
• Full health and dental benefits, including a separate budget for mental health.
• RRSP matching, 401K, Pension Scheme.
• 100% Parental Leave top-up for up to 6 months, for either parent.
• Annual enrichment benefits: Arts & culture, fitness/wellness, quality time, and a workspace improvement credit. Education & learning stipend for conferences, courses, and coaching.
• 6 weeks of paid vacation (30 working days!)
• Budget for traveling to other offices if you are remote, plus an annual company offsite.

How And Where We Work

• Cohere is remote-friendly, but we also have offices in Toronto, London, New York City, San Francisco, Montreal, Paris, Berlin and Seoul with more opening soon.
• For those in the office: a daily lunch program, plenty of snacks, and regular community and social events.
• For those not near an office: a co-working benefit so you can work alongside others in your city.
• Everyone receives a $500 home office stipend to set up your workspace properly.

If any of the above doesn’t line up exactly with your experience, we still encourage you to apply.

We 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.

We may use AI-enabled tools to screen and assess applicants against the criteria for this position. This helps our recruiters identify potentially qualified candidates, but it doesn't limit the applications our recruiters may review or consider.

Beware of Scams: Cohere will never ask for payment or third-party services (e.g., CV writing) as part of our hiring process. All legitimate roles are listed on the Cohere careers page and LinkedIn only, with all communications from Cohere employees coming from an @cohere.com or @cw.cohere email alias. If jobs are viewed on other sites then please verify these through our official careers page.

Compensation Range: $560K - $675K