Government Affairs & Public Policy Manager - UK

Cohere; City Of London; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading AI firm based in London is seeking a Government Affairs and Public Policy professional to engage with the UK government. The ideal candidate will have 5-7 years of experience in government or corporate policy roles and a strong understanding of UK policymaking. Key responsibilities include policy advocacy, relationship building, and supporting sales in regulated sectors. This role offers a collaborative work environment and a chance to impact AI policy at a national level.

Benefits

An open and inclusive culture and work environment

Weekly lunch stipend, in-office lunches & snacks

Full health and dental benefits

100% Parental Leave top-up for up to 6 months

Personal enrichment benefits towards arts and culture

Remote-flexible work options

6 weeks of vacation

Qualifications

• 5-7 years’ experience in government or corporate policy role.
• Foundational understanding of UK policymaking.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Collaborative mindset working across time zones.
• Passion for AI and emerging tech.

Responsibilities

• Report directly to the Lead for EMEA Government Affairs.
• Build relationships with government officials.
• Support policy advocacy and procurement efforts.
• Work with sales teams in regulated sectors.
• Develop effective messaging on AI policy.

Skills

Government experience

Communication skills

Relationship building

Policy advocacy

Analytical thinking

Collaboration

Education

Undergraduate degree in political science, business, or law

Job description

Who are we?

Our mission is to scale intelligence to serve humanity. We’re training and deploying frontier models for developers and enterprises who are building AI systems to power magical experiences like content generation, semantic search, RAG, and agents. We believe that our work is instrumental to the widespread adoption of AI.

We obsess over what we build. Each one of us is responsible for contributing to increasing the capabilities of our models and the value they drive for our customers. We like to work hard and move fast to do what’s best for our customers.

Cohere is a team of researchers, engineers, designers, and more, who are passionate about their craft. Each person is one of the best in the world at what they do. We believe that a diverse range of perspectives is a requirement for building great products.

Join us on our mission and shape the future!

Why this role?

We are building a Government Affairs and Public Policy (GAPP) team that has the drive and experience to engage in and shape a nascent and unique policy environment for enterprise AI.

As our new UK hire you will bring a day‑to‑day presence with the British Government ensuring Cohere’s voice is heard as AI policy, procurement, and innovation agendas take shape. This is an ideal opportunity for a seasoned professional who thrives on politics, policy, and technology—and who wants to help Cohere be a key player of the UK’s “AI maker” strategy. You’ll work alongside seasoned policy leaders, have direct exposure to executives, and see your insights shape national decisions.

In this role you will:

• Report directly to Cohere’s Lead for EMEA Government Affairs & Public Policy, partnering closely with Cohere’s senior leadership, legal, public policy and responsible AI teams to co‑develop, coordinate and implement a government affairs and stakeholder engagement strategy with the goal to advocate for adoption‑focused AI policies and related issues.

• Serve as Cohere’s eyes and ears in London, UK, and Beyond - Build relationships at the working level and cultivate connections with government officials, Parliament and public‑sector innovation teams to ensure Cohere is a trusted resource and partner.

• Support policy advocacy & procurement - Help craft submissions, briefing notes, and talking points on AI and technology policy initiatives and procurement policy reform efforts.

• Work closely with sales teams - Support sales development in regulated sectors (such as public sector, banking, healthcare and others).

• In collaboration with Cohere’s public relations and marketing teams, support effective messaging relating to Cohere’s position on artificial intelligence policy and regulation.

• Manage government relations consultants and trade associations.

• Ensure compliance of lobbying and political activities with local laws.

You could be a great fit if you have…

• 5-7 years’ experience in government, a minister’s or MP’s office, public‑sector consulting, industry association, or corporate GR/policy role—ideally with exposure to tech, innovation, or procurement files.

• Foundational understanding of UK policymaking— how bills move,the interplay of Government bodies, regulatory agencies and local government.

• Strong written & verbal communication—able to distill complex issues into crisp memos and to build rapport quickly with officials and colleagues.

• Bias for action & intellectual curiosity—you’re motivated to figure things out, ask good questions, and push projects over the finish line.

• Collaborative mindset—comfortable working across time zones with teammates in Paris, Toronto, Washington DC, and abroad.

• Passion for AI and emerging tech—you don’t need to be an engineer, but you should be excited by the policy challenges and economic potential of enterprise AI.

• An undergraduate degree in political science, business, or law (or equivalent practical experiences).

Nice to have (but not required):

• Any other language skills.

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!)