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

Role overview

Cohere is a security-first enterprise AI company that builds foundation models and end-to-end products for real-world business applications. As a Senior Account Executive focused on the US Federal Civilian sector, you will own the complete sales cycle for non-defense Cabinet-level agencies, driving new customer acquisition and establishing Cohere’s presence across federal government organizations.

Key responsibilities

Drive new customer acquisition through targeted outreach, senior-level engagement, and relationship building across US Federal Civilian agencies and departments.
Develop and execute a comprehensive sales strategy for 14 non-defense Cabinet-level agencies in the United States.
Serve as a trusted advisor to public sector customers and prospects by understanding their objectives and designing AI solutions that deliver measurable outcomes.
Work with channel partners including distributors, value-added resellers, and system integrators to expand market reach and accelerate customer adoption.
Leverage executive relationships with government decision-makers to identify and advance strategic opportunities.
Collaborate with internal Product and Engineering teams on solutions tailored to enterprise and public-sector requirements.
Manage the entire sales process from discovery through proof-of-concept, procurement validation, and deal closure within a team-selling environment.

Requirements

Minimum 10 years of direct public sector sales experience selling to US Federal Government clients, with a documented history of closing deals worth $5 million or more annually.
Strong understanding of federal procurement processes, decision-making structures, and experience working with resellers, value-added resellers, and distributors.
Established professional network in the Washington D.C. metro area, including contacts at federal agencies, prime contractors, and industry associations.
Demonstrated success selling SaaS, AI/ML, or enterprise software solutions to government organizations.
Ability to operate independently in ambiguous environments while balancing strategic thinking with hands-on execution and market development.
Strong organizational capabilities to manage multiple internal and external stakeholders on complex, fast-moving transactions.
Excellent communication skills with the ability to listen effectively, understand senior decision-maker priorities, and present confidently to both technical and non-technical audiences.
Must be based in Washington D.C., Maryland, or Virginia with willingness to travel 25–35% of the time.

What makes this role worth considering

This position offers the opportunity to shape the adoption of enterprise AI within critical government agencies while building Cohere’s market presence from the ground up. You will collaborate across a global team with offices in Toronto, London, New York, San Francisco, Montreal, Paris, Berlin, and Seoul, supported by comprehensive benefits including six weeks of paid vacation, full health and dental coverage, parental leave top-up, education stipends, and remote-friendly work arrangements.