Head of Corporate Development

About the role

As Cohere scales its enterprise AI platform and accelerates its position as a leader in sovereign AI solutions, we need a strategic Corporate Development leader to drive high-impact partnerships, M&A, and long-term business development. This role will focus on expanding Cohere's ecosystem through strategic alliances, channel relationships, and targeted acquisitions that support our growth in regulated industries, government sectors, and global markets.

Key Responsibilities

• M&A Strategy: Evaluate and execute acquisitions or investments in complementary technologies that strengthen our core platform, particularly in compute infrastructure, specialized AI capabilities, and regulatory compliance tools
• Lead due diligence processes with cross-functional teams to ensure technical integration feasibility and strategic alignment
• Manage post-merger integration to maximize value realization and revenue synergies
• Market Expansion: Support entry into new verticals and geographies through targeted collaborations with industry leaders and government partners
• Develop market entry strategies that address regulatory requirements and sovereignty concerns in key international markets
• Create partnership frameworks that enable rapid scaling in high-growth sectors
• Partner with sales and marketing teams to create joint GTM strategies that drive adoption and revenue growth
• Cross-Functional Leadership: Partner with product, engineering, and legal teams to ensure deals align with technical capabilities, ethical AI standards, and regulatory requirements
• Collaborate with finance to develop robust financial models and valuation frameworks for partnership and M&A opportunities
• Work with government relations and policy teams to navigate complex regulatory landscapes and secure strategic government partnerships
• Strategic Partnerships: Identify and negotiate transformative alliances with key players in our ecosystem, including telcos (e.g., Bell), hardware infrastructure providers (e.g., BUZZ HPC), cloud platforms, and government entities to accelerate Cohere's go-to-market and sovereign AI deployment capabilities
• Develop partnerships that enable on-premise and edge deployment solutions for customers requiring data sovereignty and regulatory compliance
• Leverage relationships with enterprise software vendors and data platforms to enhance North's enterprise-grade AI offerings

Qualifications

• Experience: 12+ years in corporate development, strategic partnerships, or investment banking at a technology company, with proven experience in AI, SaaS, or enterprise software
• Demonstrated success in closing partnerships and M&A deals that drove significant revenue growth or strategic market access
• Experience with sovereign AI deployments, regulatory compliance (CTA, export controls), and government partnerships
• Skills: Strong negotiation and deal-structuring ability with experience in complex, multi-stakeholder agreements
• Extensive network in AI/enterprise tech ecosystems, including telcos, hardware providers, and government entities
• Analytical rigor with expertise in financial modeling, market sizing, and valuation analysis
• Cross-functional leadership and stakeholder management skills
• Deep understanding of current AI regulatory landscape and compliance requirements
• Track Record: Experience executing M&A transactions that successfully integrated complementary technologies and accelerated growth
• History of building and scaling strategic partnerships that delivered measurable revenue impact and market expansion
• Proven ability to navigate complex regulatory environments and secure government/enterprise partnerships

Why Join Cohere?

• Impact: Shape Cohere's growth trajectory through high-impact deals that position us as the leader in sovereign enterprise AI
• Autonomy: Build Corporate Development from the ground up in a company with a clear vision and strong market momentum
• Culture: Collaborative, innovative environment focused on responsible AI development and deployment
• Growth: Opportunity to work at the intersection of cutting-edge AI technology, strategic partnerships, and global market expansion

Pay

Compensation Range: CA$375K - CA$465K

Schedule

• 6 weeks of paid vacation (30 working days)
• Remote-friendly with offices in Toronto, London, New York City, San Francisco, Montreal, Paris, Berlin and Seoul
• Budget for traveling to other offices if you are remote, plus an annual company offsite
• For those in the office: daily lunch program, snacks, and regular community and social events
• For those not near an office: co-working benefit
• $500 home office stipend

Benefits

• Weekly lunch stipend of $75/£75 or equivalent in your local currency
• 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 workspace improvement credit
• Education & learning stipend for conferences, courses, and coaching