Lead, Global External Affairs

About Us

Cohere is the leading security-first enterprise AI company. We build cutting-edge foundation AI models and end-to-end products designed to solve real-world business problems. We’re training and deploying frontier models for enterprises building AI systems. We believe our work is instrumental to the widespread adoption of AI, and we’re looking for folks who want to be part of that.

We obsess over what we build. Each team member contributes to increasing the capabilities of our models and the value they drive for our customers. Cohere is a global team of researchers, engineers, designers, and more, passionate about their craft. We are co-headquartered in Toronto and San Francisco, with key offices in London, New York City, Montreal, Seoul, Germany, and Paris.

About the Role

Shaping the future of enterprise AI requires engaging beyond direct legislative advocacy. Leading technology and AI companies understand that long-term policy success relies on building a robust ecosystem of third-party validators, thought leaders, and strategic alliances.

As the Lead for Global External Affairs, you will build and direct this critical function within our Government Affairs and Public Policy (GAPP) team. You will define how Cohere engages with the broader policy ecosystem, including think tanks, academic institutions, civil society organizations, and industry coalitions. As the function grows, you will also scale the team around public affairs and policy narratives. Your work will ensure Cohere’s narrative around responsible, secure, and highly effective enterprise AI is validated, amplified, and understood by the most influential voices shaping global technology policy.

Responsibilities

• Define the Strategy: Build and execute a comprehensive global External Affairs strategy that aligns with and amplifies Cohere’s broader public policy and commercial objectives.
• Cultivate Strategic Partnerships: Identify, build, and manage deep relationships with leading technology policy think tanks, academic researchers, civil society organizations, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
• Drive Third-Party Validation: Partner with external experts and institutions to generate thought leadership, research, and independent validation of Cohere’s approach to enterprise AI, data privacy, and model safety.
• Manage Coalitions & Associations: Serve as Cohere's primary representative on key industry coalitions, trade associations, and multi-stakeholder forums, ensuring our unique enterprise perspective shapes broader industry consensus.
• Align Internal Stakeholders: Work seamlessly across the GAPP, Corporate Communications, Legal, and Go-To-Market teams to ensure external partnerships and investments drive measurable impact for the business.
• Convene Key Voices: Organize and host high-level roundtables, policy briefings, and summits that position Cohere as a central convener in the global AI policy debate.

Requirements

• External Affairs Leadership: 10+ years of experience in external affairs, public policy, or strategic partnerships, ideally within a major technology company, leading trade association, or prominent policy institution.
• Deep Ecosystem Network: An extensive, active network of relationships across major think tanks, academic centers, and civil society organizations globally.
• Tech & AI Policy Acumen: A sophisticated understanding of current global debates surrounding artificial intelligence, including data governance, safety, open-source models, and enterprise adoption.
• Strategic Investment Mindset: Proven experience managing budgets for sponsorships, memberships, and grants, ensuring ROI and alignment with corporate policy goals.
• Exceptional Communication: The ability to persuasively articulate complex technical and policy narratives to highly influential external audiences.
• Builder's Mentality: A self-starter who thrives on establishing a new function from the ground up, designing operational workflows and strategies necessary for scale.

Nice to Have

• Advanced degree in Public Policy, International Relations, Law, or a related field.
• Experience navigating the nuances between consumer AI policy and enterprise/B2B AI policy.

Pay

Cohere is committed to fair and transparent pay practices. The salary range listed reflects the expected base compensation. Actual compensation will be determined by factors such as location, level, job-related knowledge, skills, education, and experience.

• United States: $220,000 – $330,000 USD
• Canada: $250,000 – $375,000 CAD

Benefits

• A 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, or 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 remote, plus an annual company offsite.
• A $500 home office stipend to set up your workspace properly.

Schedule

Cohere is remote-friendly with offices in Toronto, San Francisco, New York City, London, Paris, Montreal, and more. Options include:

• For those in the office: Daily lunch program, snacks, and regular community/social events.
• For those not near an office: A co-working benefit to work alongside others in your city.