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

About the Role

Cohere is seeking a seasoned Public Sector Account Executive to drive strategic sales growth within U.S. State, Local, Education (SLED), Federal, and Civilian agencies. Based in the Washington, D.C., region—the epicenter of government technology—this role demands a deep understanding of federal procurement, SLED workflows, and civilian agency priorities. The ideal candidate will leverage their extensive network and expertise to position Cohere’s AI-powered solutions as mission-critical tools for public institutions.

Key responsibilities

• Territory Ownership: Develop and execute a strategic sales plan for the U.S. public sector, focusing on high-value opportunities in SLED, Federal (DoD, Civilian), and Education markets.
• Relationship Building: Cultivate C-level and executive relationships with government decision-makers, systems integrators, and channel partners in the D.C. ecosystem.
• Procurement Expertise: Navigate complex contract vehicles (GSA Schedule, SEWP, ITES, state/local cooperatives) and compliance frameworks (FedRAMP, NIST, CMMC).
• Solution Selling: Align Cohere’s AI platform with agency pain points, such as digital transformation, cybersecurity, and citizen engagement, through tailored demos and value propositions.
• Pipeline Management: Forecast accurately, manage RFPs, and collaborate with government affairs, legal, solutions engineering, and marketing teams to win deals.
• Market Intelligence: Track policy changes (e.g., AI Executive Order, NDAA) and competitor strategies to inform sales tactics.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of direct public sector sales experience in the U.S., with a proven track record of closing $5M+ annual quotas.
• Deep knowledge of federal, SLED, and civilian agency procurement cycles and decision-making processes.
• Established network in the D.C. metro area, including federal agencies, prime contractors, and industry associations (e.g., AFCEA, ACT-IAC).
• Experience selling SaaS, AI/ML, or enterprise software solutions to government clients.
• Must be based in Washington, D.C., Maryland, or Virginia with willingness to travel (25-35%).

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

For candidates in the US, the Compensation Range is: $230,000 – $430,000 [USD]

The figure above represents On-Target Earnings (OTE). Actual OTE will depend on individual performance.

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.