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

Cohere • Washington, DC

8d • Hybrid

About The Position

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.

Requirements

• 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%).

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.

Benefits

• 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!)

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed
• Number of Employees: 251-500 employees