Cohere

Senior Account Executive – US Public Sector, SLED, Civilian, Federal

Cohere

full-time

Posted on:

Location Type: Hybrid

Location: Washington, D.C. • Washington • United States

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Job Level

Senior

Tech Stack

Cyber Security

About the role

  • 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.
  • Cultivate C-level and executive relationships with government decision-makers, systems integrators, and channel partners in the D.C. ecosystem.
  • Navigate complex contract vehicles (GSA Schedule, SEWP, ITES, state/local cooperatives) and compliance frameworks (FedRAMP, NIST, CMMC).
  • Align Cohere’s AI platform with agency pain points, such as digital transformation, cybersecurity, and citizen engagement, through tailored demos and value propositions.
  • Forecast accurately, manage RFPs, and collaborate with government affairs, legal, solutions engineering, and marketing teams to win deals.
  • Track policy changes (e.g., AI Executive Order, NDAA) and competitor strategies to inform sales tactics.

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%).
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!)
Applicant Tracking System Keywords

Tip: use these terms in your resume and cover letter to boost ATS matches.

Hard Skills & Tools
public sector salesSaaSAI/MLenterprise software solutionsRFP managementforecastingcontract navigationcompliance frameworksdigital transformationcybersecurity
Soft Skills
relationship buildingstrategic planningcollaborationcommunicationnegotiationexecutive engagementpolicy trackingtactical analysisnetworkingproblem-solving