Chief Information Security Officer (CISO)

Job description

Who are we? Cohere is the leading security-first enterprise AI company. We build cutting-edge foundation AI models and end-to-end products that are designed to solve real-world business problems. We’re training and deploying frontier models for enterprises who are building AI systems. We believe that our work is instrumental to the widespread adoption of AI and we are looking for folks that want to be part of that. We obsess over what we build. Each one of us is responsible for contributing to increasing the capabilities of our models and the value they drive for our customers. Cohere is a team of researchers, engineers, designers, and more, who are all passionate about their craft. We are a global technology company headquartered in Toronto with key offices in London, New York City, San Francisco, Montreal, Paris, Berlin and Seoul. Join us! The Opportunity Cohere seeks a Chief Information Security Officer who can help shape Cohere’s security strategy & the broader conversation around securing AI at scale. You know how to build trust across organizations and communicate trade-offs clearly in environments where speed, innovation, and security must coexist. You will build the playbook and lead the evolution of Cohere’s global security program across corporate systems, cloud infrastructure, AI development, and enterprise operations. As a visible leader for Cohere’s security vision internally and externally you will navigate risk, represent Cohere in industry discussions, and reinforcing our commitment to building AI responsibly. In this role you will: - Define and Scale Cohere’s Security Strategy: Define and execute Cohere’s overarching information security strategy in alignment with business priorities and long-term company growth. - Build a Modern Risk, Governance & Compliance Program: Lead Cohere in identifying, assessing, and mitigating security risk across all business functions. - Secure AI Systems and Technical Infrastructure: Lead the security architecture strategy across Cohere’s cloud and on-premises environments, ensuring resilient, scalable, and secure systems across the organization. - Lead Through Influence, Communication & Culture: Build and lead high-performing security teams across multiple disciplines while fostering a strong security-minded culture throughout the organization. - Enable Secure AI Adoption and Customer Trust: Partner with product, modelling, and engineering teams to support the secure development and deployment of AI systems and enterprise solutions. This career opportunity may be a good match for you if you possess the following: - A proven track record as a CISO or SVP of Security in high-growth technology organizations — ideally companies building or deploying AI systems at scale. - Strong experiences developing and executing enterprise security programs coupled with experience scaling security capabilities alongside company growth. - Deep expertise across cloud security, DevSecOps, enterprise infrastructure, and AI/ML security, alongside strong familiarity with modern regulatory frameworks, governance expectations, and compliance requirements. - Experience operating within public company environments and an understanding of the complexities of cybersecurity governance, enterprise risk management, audit readiness, and SEC disclosure expectations. - Experience preparing organizations for IPO readiness and scaling security programs through periods of rapid growth is highly valuable. - Experience leading large-scale security organizations, managing budgets, and building strong teams across multiple security disciplines. - An advanced degree in Computer Science, Information Security, or a related field is preferred. FULL-TIME EMPLOYEES AT COHERE ENJOY THESE PERKS: - A weekly lunch stipend of $75/£75 or equivalent in your local currency for lunch. - 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 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 you are remote, plus an annual company offsite. HOW AND WHERE WE WORK: - Cohere is remote-friendly, but we also have offices in Toronto, London, New York City, San Francisco, Montreal, Paris, Berlin and Seoul with more opening soon. - For those in the office: a daily lunch program, plenty of snacks, and regular community and social events. - For those not near an office: a co-working benefit so you can work alongside others in your city. - Everyone receives a $500 home office stipend to set up your workspace properly. 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 https://docs.google.com/forms/d/12a6IrLdF3kI2nonKSr4tiFuz18rLQbaeYV-JM9L4o9Q/edit, 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. Beware of Scams: Cohere will never ask for payment or third-party services (e.g., CV writing) as part of our hiring process. All legitimate roles are listed on the Cohere careers page and LinkedIn only, with all communications from Cohere employees coming from an @cohere.com or @cw.cohere email alias. If jobs are viewed on other sites then please verify these through our official careers https://cohere.com/careers page.