Customer Success Manager - Public Sector & Defense, France

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! WHY THIS ROLE? We're seeking an exceptional Customer Success Manager with deep expertise in the French public sector and government landscape to lead our most strategic government accounts. This role requires an individual who understands both the transformative potential of frontier AI and the unique requirements of French government organizations. WHAT YOU'LL DO STRATEGIC CUSTOMER PARTNERSHIP: - Own the success, adoption, and growth of Cohere's French public sector customers, ensuring they realize maximum value from our AI solutions - Build deep, trusted relationships with senior French government stakeholders, including Ministres d'État, Préfets, CIOs, digital transformation leads, and ministerial executives - Develop comprehensive success plans tailored to each organization's mission, digital strategy, budget cycles (lois de finances), and unique constraints - Serve as the primary point of contact and executive sponsor for your accounts, managing escalations and ensuring customer satisfaction - Define and track success metrics aligned with French public sector priorities: citizen satisfaction, service delivery improvements, cost savings, operational efficiency, accessibility outcomes AI ADOPTION & IMPLEMENTATION LEADERSHIP: - Guide customers through the full lifecycle of AI adoption—from use case identification and pilot design through production deployment and scaling - Lead secure AI implementation projects in complex French government environments, including sensitive systems and on-premises deployments - Navigate the unique challenges of French public sector AI adoption: legacy system integration, data sensitivity, lengthy approval processes (marchés publics), and regulatory compliance requirements - Create and execute change management strategies to drive user adoption and value realization across diverse government workforces - Conduct regular executive business reviews with senior stakeholders, demonstrating ROI, impact, and strategic value - Drive contract renewals and account growth by consistently delivering value and building trusted relationships CUSTOMER ADVOCACY & PRODUCT INFLUENCE: - Serve as the voice of the French public sector customers within Cohere, advocating for features and capabilities that address government-specific needs - Provide strategic feedback to Product and Engineering teams on requirements related to security, explainability, accessibility, French language support, and ethical AI - Contribute to the development of French public sector-specific offerings, implementation playbooks, documentation, and best practices - Share customer insights to inform Cohere's French public sector go-to-market strategy and positioning - Represent Cohere at French government forums, working groups (groupes de travail), roundtables, and industry events YOU MAY BE A GOOD FIT IF: REQUIRED EXPERIENCE: - 8+ years of experience in customer success, account management, strategic consulting, or technology delivery roles within enterprise or French government contexts - At least 3-5 years working directly with French ministries, regional authorities, or public institutions in a technology, digital transformation, or consulting capacity - Proven track record of managing complex, strategic accounts with multiple stakeholders, long sales cycles, and multi-year implementation timelines - Experience leading AI/ML, cloud, or enterprise software implementations in secure or highly regulated environments - Experience developing and executing customer success strategies, QBRs, and executive engagement programs - Deep understanding of how French government organizations evaluate, procure (following Code des marchés publics), implement, and govern technology solutions - Active Confidentiel-Défense or higher security clearance (mandatory) - Fluent French language proficiency—essential for working across the French public sector FRENCH PUBLIC SECTOR & GOVERNMENT ACUMEN: - Comprehensive knowledge of the French public sector ecosystem: central ministries, regional governments (régions), departmental authorities (départements), public enterprises, and critical infrastructure - Knowledge of relevant legislation and frameworks: RGPD, loi Informatique et Libertés, ANSSI standards, accessibility standards - Experience with French government cloud strategies and security frameworks: France Cloud, Souveraineté numérique NICE TO HAVE: - 3+ years specifically managing GenAI, LLM, or conversational AI implementations - Experience with specific French public sector digital transformation initiatives: France Relance, France 2030 - Direct experience working with French defense, intelligence, public safety, or national security organizations - Background in management consulting, systems integration, or digital transformation consulting for French public sector clients 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.