Government Affairs Lead - Middle East (UAE or Saudi Arabia based)

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! ABOUT THE ROLE We are building a Government Affairs and Public Policy (GAPP) team with the ambition and expertise to help shape one of the world's most dynamic environments for artificial intelligence and digital innovation. As our Government Affairs Lead for the Middle East, you will help establish and strengthen Cohere's presence across the United Arab Emirates, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the other Gulf Coast countries ensuring the company's voice contributes to the development of AI policy, digital transformation, public-sector innovation, procurement, and economic diversification initiatives. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced government affairs professional who thrives at the intersection of government, technology, and public policy, and who wants to help position Cohere as a trusted partner supporting the region's ambitions to become a global leader in artificial intelligence. You will work alongside experienced policy leaders, collaborate closely with senior executives, and contribute directly to Cohere's strategic growth across two of the world's fastest-growing AI markets. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES: - Report directly to Cohere's Head of EMEA Government Affairs & Public Policy, partnering closely with senior leadership, legal, public policy, responsible AI, communications, and commercial teams to develop and execute Cohere's government affairs and stakeholder engagement strategy across the UAE and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. - Serve as Cohere's primary government affairs representative across the region, building trusted relationships with ministries, regulators, government authorities, public-sector organizations, sovereign entities, and innovation agencies. - Monitor and assess legislative, regulatory, and public policy developments affecting artificial intelligence, cloud computing, data governance, cybersecurity, digital infrastructure, and emerging technologies across the region. - Support policy advocacy by developing consultation responses, policy submissions, briefing materials, executive talking points, and stakeholder engagement strategies related to AI regulation, digital economy initiatives, technology policy, and public procurement. - Partner closely with commercial and public sector sales teams to support business development opportunities across government, financial services, telecommunications, energy, and other regulated industries. - Collaborate with communications, marketing, and public relations teams to ensure consistent and effective messaging regarding Cohere's approach to responsible AI, innovation, and technology policy. - Represent Cohere in industry associations, public-private partnerships, conferences, and policy forums across the Middle East. - Develop and manage relationships with external government affairs consultants, advisors, and trade associations across the region. - Ensure all government engagement, lobbying, and political activities are conducted in full compliance with applicable local laws, regulations, and company policies. - Contribute to broader regional government affairs initiatives across the GCC and support cross-functional projects involving international stakeholders. QUALIFICATIONS - 7+ years of experience in government, a ministerial office, public policy, diplomacy, public-sector consulting, regulatory affairs, corporate government affairs, or a leading industry association. - Strong understanding of the policymaking, regulatory, and public-sector landscape in either the United Arab Emirates or the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with the ability to quickly develop expertise across both markets. - Experience building trusted relationships with senior government officials and public-sector stakeholders. - Familiarity with AI policy, digital transformation, innovation policy, cloud technologies, public procurement, or technology regulation. - Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English. Professional proficiency in Arabic is highly desirable. - Strong analytical skills with the ability to translate complex policy developments into clear business implications and actionable recommendations. - A collaborative mindset and the ability to work effectively across international, cross-functional teams spanning multiple time zones. - An entrepreneurial, self-starter mentality with excellent stakeholder management and project execution skills. - Passion for artificial intelligence, emerging technologies, and the opportunity to help shape the policy environment supporting responsible AI adoption. - An undergraduate degree in political science, international relations, public policy, law, business, economics, or a related field (or equivalent practical experience). PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS - Professional proficiency in Arabic. - Existing relationships with government stakeholders in both the UAE and Saudi Arabia. - Experience engaging with GCC institutions or regional organizations. - Experience in enterprise software, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, or another emerging technology sector. - Experience supporting government procurement, digital transformation, or national AI initiatives. 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.