Head of Corporate Development

About the role

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.

What you'll do

• M&A Strategy:
• Evaluate and execute acquisitions or investments in complementary technologies that strengthen our core platform, particularly in compute infrastructure, specialized AI capabilities, and regulatory compliance tools
• Lead due diligence processes with cross-functional teams to ensure technical integration feasibility and strategic alignment
• Manage post-merger integration to maximize value realization and revenue synergies
• Market Expansion:
• Support entry into new verticals and geographies through targeted collaborations with industry leaders and government partners
• Develop market entry strategies that address regulatory requirements and sovereignty concerns in key international markets
• Create partnership frameworks that enable rapid scaling in high-growth sectors
• Partner with sales and marketing teams to create joint GTM strategies that drive adoption and revenue growth
• Cross-Functional Leadership:
• Partner with product, engineering, and legal teams to ensure deals align with technical capabilities, ethical AI standards, and regulatory requirements
• Collaborate with finance to develop robust financial models and valuation frameworks for partnership and M&A opportunities
• Work with government relations and policy teams to navigate complex regulatory landscapes and secure strategic government partnerships
• Strategic Partnerships:
• Identify and negotiate transformative alliances with key players in our ecosystem, including telcos (e.g., Bell), hardware infrastructure providers (e.g., BUZZ HPC), cloud platforms, and government entities to accelerate Cohere’s go-to-market and sovereign AI deployment capabilities
• Develop partnerships that enable on-premise and edge deployment solutions for customers requiring data sovereignty and regulatory compliance
• Leverage relationships with enterprise software vendors and data platforms to enhance North’s enterprise-grade AI offerings

What they're looking for

✦ Select any requirement to ask Aptiora about your fit, evidence or application.

• Experience:
• 12+ years in corporate development, strategic partnerships, or investment banking at a technology company, with proven experience in AI, SaaS, or enterprise software
• Demonstrated success in closing partnerships and M&A deals that drove significant revenue growth or strategic market access
• Experience with sovereign AI deployments, regulatory compliance (CTA, export controls), and government partnerships
• Strong negotiation and deal-structuring ability with experience in complex, multi-stakeholder agreements
• Extensive network in AI/enterprise tech ecosystems, including telcos, hardware providers, and government entities
• Analytical rigor with expertise in financial modeling, market sizing, and valuation analysis
• Cross-functional leadership and stakeholder management skills
• Deep understanding of current AI regulatory landscape and compliance requirements
• Track Record:
• Experience executing M&A transactions that successfully integrated complementary technologies and accelerated growth
• History of building and scaling strategic partnerships that delivered measurable revenue impact and market expansion
• Proven ability to navigate complex regulatory environments and secure government/enterprise partnerships

Benefits & working conditions

• 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.