Technical Program Manager, AI Delivery for Public Sector & Defence
WFA Digital Insight
The demand for technical program managers with expertise in AI delivery has grown significantly, with a 25% increase in job postings in the past year. In the current remote job market, candidates with experience in managing complex AI projects and navigating government procurement processes are in high demand. Cohere, a leading security-first enterprise AI company, is at the forefront of this trend. With its focus on cutting-edge foundation AI models and end-to-end products, Cohere is an attractive option for professionals looking to make a real impact. Before applying, candidates should be aware of the unique requirements of government and defence organizations, including security clearance and data sovereignty concerns.
Job Description
About the Role
The Technical Program Manager, AI Delivery for Public Sector and Defence, is a critical role at Cohere, responsible for managing the delivery of AI solutions to government and defence customers. This role requires a deep understanding of technical program delivery, the technical complexity of frontier AI models, and the unique requirements of government and defence organizations. The successful candidate will be the primary technical program point of contact for government customers, building trusted relationships with departmental CIOs, IT directors, and technical teams.The role is part of Cohere's customer-facing Program Management team and will collaborate with various internal teams, including Strategic Customer, Applied ML Engineering, Forward Deployed Engineering, Platform, Product, and Go-to-Market. The ideal candidate will have experience navigating complex procurement processes, stringent security requirements, data sovereignty concerns, and regulatory compliance.
Cohere is committed to delivering cutting-edge AI solutions that meet the unique needs of government and defence organizations. The company's focus on security, privacy, and data sovereignty makes it an attractive option for professionals who want to make a real impact in the public sector.
What You Will Do
- Own end-to-end technical program delivery for Canadian public sector and defence customers, from initial deployment through production scaling
- Serve as the primary technical program point of contact for government customers, building trusted relationships with departmental CIOs, IT directors, and technical teams
- Translate complex government requirements into actionable engineering plans
- Navigate government procurement processes, RFP responses, and contractual technical obligations
- Provide clear, timely, and objective communication across Cohere's engineering organization, customer stakeholders, and government leadership
- Translate between AI/ML technical concepts and government-appropriate language for decision-makers
- Present technical roadmaps and status updates to senior government officials and departmental executives
- Represent Cohere's technical capabilities in sensitive government and defence contexts
- Create and manage project schedules that account for government timelines, security review processes, and ministerial approval cycles
- Identify and manage dependencies across government departments, security authorities, cloud service providers, and internal Cohere teams
What We Are Looking For
- 5+ years of experience in technical program management, preferably in the public sector or defence industry
- Strong understanding of AI/ML technical concepts and their application in government and defence contexts
- Experience navigating complex procurement processes and government regulations
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build trusted relationships with government stakeholders
- Strong problem-solving and analytical skills, with the ability to translate complex technical concepts into actionable plans
- Experience with project management tools and methodologies, such as Agile or Scrum
- Strong understanding of security, privacy, and data sovereignty principles and their application in government and defence contexts
- Active Top Secret clearance or willingness to obtain clearance
Nice to Have
- Experience with cloud-based AI/ML solutions and their deployment in government and defence contexts
- Knowledge of Canadian government regulations and procurement processes
- Experience with Excel and other project management tools
- Certification in project management or a related field
Benefits and Perks
- Competitive salary and benefits package
- Opportunity to work with cutting-edge AI technology and make a real impact in the public sector
- Collaborative and dynamic work environment with a team of experienced professionals
- Flexible work arrangements, including remote work options
- Professional development opportunities, including training and certification programs
- Access to the latest tools and technologies, including cloud-based AI/ML solutions
- Recognition and reward programs for outstanding performance
- Comprehensive health and wellness programs, including mental health support
- Generous PTO and vacation time, including paid holidays and sick leave
- Retirement savings plan and other financial benefits
How to Stand Out
- Develop a strong understanding of AI/ML technical concepts and their application in government and defence contexts to stand out as a candidate.
- Highlight your experience navigating complex procurement processes and government regulations in your application and during interviews.
- Emphasize your ability to build trusted relationships with government stakeholders and communicate complex technical concepts in a clear and concise manner.
- Be prepared to provide examples of your problem-solving and analytical skills, as well as your experience with project management tools and methodologies.
- Research Cohere's company culture and values to demonstrate your fit and enthusiasm for the role during the application and interview process.
- Prepare to discuss your experience with security, privacy, and data sovereignty principles and their application in government and defence contexts.
- Consider obtaining or maintaining an active Top Secret clearance to increase your chances of being hired for this role.
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