At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead AI delivery projects for UK public sector and defence, ensuring successful deployment and scaling.
- Company: Cohere, a leading security-first enterprise AI company.
- Benefits: Generous salary, health benefits, remote work options, and extensive paid vacation.
- Other info: Remote-friendly culture with opportunities for professional growth and collaboration.
- Why this job: Join a cutting-edge team and make a real impact in government and defence sectors.
- Qualifications: 6+ years in technical program management, especially with government or defence clients.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 90000 £ per year.
About Cohere
Cohere is the leading security‑first enterprise AI company. We build cutting‑edge foundation AI models and end‑to‑end products designed to solve real‑world business problems.
Why This Role
We’re seeking an experienced Program Manager to join Cohere’s customer‑facing Program Management team, with a focus on UK public sector and defence accounts.
This is a highly specialised role requiring an individual who understands technical program delivery, the technical complexity of frontier AI models and the unique requirements of government and defence organisations.
You will be the critical bridge between our cutting‑edge AI capabilities and the specific needs of UK Government and defence organisations.
You’ll navigate complex procurement processes, stringent security requirements, data sovereignty concerns, and regulatory compliance while ensuring our customers successfully deploy and scale our AI solutions.
In this role, you’ll collaborate with our Strategic Customer team, Applied ML (AML) Engineering, Forward Deployed Engineering (FDE), Platform, Product, and Go‑to‑Market teams, serving as the technical program lead and trusted advisor for our most sensitive and high‑impact government engagements.
- Location and Security Clearance
- Security
Clearance: Active Top Secret clearance preferred; candidates with Active Secret clearance or those who are eligible and willing to obtain clearance will also be considered.
- Customer Program Leadership
- Own end‑to‑end technical program delivery for UK 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 (security, compliance, accessibility, bilingualism, data sovereignty) into actionable engineering plans
- Navigate government procurement processes, RFP responses, and contractual technical obligations
- Strategic Communication
- Provide clear, timely, and objective communication across Cohere’s engineering organisation, customer stakeholders, and government leadership
- Translate between AI/ML technical concepts and government‑appropriate language for decision‑makers who may not have deep technical backgrounds
- Present technical roadmaps and status updates to senior government officials and departmental executives
- Represent Cohere’s technical capabilities in sensitive government and defence contexts
- Complex Program Management
- 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
- Navigate risks unique to government deployments: privacy compliance, security authorisations, technical and infrastructure constraints
- Drive alignment between product development priorities and specific government requirements
- Technical Delivery & Execution
- Ensure on‑time delivery of AI solutions that meet government‑grade security, privacy, accessibility, and performance standards
- Coordinate technical work across multiple teams: model customisation, security hardening, integration with government systems, bilingual support
- Establish governance checkpoints appropriate for high‑stakes government deployments
- Problem‑solve complex technical challenges in air‑gapped, on‑premises, or highly regulated environments
Qualifications
- You May Be a Good Fit If
- 6+ years of experience as a customer‑facing Technical or Engineering Program Manager in AI/ML consulting, technology transformation, or enterprise software delivery
- Excellent executive communication and stakeholder management
- Experience working with government, defence, or heavily regulated customers (public sector, defence contractors)
- Proven track record managing complex, multi‑stakeholder technical programs with stringent compliance requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field; advanced degree or technical certs a plus
- Technical Background
- Strong understanding of enterprise software deployment architectures (cloud, on‑premises, hybrid, air‑gapped)
- Working knowledge of or experience with modern AI: LLMs, agentic systems, MCP, RAG, fine‑tuning, evals, and responsible AI would be a strong differentiator
- Comfortable discussing API integrations, model inference, data pipelines, and ML operations with technical stakeholders
- Government & Defence Acumen
- Deep understanding of how government organisations procure, evaluate, and deploy technology
- Familiarity with UK government requirements: data sovereignty, privacy laws (Privacy Act), accessibility standards, official languages obligations, security classifications
- Understanding of defence and national security considerations in AI deployment
- Experience with Algorithmic Impact Assessments or AI ethics frameworks is a strong asset
- Eligible to obtain UK government security clearance (Top Secret preferred)
- Nice to Have
- Active UK government security clearance (Secret or Top Secret) – preference for active Top Secret clearance
- Background in or strong familiarity with UK defence, intelligence, or critical infrastructure sectors
- Experience with GC Cloud services (Azure, AWS Gov Cloud) or Protected B/C environments
- Project management certification (PMP, Pg MP) or government‑specific methodologies
Benefits
- A weekly lunch stipend of $75/£75 or equivalent in your local currency
- Full health and dental benefits, including a separate budget for mental health
- RRSP matching, 401(k), 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 off‑site
- How We Work
- Cohere is remote‑friendly. We have offices in Toronto, San Francisco, New York City, London, Paris, Montreal, and more coming 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
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, and we will work together to meet your needs.
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Technical Program Manager, AI Delivery for Public Sector & Defence, UK employer: Cohere
Cohere is an exceptional employer that champions innovation and collaboration, particularly in the dynamic field of AI deployment. With a flexible remote work environment, generous vacation policies, and robust training stipends, we prioritise employee well-being and professional growth. Join us to be part of a forward-thinking team that is making significant impacts in sectors like finance and healthcare.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Technical Program Manager, AI Delivery for Public Sector & Defence, UK
✨Join Local Tech Meetups
Get out there and mingle with fellow developers by joining local tech meetups. It’s a fantastic way to meet people who might be working at Cohere or know someone who does. Plus, you can pick up some trendy tech skills and trends while you're at it!
✨Contribute to Open Source Projects
Show off your coding chops by jumping into open-source projects. Not only does this give you practical experience, but it also gets you noticed in the dev community. You'll create a killer portfolio that speaks volumes about your skills to Cohere.
✨Tap into Online Developer Communities
Don’t underestimate the power of online developer communities like GitHub, Stack Overflow, and even Reddit. Participate in discussions, share your projects, and build your visibility. We can often find opportunities through these channels that can lead to a full-time gig at companies like Cohere.
✨Explore Job Boards Specifically for Tech Roles
Keep your eyes peeled on job boards that focus on tech roles. Sites like TechCareers or Stack Overflow Jobs can often have listings for companies like Cohere that might not show up on broader job sites. Make it a habit to check these regularly, and don’t hesitate to apply directly through our website!
We think you need these skills to ace Technical Program Manager, AI Delivery for Public Sector & Defence, UK
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show off your coding skills:When applying for a software engineering role, it's super important to showcase your coding skills. Make sure your CV includes your tech stack, any relevant programming languages you’re comfortable with, and examples of projects you've worked on. If you have a GitHub profile, link it up! We love to see code in action.
Tailor your portfolio:For a full-time role, we’d expect to see some solid examples of your work in your portfolio. Make sure to include at least two or three projects that highlight your problem-solving skills and your ability to work with different technologies. Focus on the projects that are most relevant to the position at Cohere.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Cohere and how your skills align with the role. Show us your passion for software development. We dig enthusiastic candidates who understand the value of collaboration and continuous learning!
Be clear and concise:When it comes to writing your CV and cover letter, clarity is key. Avoid jargon that could confuse us and stick to simple, direct language. Highlight your achievements with quantifiable results where possible, and keep everything easy to read. A well-organised application goes a long way!
How to prepare for a job interview at Cohere
✨Brush Up on Your Coding Skills
For a full-time software engineering role, it's crucial that we stay sharp with our coding abilities. Expect technical questions that might involve solving problems on the spot or discussing algorithms. Practise on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank to get comfortable with the types of questions that often come up.
✨Know Your Tools and Frameworks
Make sure we’re well-acquainted with the tools and technologies listed in the job description. Familiarise ourselves with any specific frameworks or programming languages mentioned. If Cohere uses React or Node.js, for instance, be ready to discuss how we’ve used them in previous projects or coursework.
✨Showcase Your Projects
Bring along a portfolio that highlights our best work. This could be code samples, GitHub repositories, or any side projects we’ve built. Make sure we can talk through our thought process for each project, especially the challenges we faced and how we solved them—this shows our problem-solving skills in action.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
While technical skills are key, full-time positions also require cultural fit. Be ready to discuss our previous experiences and how we handle teamwork, conflict, and deadlines. Brush up on the STAR method—Situation, Task, Action, Result—to clearly articulate our past experiences when discussing how we've contributed to a team.
