Technical Program Manager, Ai Delivery For Public Sector & Defense, Germany
cohere
Remoto
Germany
AI
Project Management
Project Manager
IT Governance
Account Manager
Audiovisual
Public Relations
Job Score
100 pts
Remote model (+90)
AI (+10)
Project Management (+10)
Project Manager (+10)
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 experienced Program Manager to join Cohere's customer-facing Program Management team, with a focus on public sector and defence accounts in Europe, particularly in Germany. 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 Ministries, Agencies, and defence organisations across Europe. 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 and defence engagements.
Location: Germany
Eligibility: This individual must be a German citizen living in Germany and fluent in German, enabling immediate engagement with critical defense and national security customers.
Security Clearance: German security clearance is not required, but is a strong nice-to-have.
What You'll Do
Customer Program Leadership:
Own end-to-end technical program delivery for Germany and broader European public sector and defence customers, from initial deployment through production scaling
Serve as the primary technical program point of contact for customers, building trusted relationships with departmental CIOs, IT directors, and technical teams
Translate complex public sector and defence requirements (security, compliance, accessibility, bilingualism, data sovereignty) into actionable engineering plans
Navigate complex procurement processes, RFP responses, and contractual technical obligations.
Strategic Communication:
Provide clear, timely, and objective communication across Cohere's engineering organisation, customer stakeholders, pubic sector and defence 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 stakeholders including departmental executives
Represent Cohere's technical capabilities in sensitive government and defence contexts.
Complex Program Management:
Create and manage project schedules that account for public sector and defence timelines, security review processes, and approval cycles
Identify and manage dependencies across government departments, security authorities, cloud service providers, and internal Cohere teams
Navigate risks unique to government and defence deployments: privacy compliance, security, political and regulatory, technology and infrastructure.
Drive alignment between product development priorities and specific customer requirements.
Technical Delivery & Execution:
Ensure on-time delivery of AI solutions that meet 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 and defence deployments
Problem-solve complex technical challenges in air-gapped, on-premises, or highly regulated environments.
You May Be a Good Fit If:
Required Experience:
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.
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 and defence organisations procure, evaluate, and deploy technology
Familiarity with European 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 a German security clearance
Nice to Have:
Active German security clearance
Bilingual (English/German) proficiency
Background in or strong familiarity with European defence, intelligence, or critical infrastructure sectors
Experience with GC Cloud services (Azure, AWS GovCloud) or Protected B/C environments
Project management certification (PMP, PgMP) or government-specific methodologies.
Security Clearance Requirements
This role strongly prefers eligibility for German government security clearance.
We are looking for candidates eligible for German government clearance, meaning that they require German citizenship. In addition, this individual is required to be based in Germany and be fluent in German as this will enable immediate engagement with critical defence and national security customers.
What Makes This Role Unique
This isn't typical program management - it's a highly specialised role at the intersection of frontier AI, national security, and public sector digital transformation. You'll work on some of Canada's most sensitive and impactful AI deployments, helping government organisations harness cutting-edge technology while maintaining the highest standards of security, ethics, and accountability.
If you're passionate about responsible AI adoption, understand the unique constraints and opportunities within government, and want to have an outsized impact on how Canada leverages AI to serve its citizens, this role is for you.
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, 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 page.
What did you think of this job?
Loading comments...
About Artificial Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence is currently the fastest-growing field in the technology market. The revolution in generative models (GPT, Claude, Gemini) has created massive demand for AI-specialized professionals.
Key areas of practice include Machine Learning Engineering, MLOps, Prompt Engineering, AI Research, and Applied AI. Python, TensorFlow, PyTorch, and LLM knowledge are essential skills.
AI salaries are the highest in the technology sector, with many remote work opportunities at international companies.
About Project Management
Project Management is essential to ensure strategic initiatives are delivered on time, within scope, and with quality. PM professionals coordinate teams, manage risks, and communicate with stakeholders.
Key methodologies include PMBOK, PRINCE2, Scrum, and Kanban. Tools like Jira, Asana, Monday, and MS Project are widely used in daily work.
Certifications like PMP and PgMP are important differentiators in the market, with growing demand in technology and consulting companies.
About Project Manager
The Project Manager is the professional responsible for planning, executing, and controlling projects end-to-end, ensuring they are delivered on time, within budget, and with the expected quality. With the growing complexity of businesses, project management professionals are fundamental to organizational success.
Key skills include planning and scheduling, scope, cost, risk, quality, and resource management, stakeholder communication, cross-functional team leadership, and use of agile and traditional methodologies. Certifications like PMP, PRINCE2, and Six Sigma are important differentiators.
Project Managers in technology companies are highly valued, especially those who master agile methodologies (Scrum, Kanban), tools like Jira and MS Project, and can deliver complex projects efficiently. The field offers opportunities from project analyst to head of PMO, with a focus on execution, governance, and business value.
About IT Governance
IT Governance is the area responsible for ensuring that information technology resources are used strategically, efficiently, and in compliance with standards and regulations. IT governance professionals ensure that technology supports business objectives in a secure and reliable manner.
Key skills include IT service management (ITIL), IT audit and compliance, risk management, business continuity, disaster recovery, metrics and indicators (SLAs, KPIs), and strategic alignment between IT and business. Frameworks like COBIT, ITIL, ISO 27001, and compliance standards are essential.
IT Governance professionals in technology companies are highly valued, especially those who master ITSM, IT audit, and risk management. The field offers opportunities from governance analyst to CIO/CTO, with a focus on efficiency, compliance, security, and business value.
About Account Manager
The Account Manager is the professional responsible for managing and expanding the relationship with clients after the sale. They act as a strategic partner, ensuring satisfaction, retention, and account growth, connecting client needs with company solutions.
Key skills include relationship management, negotiation, upsell and cross-sell, contract renewal, account planning, business reviews, metrics analysis (NPS, churn, LTV), and CRM knowledge (Salesforce, HubSpot). Communication, empathy, and business vision are fundamental differentiators.
Account Managers in technology and SaaS companies are highly valued, especially those who can increase recurring revenue (MRR/ARR) through account expansion and churn prevention. The field offers opportunities from account executive to director of accounts, with a focus on strategic relationship, revenue growth, and customer success.
About Audiovisual
The Audiovisual area is responsible for producing, editing, and creating video and audio content for various platforms. With the exponential growth of digital content, audiovisual professionals are fundamental for brands that want to communicate visually and impactfully.
Key skills include video production and editing (Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, Final Cut), motion graphics (After Effects), animation (Blender, Cinema 4D), sound design, podcast production, live streaming (OBS Studio), and photography. Knowledge of visual storytelling, rhythm, and art direction is a differentiator.
Audiovisual professionals in technology companies are highly valued, especially those who master motion graphics, social media videos, and content for digital platforms. The field offers opportunities from videomaker to head of audiovisual, with a focus on creativity, technical quality, and storytelling.
About Public Relations
The Public Relations (PR) area focuses on managing the reputation, image, and communication of an organization with its various stakeholders (such as clients, investors, employees, media, and the community). PR professionals develop corporate communication strategies, manage media relations (press relations), organize institutional events, and work in image crisis prevention and management.
Discover Other Areas
Understand the scope of work, key skills, and tools used in different career areas.
About Communications
The Communications area is strategic for building and maintaining a company's institutional image. It encompasses corporate, internal, and external communication, public relations, press office, and reputation management. Communications professionals are responsible for delivering consistent messages that strengthen the employer brand and market positioning.
Key skills include strategic writing, communication planning, crisis management, media relations, corporate content production, event organization, and digital communication. Knowledge of communication CRMs, press release distribution platforms, and media monitoring tools (Meltwater, Cision) is a differentiator.
Corporate communicators in technology companies are highly valued, especially those who master change communication, employee engagement, and digital communication. The field offers opportunities in startups, scale-ups, and large corporations, with a focus on storytelling, organizational culture, and innovation communication.
About Human Resources
The Human Resources area is responsible for all people management in organizations, from attracting and selecting talent to developing, retaining, and ensuring employee well-being. HR professionals are fundamental to building strong organizational cultures and engagement.
Key skills include recruitment and selection, compensation and benefits management, learning and development (L&D), organizational climate, employee engagement, labor law, labor relations, and HR tools (Workday, SAP SuccessFactors, Bamboo HR). Knowledge of people analytics and data-driven HR is a differentiator.
HR professionals in technology companies are highly valued, especially those who master employer branding, people analytics, and talent retention strategies. The field offers opportunities from HR analyst to Chief People Officer, with a focus on culture, engagement, and people growth.
About Product Manager
The Product Manager (PM) is the professional responsible for defining the strategy, vision, and roadmap of a digital product. They work at the intersection of technology, business, and user experience (UX), leading the discovery and delivery of solutions that solve real problems in a viable way for the company.
Key skills include product discovery, data and metrics analysis (AARRR, NPS, LTV), user research, go-to-market strategy, roadmapping, strategic prioritization, and leadership by influence. Tools like Amplitude, Mixpanel, Hotjar, Jira, and Notion are fundamental.
Product Managers play a central role in the growth of startups, scale-ups, and large technology companies, with career progression opportunities to Product Leader, Head of Product, and Chief Product Officer (CPO).
About Finance
The Finance area in technology companies combines traditional financial knowledge with advanced digital tools. FP&A, controlling, and corporate finance professionals are essential for the organization's financial health.
Key skills include financial modeling, metrics analysis (MRR, ARR, LTV, CAC), ERP (SAP, Oracle), and BI tools. Certifications like CFA and CPA-20 are differentiators.
The financial sector offers stable opportunities with competitive salaries, especially in fintechs and large technology companies.
About Photography
The Photography area encompasses the capture, editing, and processing of static images for commercial, advertising, editorial, or artistic purposes. Professionals in this field master lighting techniques, visual composition, camera and lens operation, as well as the use of specialized editing and post-processing software such as Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom.
Comments 0