Cohere seeks Government Affairs Lead for UAE or Saudi Arabia

When a major language-model company opens a position in the region, the first seat is usually an engineer or a sales executive. Cohere is doing the opposite this time: the first role it is building for its Government Affairs and Public Policy team in the Middle East is not technical at all, but a seat that sits between ministries and regulators.

RoleGovernment Affairs Lead for the Middle East at Cohere, full-time, based in Dubai or Riyadh. The role is within the Government & Public Policy team and reports directly to the Head of Government Affairs and Public Policy for Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

Primary challengeTo be the company’s voice before ministries, regulators and sovereign entities in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and the rest of the Gulf states, and to monitor legislation and regulations concerning artificial intelligence, cloud computing, data governance, cybersecurity and digital infrastructure. The heavier part is translation in both directions: turning a complex regulatory development into a clear commercial impact for the company’s leadership, and turning the company’s position into responses to public consultations, policy papers and executive-level talking points. The posting also adds responsibility for working with sales teams to support opportunities in the government sector, financial services, telecommunications and energy, meaning the role is not purely representative.

Key requirements

• Seven years or more in government work, a ministerial office, public policy, diplomacy, public-sector consulting, regulatory affairs or a large industry association.
• A solid understanding of the policy-making and regulatory landscape in the UAE or Saudi Arabia, with the ability to quickly build expertise in both markets.
• Trusted relationships with senior government officials and public-sector entities.
• Familiarity with AI policies, digital transformation, government procurement or technology regulation.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English. Professional-level Arabic is strongly preferred.
• A university degree in political science, international relations, public policy, law, business or economics, or equivalent practical experience.

SalaryNot disclosed.

Practical stepIf you come from a government or regulatory background and do not have a track record in the tech sector, the gap you will be judged on is your familiarity with AI policies specifically. Write a two-page brief that analyses a regulatory text actually issued in the UAE or Saudi Arabia during the past year, and explains its impact on a company selling language models to a government client. This brief is the closest thing to a work sample the role requests daily, and it is stronger than a résumé that lists multiple positions.

Apply now https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/Cohere/2dc8b505-128a-4bc8-b8c1-7084e7d26530