Head of Impact & Sustainability

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!

Cohere is the leading security-first enterprise AI company building cutting-edge foundation models and end-to-end AI solutions that solve real-world business problems. Our mission is to scale intelligence to serve humanity. We believe AI's highest purpose is to enhance human wellbeing and empower businesses to drive progress that reaches everyone.

As Head of Impact at Cohere, you'll lead our environmental, social, and governance (ESG) accountability strategy while building and overseeing our philanthropic foundation and employee giving initiatives. You'll be responsible for developing and executing a comprehensive impact strategy that aligns with Cohere's mission.

Key responsibilities include:

• Develop and implement a measurable ESG strategy that integrates environmental sustainability, social responsibility, and governance excellence across all company operations

• Establish and manage Cohere's philanthropic foundation, identifying strategic giving priorities and partnerships that align with our mission and values

• Lead our philanthropy, research collaboration and engagement with universities.

• Create and scale employee giving and volunteer programs that foster a culture of social responsibility and community engagement

• Develop measurable impact frameworks and KPIs to track ESG performance, philanthropic outcomes, and employee engagement

• Ensure compliance with relevant ESG regulations and reporting standards while identifying opportunities for innovation in our impact approach

• Work with the communications and people teams to develop and communicate impact strategies to internal and external audiences, positioning Cohere as a leader in responsible AI development

Must-Haves:

• 15+ years of experience in ESG, sustainability, impact management, or philanthropy leadership with 3+ years in a leadership role

• Proven track record of developing and implementing comprehensive ESG strategies in technology or enterprise software companies

• Experience establishing and managing philanthropic foundations or corporate giving programs and employee volunteerism

• Strong understanding of ESG frameworks, reporting standards and relevant regulations

• Demonstrated ability to measure and report on social and environmental impact using quantitative and qualitative metrics

• Excellent stakeholder management skills with experience engaging executives, investors, and community partners

• Ability to balance strategic thinking with operational execution in a fast-growing organization

• Advanced degree in Business, Sustainability, Social Impact, or related field (MBA preferred)

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 https://docs.google.com/forms/d/12a6IrLdF3kI2nonKSr4tiFuz18rLQbaeYV-JM9L4o9Q/edit, 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 https://cohere.com/careers page.