Director, NA Media Relations & Narrative Communications

Become a Part of the NIKE, Inc. Team

NIKE, Inc. does more than outfit the world’s best athletes. It is a place to explore potential, obliterate boundaries and push out the edges of what can be. The company looks for people who can grow, think, dream and create. Its culture thrives by embracing diversity and rewarding imagination. The brand seeks achievers, leaders and visionaries. At NIKE, Inc. it’s about each person bringing skills and passion to a challenging and constantly evolving game.

The NIKE, Inc. Communications team develops, establishes and strengthens authentic connections with diverse audiences through the lens of innovation and sport. The team creates premium and innovative brand stories, builds and enhances corporate reputation and brand equity, and engages audiences such as consumers, media, athletes, investors, non-governmental organizations and Nike’s own employees. The team focuses on information, inspiration and connection to accelerate the growth of NIKE, Inc. Communications employees ignite conversations, envision the possibilities, and influence and deliver new levels of creative and strategic thinking to advance the brand around the world.

As part of the NA Media Relations and Narrative Communications Team, the exceptional candidate will be based in our New York City Headquarters and collaborate cross-functionally to create impact by driving narrative-based storytelling rooted in purpose and innovation.

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

This director will oversee external storytelling in support of Nike’s performance sports businesses, including Running and Basketball. Additionally, it will be responsible for strategic media relations in service of Nike’s League partnerships.

The candidate would benefit having a passion for sport, an ability to deliver new ways of thinking, and a desire to deepen and evolve Nike's sport-culture relationship with media and consumers. The individual should be proactive, creative, and solutions oriented. Being culturally curious, sport obsessed, having an eye for design and trends, and an appreciation for art and understanding of popular culture is essential. This person will also be responsible for cultivating a forward-looking approach to communications strategies that demonstrate the ever-changing media and highly engaged consumer landscape.

The NA Director has a knack for synthesizing information, insights and data and distilling them into usable content to craft thoughtful strategies that position the right stories for Nike.

As a well-networked professional, this person is a specialist in media trend spotting and is able to lean into deep relationships to drive meaningful coverage that ladder up to Nike’s narratives and priorities.

The ideal candidate is collaborative, tenacious and exhibits high-level critical thinking, with a passion for sport, health and fitness. The ability to access and apply knowledge of consumer and media insights, trends and intelligence is a must. Experience leading external partners is required.

WHAT YOU WILL WORK ON

You will proactively lead media strategy and execution of Nike narratives to support several business units. This means you will craft stories that showcase how Nike encourages every day and elite athletes to reach their potential through innovative products that fuel and empower them.

You will engage genuinely with media – from providing them with timely information to crafting experiences that will make their work with us feel more relevant, fun, and anchored in our passion for sports, athletes and communities. At times, you will be required to attend meetings and host media at Nike World Headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon, as well as other Nike HQ locations around the world.

This role will engage with media at sporting events and other Nike-related initiatives globally. And working collaboratively with your teammates to positively impact the way our consumers work with Nike through earned media.

WHO YOU WILL WORK WITH

You will be part of a dedicated team of Media Relations professionals at our NY Headquarters who are committed to sports, health, fitness, innovation and purpose.

You will be supervising North America media relationships and will help lead a high-performing group and collaborating with smart, dedicated and driven peers.

You will report to the NA Senior Director and will work in close partnership with the North America Consumer Creation Communications team based at WHQ.

WHAT YOU BRING

• You are collaborative, curious, tenacious and passionate about storytelling with meaning and purpose
• You have 10+ years of professional Communications experience supporting Media Relations, Brand and Narrative Communications
• Given that Nike is made up of more than 74,000 employees worldwide, we consider our teammates to be our most valuable consumers – therefore, you have a proven and working understanding of Employee/Internal Communications
• You are a skilled communicator with extensive and deep relationships with earned media
• Strong interpersonal skills and high emotional intelligence
• You bring all the tools that we consider fundamental to succeeding at Nike, including attention to internal and external partner management, intuition for business, engaging speaking and presentation skills, project and event management, essential communications, sport, cultural and societal acuity, media relations expertise, and the ability to write persuasively
• You are a professional who instills trust, demonstrates self-awareness, is passionate about developing others, believes in accountability and fosters effective teamwork
• You have the ability to define goals and deliverables that support Nike’s business goals
• You are adept at research, execution and presentation
• You have expertise in software applications, including Keynote
• You have 10+ years of professional experience in high-profile corporation or agency, supporting global brands, ideally brands that play in sport and culture
• You are a voracious consumer of news, sports, pop culture
• You are optimistic, comfortable trying new approaches and are an intelligent problem solver
• A Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Journalism, or related field is preferred

NIKE, Inc. is a growth company that looks for team members to grow with it. Nike offers a generous total rewards package, casual work environment, a diverse and inclusive culture, and an electric atmosphere for professional development. No matter the location, or the role, every Nike employee shares one galvanizing mission: To bring inspiration and innovation to every athlete* in the world.

NIKE, Inc. is committed to employing a diverse workforce. Qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran status, or disability.