Principal, Corporate Communications & Marketplace

Nike•Beaverton, OR

About The Position

At Nike, the Communications team curates the company narrative and creates powerful relationships, influence, opportunities, and experiences to reach consumer, corporate and employee audiences. We are curious, ambitious, and creative. Our experience is diverse, we have an openness to think in new ways and thrive in a fast-paced environment. Working closely with our global corporate and marketplace communications teams this role will execute an end-to-end communications strategy that advances Nike’s NA corporate reputation through proactively identifying, monitoring, and mitigating potential issues, while managing issues already in place or that emerge in the course of business. In parallel, proactively elevate and curate storytelling around Nike’s NA marketplace strategy across Direct and key partner channels working in concert with our global communications, cross functional and business stakeholders. We are looking for a Principal, Communications to join the North America Communications team with a focus on key issues critical to the reputation of the Nike brand in North America. This person will collaborate closely with a cross-functional team to proactively lead strategic plans and drive storytelling around the impact Nike has on its community to an audience of media, consumers, influencers and content creators. We are a team of optimists, dreamers and inventors. But most of all, we’re in love with the art of a good story. We are culturally curious and plugged into emerging conversations that matter most to our consumer. We are not afraid to break status quo to create unexpected connections and meaningful moments for Nike Brand. You’ll be part of the North America Communications team, with a focus on marketplace, corporate, social community impact and crisis communications. Serve as the strategic communications lead for social community impact, marketplace communications and crisis communications, responsible for developing seasonal and year-long plans that include cut-through messaging and positioning. You deliver world-class narrative strategy and creative concepts—obsessing storytelling with craft, taste, and scale. Drive purposeful conversations around powerful stories anchored on the moments that make Nike one-of-a-kind. Partner closely with teammates across the creative team and functions of Nike to develop strategic plans, impactful narratives and craft messaging that’s tailored to specific audiences, platforms and moments. A nuanced expertise of sport and culture is a requirement. You work in AMBIGUITY, see the big picture, and collaborate positively with a large group of partners.

Requirements

Experience operating in complex, matrixed organizations with a strong understanding of geography and marketplace dynamics.
Proven ability to drive and execute integrated corporate and marketplace communications plans that support business and reputation goals.
Demonstrated experience managing or supporting issues and crises in a fast-paced, high-visibility environment.
Experience working closely with Legal teams to navigate risk and ensure aligned, compliant communications.
Proven ability to manage highly sensitive and confidential information with sound judgment and discretion.
Experience engaging with media and contributing to external narrative development; confident representing the organization when needed.
Experience leading corporate and marketplace projects, with the ability to influence teammates and cross functional partners.
7+ years of progressive experience in corporate, marketplace, or brand communications.
Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Journalism, Marketing, Public Relations, or related field. Will accept any suitable combination of education, experience and training.
Management skills including high-profile communications, strategic planning, budgeting, creative solutions, and agency management, with additional experience in developing proactive, creative communications, and extensive communications strategies.
Proven ability to communicate plans across a complex matrix on a corporate, regional and functional basis.
Experience initiating and driving the ideation process to contribute meaningful, innovative strategies to the business at concept stage.
High aptitude for creative thinking balanced against bottom line business needs.
Successful experience working effectively with senior leaders and management, and a proven ability to provide guidance and direction to peers.
Successful candidates will bring a positive, team-oriented attitude, be curious, have strong strategic instincts and exceptional relationship skills, and be able to handle ambiguity to work across a global, corporate matrix.
A nuanced expertise of sport and culture is a requirement.
You work in AMBIGUITY, see the big picture, and collaborate positively with a large group of partners.

Responsibilities

Execute an end-to-end communications strategy that advances Nike’s NA corporate reputation.
Proactively identify, monitor, and mitigate potential issues.
Manage issues already in place or that emerge in the course of business.
Proactively elevate and curate storytelling around Nike’s NA marketplace strategy across Direct and key partner channels.
Collaborate closely with a cross-functional team to proactively lead strategic plans and drive storytelling around the impact Nike has on its community.
Develop seasonal and year-long plans for social community impact, marketplace communications and crisis communications, including cut-through messaging and positioning.
Deliver world-class narrative strategy and creative concepts.
Drive purposeful conversations around powerful stories anchored on the moments that make Nike one-of-a-kind.
Partner closely with teammates across the creative team and functions of Nike to develop strategic plans, impactful narratives and craft messaging.
Develop and implement corporate issues management strategies to anticipate, identify, and respond to emerging risks impacting NA reputation.
Help establish clear strategy, processes, and shared cross-functional responsibilities for issues management.
Partner with global communications team to develop and execute communications plans in response to crises, including product recalls, operational issues, or other reputational challenges.
Support on creating messaging, talking points, Q&As, and channel-specific POVs to ensure consistent and effective communication during crises.
Proactively identify potential issues that could impact Nike’s NA reputation in partnership with the Nike Intelligence Center and cross-functional partners.
Support our global communications team in shaping NA external corporate and marketplace narrative to ensure accurate and balanced reporting.
Partner closely with Corporate Media Relations and marketplace teammates on messaging and engagement approach.
Develop and execute communication plans for internal and external stakeholders to ensure clarity, alignment, and message consistency.
Provide guidance and recommendations to NA leaders and cross-functional teams on storytelling around Nike’s holistic marketplace strategy and how we serve athletes.