Senior Principal, North America Media Relations, NYC

Nike•New York, NY

2d•$163,500 - $345,100•Onsite

About The Position

NIKE, Inc. is looking for a Senior Principal of Media Relations, North America to lead with speed and strong strategic instincts in a high-volume, constantly evolving environment. This role will shape audience-right media strategies and breakthrough storytelling to strengthen Nike’s leadership in sport and culture, reach new audiences, and build lasting influence for the brand. The ideal candidate is a media relations leader with deep experience navigating the North American media landscape and a strong, active network across traditional media, new media, creators, and other influential voices. They should be adept at building trusted relationships, identifying the right messenger for each story, and translating access, insight, and narrative into meaningful coverage, conversation, and advocacy. This role requires a decisive, highly organized operator who can manage multiple priorities, move seamlessly between long-range strategy and real-time execution, and maintain excellence under pressure. A narrative-first mindset, strong editorial judgment, and the ability to uncover stories, build compelling narratives, and sustain momentum are essential. The leader will champion North America’s media relations strategy, using insights, social listening, and on-the-ground intelligence to shape conversations, identify emerging opportunities, and connect Nike’s priorities to the people and communities influencing sport and culture. Successful candidates will be proactive, collaborative, solutions-oriented, and possess the confidence to advise senior leaders, align cross-functional teams and agency partners, and make clear decisions amid ambiguity. Curiosity, cultural fluency, a passion for sport, and an instinct for what makes a story credible, relevant, and worth sharing are key attributes.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Media Relations, Communications, Business or a related field. Will accept any suitable combination of education, experience and training.
10+ years of professional experience in fast-paced, high-profile media relations, corporate communications or public relations roles supporting global brands.
Extensive media relations experience and a strong, active network of relationships across North American media, storytellers, creators and influential voices in sport, business, culture, lifestyle and consumer media.
Demonstrated ability to manage multiple complex workstreams simultaneously, prioritize effectively, meet tight deadlines and deliver high-quality work in a fast-moving environment.
Proven experience developing narrative-first, audience-right media strategies that translate business and brand priorities into relevant stories, experiences and sustained conversation.
Strong editorial judgment and a track record of identifying timely opportunities, shaping compelling pitches and securing meaningful earned coverage and advocacy.
Deep understanding of the evolving media ecosystem, including social, digital, print, broadcast, podcasts, newsletters, creator platforms and AI-powered discovery.
Experience using audience insights, data, social listening and cultural intelligence to inform communications strategy and real-time decision-making.
Excellent strategic planning, issues management, budgeting, agency management and project leadership skills.
Proven ability to influence and align senior leaders, peers and cross-functional partners across a complex global and regional matrix.
Experience counseling, media training and staffing senior executives, athletes, designers, collaborators and other spokespeople.
Demonstrated ability to initiate and lead ideation, bringing creative, innovative and business-minded communications solutions forward at the concept stage.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to simplify complexity and communicate with clarity, confidence and precision.
High cultural fluency and curiosity, with a strong understanding of sport, style, footwear, apparel, entertainment and popular culture.

Nice To Haves

Company or agency spokesperson experience preferred.

Responsibilities

Lead media relations strategies for Nike’s North America priorities, translating business, brand, product, athlete, and sport objectives into clear narratives and compelling stories.
Work across written, oral, visual, digital, and experiential communications, ensuring each priority begins with an audience insight and a strong narrative.
Build relationship-powered influence and develop influence maps, cultivating both established and emerging voices.
Create differentiated engagement strategies and design access and experiences that deepen understanding, generate advocacy, and sustain conversation over time.
Operate across multiple workstreams at pace, balancing proactive priorities with timely cultural, media, and reputation opportunities.
Contribute at every stage of planning, from insight and narrative development through execution and measurement.
Provide senior-level counsel, prepare and staff spokespeople, manage agency partners, and help the broader communications team move with clarity, consistency, and impact.
Connect strategy and execution across the matrix and represent the needs, insights, and opportunities of the North American media landscape.