Principal, College, League & Sport Communications
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Job Location:
Beaverton, OR - USA
Monthly Salary:
Not Disclosed
Posted on:
30+ days ago
Vacancies:
1 Vacancy
Job Summary
Principal College League & Sport Communications
Beaverton OR PHK Campus
At Nike the Communications team plays a vital role in shaping the companys voicebuilding influence managing reputation and telling powerful stories that inspire and connect. We are looking for a Principal College League and Sport Communications to lead a proactive communications strategy for Nikes most important sport partnerships across North America. This will include American Football Baseball NIL colleges and key moments in these areas.
WHO YOULL WORK WITH
In this highly collaborative and externally facing role you will serve as the primary point of contact between Nikes North America Communications function and its top-tier team league and NIL partnersincluding some of the most influential organizations in sport. Youll build and maintain strong relationships with partner communications teams identify proactive storytelling opportunities that support Nikes narrative and work cross-functionally to manage reputational risk and ensure alignment across stakeholders.
This position requiring deep experience in strategic communications a sharp understanding of the global sports media and partnership landscape and the ability to lead with trust agility and sound judgment.
This role will collaborate across Nikes internal and external ecosystem including:
- North America Communications Team
- Global Communications Team
- Sports Marketing partnership teams (NIL and League)
- Baseball and American Football business and marketing teams
- Brand Marketing teams
- Product & Business teams
- Legal Strategy HR and Business Affairs
- Partner communications leads
- Senior leadership across Nike Communications and Sports Marketing
WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR
Nikes partnerships with colleges and leagues are central to its identity and global influence in this role you will be the voice behind those partnershipshelping to define elevate and protect the way the world understands Nikes relationships with the organizations that shape the future of sport. Youll operate at the highest levels of communications and sport bringing strategy insight and narrative power to one of Nikes most visible arenas.
- Bachelors degree in Communications Journalism Marketing or a related field. Will accept any suitable combination of education experience and training
- Minimum of 10 years of experience in brand communications sports PR or corporate communicationspreferably in a global or partnership-driven context is highly preferred
- Proven ability to manage external relationships with high-profile partners in a collaborative and diplomatic way.
- Deep knowledge of the global sport ecosystemespecially how leagues teams and federations operate and communicate.
- Strong writing and storytelling skills with experience crafting communications materials across a range of formats and audiences.
- Expertise in risk and issues management; ability to respond to and lead through sensitive or high-stakes situations.
- Highly collaborative with the ability to align stakeholders and influence across functions.
- Strategic thinker with a proactive mindset able to identify and act on opportunities before they arise.
- Experience working in a highly matrixed fast-moving global organization.
- Ability to travel as needed and represent Nike at high-level partner engagements.
WHAT YOULL WORK ON
Serve as the lead communications liaison between Nike and its most critical North America NIL and league partnerships while also supporting the Baseball and American Football businesses at times. You will also:
- Build and maintain trusted relationships with communications counterparts across major sports organizations leagues and within our own North America and Global Communications functionensuring close alignment on messaging storytelling opportunities key sport moments and business activity.
- Develop and drive proactive storytelling strategies that highlight the value and impact of Nikes team league and federation partnershipsboth externally and internally.
- Identify and assess riskcollaborating with Legal Business Affairs and partner teams to manage emerging issues and safeguard Nikes reputation.
- Navigate complex communications scenarios including breaking news sensitive topics or geopolitical dynamics with professionalism and precision.
- Provide strategic counsel to internal teamsincluding Sports Marketing Brand and Global Communicationson partnership narratives and media engagement.
- Create messaging frameworks Q&As press materials and executive briefings that articulate Nikes partnership value and long-term vision.
- Collaborate on major sport moments where NIL partners or leagues play a leading roleensuring communication strategies are integrated and aligned.
- Represent Nike at key partner events and moments working directly with partner comms teams executives and media when needed.
- Mentor junior communications professionals and help scale best practices for partnership comms across the function.
We offer a number of accommodations to complete our interview process including screen readers sign language interpreters accessible and single location for in-person interviews closed captioning and other reasonable modifications as needed. If you discover as you navigate our application process that you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability please complete the Candidate Accommodation Request Form.
