Japan - Sports Marketing Director

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.

NIKE, Inc. exists to innovate for athletes. Nike Sports Marketing professionals provide the vital linkage between the company and Nike-sponsored athletes, clubs and federations worldwide. Sports Marketing employees partner with premier athletes to collect insights about existing and future products, gather inspirational stories about sport and nurture long-term relationships between the athletes and the company. The team develops and executes sports marketing strategies, obtains endorsements and licensing agreements and serves as Nike ambassadors to the sports community worldwide. Their relationships build the foundation of Nike’s product creation: Nike creates exceptional products because its employees listen to exceptional athletes.

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR
As part of the Asia Pacific Latin America (APLA) Sports Marketing Leadership Team, the Japan Sports Marketing Director will drive the overall Sports Marketing strategic plan for Nike’s portfolio in Japan in partnership with APLA Sports Marketing and cross-functional business leaders in Japan. The Japan Sports Marketing Director will monitor ongoing marketing processes and business results, tailoring strategic shifts based on consumer behavior, interests and marketplace needs across Japan. Additionally, you’ll leverage sports marketing teams and athletes relationships to drive growth, maximizing and modernizing our contractual rights. The candidate needs to have a people-first mindset, critical thinking and problem solving skills with an ability to lead and operate in a complex environment, while driving clarity for their team and cross-functional partners.

WHAT YOU WILL WORK ON
You will lead a team with direct reports based in Tokyo, Japan.
Your strategy will inform all invest/divest decisions with the Japan Sports Marketing Portfolio to ensure evolution of Nike Sports Marketing portfolio with the correct level of investment across focused dimensions.
You’ll partner closely with cross-functional brand and business partners, including the territory General Manager, to ensure that Nike gets maximum value from our athlete and team relationships.

You will create and execute tiered athlete journey plans for our contracted athlete partners that aligns with brand management, catalyst marketing, product, comms and any other key stakeholders identified.

You will align our athletes against Nike’s Purpose Offense, specifically around sustainability, community, diversity and equality.

You will manage a territory budget with accountability around accurate forecasting and communication.

You will build and maintain key partnerships across NIKE’s business functions, as well as with key influencers within the region, including athletes, agents, coaches, federations and governing bodies.

WHO YOU WILL WORK WITH
You will report to the VP of APLA Sports Marketing and work closely with other members of the APLA Sports Marketing Leadership Team, including the Men’s/Women’s leads in service of Nike’s gender offense. Additionally, you’ll partner closely with other Japan territory leaders to ensure Sports Marketing efforts are in service of brand and business objectives.

WHAT YOU BRING
•8+ years of experience in Sports Marketing, Brand Marketing or closely related field
•Portfolio management and critical thinking across multiple sport dimensions
•Partnership management; ability to develop and leverage internal and external partnerships
•Proven ability to lead, develop and engage high-performing teams
•Proven ability to embrace ambiguity and change, helping the team adapt for the future
•Business and financial acumen to create strategies and drive financial plans. Drive financial plans using analytics and Key Performance Indicators to understand return on investments
•Conduct high level, complex negotiations aligned to APLA’s long term vision & strategy
•Enterprise thinking and end to end business knowledge
•Facilitate our athletes’ connection to the product creation process to help drive innovation, performance and style for both on and off the field of play

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.