Programmatic Associate Director Nike

About Nike

NIKE Inc. is the world's leading designer, marketer, NIKE Inc. is the world's leading designer, marketer, and distributor of authentic athletic footwear, apparel, equipment, and accessories.

Founded by Bill Bowerman and Phil Knight in 1972, Nike has grown over the last 50 years into one of the most valuable, most loved and most emulated brands in the world, singular in its ability to create cultural conversation within the world of sports and fashion and far beyond.

Nike's mission is to bring inspiration and innovation to every athlete* in the world; a mission expressed every day through product design, digital and physical retail consumer experiences, and brand communications. Kinesso partners with Initiative to create best in class solutions for Nike. Initiative is Nike's and Jordan brands media agency of record for EMEA, responsible for strategy, integrated media planning and activation, measurement, and data & technology services across 34 countries.

Partnering with Nike is an extraordinary opportunity requiring extraordinary talent. Our vision is to build the best integrated team connecting brand and performance to deliver best in class outcomes. The Nike Initiative EMEA team will be a highly diverse team, attracting the sharpest emerging and established media experts across all disciplines in the industry. With the chance to grow and do great work people all over the region will see, admire, and respond to.

 

Role Overview 

The Programmatic Associate Director – Sports is responsible for defining, driving, and delivering bestinclass programmatic strategy and execution for Nike Sports. This highly clientfacing role requires a strategic thinker who can integrate programmatic activity into broader media plans, translating complex digital environments into clear, actionable strategies that support Nike’s business goals. 

You will lead a dedicated programmatic activation team and act as a trusted programmatic expert for Nike stakeholders. 

Key Responsibilities 

Campaign Strategy & Execution 

• Develop and deliver bestinclass programmatic campaign strategies across all Nike Sports activity. 

• Define clear optimization paths across all programmatic levers (inventory, audiences, bids, etc.) with fullfunnel impact in mind. 

• Establish inventory and asset priorities to support campaign objectives. 

• Build and evolve testing frameworks with Campaign Managers to drive consistent, marketleading performance. 

• Own the insights and reporting narrative for all Sports campaigns, ensuring learnings are captured, shared, and applied across sports categories. 

• Translate complex performance drivers into clear, compelling narratives and decisive recommendations. 

Reporting & Insights 

• Prepare and present actionable insights and comprehensive performance reports. 

• Continuously refine strategies based on data, ensuring campaigns deliver bestinclass outcomes. 

• Communicate campaign stories effectively to internal and external stakeholders. 

Client & Stakeholder Management 

• Serve as a key point of contact for Nike clients on programmatic execution and performance. 

• Support the Programmatic Lead in communicating campaign narratives, results, and strategic recommendations. 

• Influence stakeholders through clear, datadriven storytelling. 

Team Leadership & Development 

• Lead, mentor, and inspire a team of Campaign Managers. 

• Drive programmatic knowledge growth and learning across the team. 

• Contribute to the education and upskilling of programmatic teams, Initiative teams, and Nike IM teams. 

• Mentor junior specialists and foster a collaborative, highperformance culture.