Group Director, Partnerships

Business Overview 

Initiative is NIKE Inc.’s agency of record for Global Media, responsible for strategy, integrated media planning, and paid/organic social strategy and activation for Nike’s multi-region integrated brand and product campaigns.

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. *If you have a body, you are an athlete.

Partnering with Nike is an extraordinary opportunity requiring extraordinary talent. The Initiative team is highly diverse, attracting the sharpest emerging and established media experts across all disciplines in the industry. Our vision is to build the best integrated team of athletes*, passionate about sports, youth and culture, to help Nike be the catalyst for innovation and inspiration. We achieve this by driving excellence through captivating brand campaigns and athlete* connection to key offers.

At Initiative, we believe in the power of media to reshape our industry and orchestrate a brand’s entire consumer experience, by balancing both what unites people and what makes them different. When brands unite people in culture, they build Fame, and when brands connect individuals to their unique journeys, they build customer Flow. Our agency celebrates diversity in an inclusive environment where all of our 6,000+ strong talent across 90+ markets feel seen, heard, and valued. Our vision is to create not only a better media company, but also a better media industry, and maybe even a better world.

We make a promise to our people that we double down on seeing, celebrating & elevating all the things that make you, uniquely you. And just as we do for our brands and clients, we connect our people to the journeys that matter in building a meaningful career.

There are four I’s in Initiative and these represent our core values and behaviors.

• INDIVID[YOU]ALITY – you bring your genuine and unique self to and into the work, every day.
• INSTINCT – you’re tuned in and armed with intelligence; you have a bias for action – shit happens when you’re around.
• IMPACT! – you care deeply about the impact you have on our clients, their customers, our community, the media landscape and our world at large.
• IMAGINATION – your ability to imagine and bring to life the ideas, solutions, and the future of Initiative, makes us THE create media agency in the world.

Position Summary

The Group Director, Partnerships will lead the strategy and go-to-market approach for Nike Global media activations. This role will be a trusted go-to resource for marketplace intelligence, investment strategies and negotiation innovation with global media partners The Group Director should be well-versed in the digital + streaming media landscape and passionate about staying on the pulse of sports & culture.

Responsibilities

• Partner with Nike Global Integrated media team to develop and execute a holistic partnership strategy
• Collaborate with media strategy & planning, social, and Nike global integrated media team to Identify and evaluate global media partnership opportunities that align with Nike’s brand and strategic objectives
• Lead POV and guidance on seasonal and long-term partnerships approach
• Partner with Nike to develop & negotiate annual JBPs and value creation endeavors with key partners
• Consistently collaborate with Nike creative and Geo teams from brief development through execution
• Build and maintain relationships with media partners to ensure ongoing collaboration and partnership success
• Regularly meet with potential partners and evaluate opportunities to stay up to date with industry trends and emerging media channels to identify new partnership opportunities
• Identify and present new and emerging partners and opportunities in the marketplace 
• Conduct regular analysis of global partnership performance, providing insights and recommendations for optimization and improvement for future campaigns

Required Skills & Experience

• Proven ability to interpret and analyze data and briefs to inform go-to-market strategies; strong ability to translate data inpu