Principal, Global Football Communications

Principal, Communications, Nike Football

Nike Global Brand Communications – Beaverton, OR

Nike Global Communications delivers breakthrough stories of sport and innovation where consumers are—across the right channels and conversations. We craft authentic, innovative narratives that inspire action, spark engagement, and amplify the message of our relentless pursuit to create the best for the athlete, worldwide. This role reports into the Senior Director Communications, Nike Football and Kids.

We are looking for a Principal of Football Communications to join the Global Nike Brand Communications team. This person will proactively develop and orchestrate strategic communications plans and ongoing storytelling in service of Nike Football’s global innovations, products, and athletes across key business priorities. They will develop a long‑term strategy and narrative to proactively reach consumers and fans and shape a positive brand reputation for Nike Football.

This position will engage directly with cross‑functional teammates across global and geo communications, business, brand management, sports marketing, league and federation partners and internal stakeholders.

The right candidate has extensive experience driving communications strategy in the global football industry and understands the evolving landscape of audiences, media, and communities. They are highly collaborative, exhibit high‑level critical thinking, and can manage multiple and competing priorities in a fast‑paced environment. The ability to access and apply knowledge of consumer and media insights, trends, and intelligence related to football is paramount.

This person will be an outstanding communications professional with a demonstrated track record of success, preferably working for a large consumer brand, sports organization, teams and/or communications agency with a focus on global football. Key competencies of the role include:

• Excellent written and verbal communications skills, with the ability to craft compelling narratives, messaging, and distribution strategies around Nike Football initiatives

• Ability to pre‑empt global football trends, news, and stories, and be agile working in a fast‑paced, team‑focused environment

• Strong awareness of the network of key opinion leaders that shape the pulse of football in media and social media, content, experiences, gaming, etc.

• Experience working with top global football athletes, teams, and leagues to develop and execute communications strategies

• Strong understanding of the global football industry against the backdrop of new media, including consumer and digital trends, challenges, and opportunities

You will be building and driving communications strategies and storytelling that builds energy, connection, and signalling for Nike as the leading brand in global football:

• Own the global communications strategy for Nike Football, defining message hierarchy and seasonal story architecture.

• Create and govern content line plans and story maps that connect product pipelines, athlete/club/fed moments, and cultural insights across channels and markets.

• Craft compelling narratives and messaging frameworks for global initiatives, ensuring consistency.

• Develop and execute storytelling strategies across earned media, creators, speaking engagements to maximize reach and impact.

• Lead stakeholder alignment across product, brand, sports marketing, retail, and geographies to deliver cohesive communications plans.

• Design and oversee global event strategies, including product launches and athlete activations, ensuring long‑term and short‑term strategic objectives are met.

• Identify and mitigate project risks, partnering with senior leadership to develop proactive solutions.

• Build and maintain multi‑season project plans, calendar, and status updates.

• Manage budgets and allocate resources to deliver high‑impact storytelling and activations.

• Pre‑empt global football trends, news cycles, and cultural moments; activate agile response protocols to maintain relevance.

• Develop strategic actions to engage key opinion leaders, creators, and gaming communities shaping…