Senior Principal, North America Media Relations, NYC

The role leads media relations strategies for Nike’s North America priorities, turning business, brand, product, athlete and sport objectives into clear narratives and compelling stories. It sits within Nike’s Global Communications function and works closely with communications peers across consumer, product, brand, corporate and employee communications, as well as integrated, brand and sports marketing teams. The position partners with global and geography communications teams, senior leaders, athletes, designers, collaborators and external agency partners.

As a key member of the North America media relations team, it helps connect strategy and execution across the matrix and represent the needs, insights and opportunities of the North American media landscape.

• Lead media relations strategies for Nike’s North America priorities, turning business, brand, product, athlete and sport objectives into clear narratives and compelling stories.
• Work across written, oral, visual, digital and experiential communications to ensure each priority begins with an audience insight and a strong narrative, not simply a launch plan.
• Build relationship-powered influence and develop influence maps, cultivating both established and emerging voices.
• Create differentiated engagement strategies and design access and experiences that deepen understanding, generate advocacy and sustain conversation over time.
• Operate across multiple work streams at pace, balancing proactive priorities with timely cultural, media and reputation opportunities.
• Contribute at every stage of planning, from insight and narrative development through execution and measurement.
• Provide senior-level counsel, prepare and staff spokespeople, manage agency partners and help the broader communications team move with clarity, consistency and impact.
• Champion North America’s media relations strategy and use insights, social listening and on-the-ground intelligence to shape conversations, identify emerging opportunities and connect Nike’s priorities to the people and communities influencing sport and culture.

• Bachelor’s degree in Media Relations, Communications, Business or a related field; any suitable combination of education, experience and training will be accepted.
• 10+ years of professional experience in fast-paced, high-profile media relations, corporate communications or public relations roles supporting global brands.
• Extensive media relations experience and a strong, active network of relationships across North American media, storytellers, creators and influential voices in sport, business, culture, lifestyle and consumer media, including traditional media, new media and creators.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple complex work streams simultaneously, prioritise effectively, meet tight deadlines and deliver high-quality work in a fast-moving environment.
• Proven experience developing narrative-first, audience-right media strategies that translate business and brand priorities into relevant stories, experiences and sustained conversation, with the ability to shape breakthrough storytelling that strengthens leadership in sport and culture
• Reaches new audiences and builds lasting influence.
• Strong editorial judgment and a track record of identifying timely opportunities, shaping compelling pitches and securing meaningful earned coverage and advocacy, with the ability to uncover stories, build compelling worlds around them and sustain momentum beyond a single announcement or launch.
• Deep understanding of the evolving media ecosystem, including social, digital, print, broadcast, podcasts, newsletters, creator platforms and AI-powered discovery.
• Experience using audience insights,…