Become a Part of the NIKE, Inc. Team
NIKE, Inc. does more than outfit the world’s best athletes. It’s a place where passionate individuals come together to create the future of sport. We are unapologetic about who we are and what we’re after—bringing innovation and inspiration to every athlete* in the world. We look for athletes who can push boundaries, elevate our potential and continue leading us to greatness. The next tastemakers, playmakers, risk takers and glue players. Are you game?
WHO YOU’LL WORK WITH
The College Sports Marketing team shapes Nike’s relationships with the most influential athletes, programs, and institutions in collegiate sports. This role reports to the Director, College Sports Marketing, partners closely with Sports Marketing leadership and cross-functional teams, and leads strategic relationships with collegiate athletes, representatives, and athletic departments nationwide.
WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR
Nike is looking for a proven sports marketing leader who can identify what’s next before the rest of the industry sees it. This person brings deep expertise in collegiate athletics, Name, Image and Likeness (NIL), athlete representation, and partnership development. They understand the evolving college sports landscape and have a strong command of Nike Sports Marketing strategies, processes, and relationship management practices. Equally comfortable influencing internal stakeholders and negotiating at the highest levels externally, they are skilled at building trust, creating long-term value, and translating market insights into impactful partnership strategies. This leader will help shape the future of Nike’s college athlete portfolio, driving decisions that strengthen the brand’s connection to the next generation of elite talent.
- 10+ years of experience in Sports Marketing, athlete marketing, partnership management, contract negotiation, or a related field
- Bachelor’s degree in Business, Sports Management, Marketing, Communications or related field. Will accept any suitable combination of education, experience and training
- Deep understanding of collegiate athletics, Name, Image and Likeness (NIL), athlete representation, and sports marketing contract negotiations
- Demonstrated experience leading complex negotiations with athletes, agents, representatives, athletic departments, or institutional partners
- Strong leadership, relationship management, strategic planning, and cross-functional collaboration skills
WHAT YOU’LL WORK ON
You will help define Nike’s collegiate athlete partnership strategy and identify the next generation of athletes who will shape the future of sport. Working across Sports Marketing and key business functions, you’ll lead negotiations, build influential relationships, and drive strategic partnerships that strengthen Nike’s position across college athletics.
- Partner across Sports Marketing, Brand Marketing, Legal, Finance, and other cross-functional teams to identify, evaluate, and prioritize emerging collegiate athlete talent for strategic investment
- Lead recruitment, negotiation, and contracting efforts with elite college athletes and their representatives for Nike Blue Ribbon Elite and other Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) partnership opportunities
- Develop and execute long-term talent acquisition strategies that align with Nike Sports Marketing objectives and athlete portfolio needs
- Serve as a trusted advisor to Sports Marketing leadership, helping shape strategy, evaluate opportunities, and guide investment decisions across the collegiate landscape
- Build and manage high-impact relationships with athletes, agents, representatives, conference stakeholders, and athletic department leaders across the country
- Lead negotiations and relationship management efforts for all-school Nike partnerships, working directly with Athletic Directors and university decision-makers
- Provide marketplace intelligence and insights on emerging trends, competitive activity, and the evolving collegiate athletics and Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) ecosystem to inform business strategy and decision-making
- Travel 10-25%
We offer a number of accommodations to complete our interview process including screen readers, sign language interpreters, accessible and single location for in-person interviews, closed captioning, and other reasonable modifications as needed. If you discover, as you navigate our application process, that you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please complete the Candidate Accommodation Request Form.
OUR HIRING GAME PLAN
01 Apply
Our teams are made up of diverse skillsets, knowledge bases, inputs, ideas and backgrounds. We want you to find your fit – review job descriptions, departments and teams to discover the role for you.
02 Meet a Recruiter or Take an Assessment
If selected for a corporate role, a recruiter will reach out to start your interview process and be your main contact throughout the process. For retail roles, you’ll complete an interactive assessment that includes a chat and quizzes and takes about 10-20 minutes to complete. No matter the role, we want to learn about you – the whole you – so don’t shy away from how you approach world-class service and what makes you unique.
03 Interview
Go into this stage confident by doing your research, understanding what we are looking for and being prepared for questions that are set up to learn more about you, and your background.
