About Us

Initiative unlocks business growth for the world’s most ambitious brands. 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.

Media responsibility is at the forefront of everything we do, whether it’s creating media plans that reflect the diversity of our communities, promote brand safety, and foster sustainability.

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.

Role Description

Nike is evolving and seeking a senior agency leader to partner with a newly defined function called Channel Strategy & Partnership. This role is pivotal in defining and ensuring adherence to Nike’s long-term channel strategies in alignment with overarching Nike Consumer Marketing x Marketplace objectives.

We are looking for a strategic and experienced Group Director/Director with extensive expertise in digital marketing across all digital channels and platforms to join our dynamic team. This role requires a strategic thinker capable of driving cutting-edge channel strategies and innovation with critical media partners while ensuring the implementation of foundational best practices.

The Channels Strategy & Partnership Lead will work closely with Nike to define channel strategies and be accountable for Initiative’s and Nike’s adherence to these strategies, ensuring best practices across all of Nike’s Consumer Marketing and Marketplace objectives.

In this role, the Initiative Channel Strategy & Partnership Lead will manage a core team of senior channel thought leaders. And the leader will work and collaborate seamlessly with the Integrated Media planners and channels specialst across Initiative accountable for strategically planning planning and executing Nike’s Consumer Marketing and Marketplace media activities.

Key Responsibilities

Channel and platform strategies and best practice:

• Develop and implement long-term media channel and platform strategies in line with Nike marketing priorities.

• Ensure channel best practices are Nike-aligned and consistently adhered to.
  

Innovation, test & learn and Execution:

• Set and drive the innovation agenda with strategic partners, balancing short and long-term objectives.

• Define and orchestrate the ongoing test and learn agenda (creative, new tacticts, capabilities, platforms)

• Support Nike in manage overall relationships with media partners.

• Support Nike in negotiatiating and overseeing Joint Business Plans (JBP) with partners in alignment with EMEA priorities.
  
  

Performance Oversight:

• Ensure Initiative deliver in line with agreements and orchestrate regular reviews of campaign adherece.

• Help position Nike as an industry leader within the media landscape.

• Collaborate closely with GEO Capabilities & Experimentation teams to vet and test best practices and innovations before broader roll-out.
  

Insights and Education:

• Bring relevant external media insights into the Nike organization to inform strategy and execution.

• Support the overall education of channel best practices and media excellence across Integrated Marketing (IM), Marketing, and key business partners.
  
  

Desired Skills & Experience

• Significant work experience in media or digital marketing agency or equivalent brand-side roles.

• Extensive expertise in media planning/strategy across multiple digital channels and platform

• Ability to manage a diverse set of stakeholders across client’s business, IPGMB internally as well as for Nike all relevant external partners

• Comfort in using data and analytics outputs as sources for developing strategic narratives and recommendations.

• Proven ability to develop and maintain strong professional relationships with clients, colleagues and external agency/media partners.

• Ability to drive projects from conception to completion.

• Strong leader, storyteller and presenter

• A growth and incrementality mindset who thrives in a high paced environment. An influencer and an innovator, an inspirational role model internally and externally.