Principal, College Sports Marketing, College & NIL Relationships

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.