Lead, Partner Marketing Authenticators - Canada

Lead, Partner Marketing, Authenticators - Canada

As a Lead, Partner Marketing, Authenticators - Canada, you bring Nike, Inc. brands (Nike, Jordan) to life with, and through, key retail partners (Running Specialty Group (RSG), NSW Specialty (NBHD), Soccer Specialty), with select projects stretching into Nike-owned & other partner doors. You translate brand intent into partner-specific opportunities and marketplace impact. This role activates deeply local, culturally connected moments that resonate with communities—blending account expertise with brand vision to drive integrated plans, strengthen account relationships, and execute activations that build brand love and cultural relevance across the marketplace.

Working within a team of world class Canada & North America marketing teammates, you'll develop strategies and campaigns that build and enhance Nike's relationship with consumers. A typical day will include equal parts internal and external conversations, collaborating with:

• Your Partner Account Portfolio of: Running Specialty Group (RSG), NSW Specialty Accounts (NBHD), and Soccer Specialty Stores
• Partner Marketing Teams (i.e. teammates driving accountabilities tied to Nike Store Partners, Sport Chek, Foot Locker, JD Sports, NBHD etc…)
• Brand Planning and Operations, Brand Creative & Brand Marketing Cross Functional Leaders (i.e. members of Canada LT and NAIRM LT)
• Integrated Media, Creators & Influencers
• Digital Marketing, Sports Marketing, Sport Community Impact, EKINs Catalyst & Entertainment Marketing
• Agency & Production partners
• Athletes, Federations, & Sport Communities
• Sales, Planning, Product & Merchandising

The Lead, Partner Marketing, Authenticators - Canada is a Digital first, and Retail Brand Marketing leader with a deep understanding of the consumer, their lifestyle, and their relationships with Sport. They will lead marketing efforts across a broad portfolio of accounts to deliver on brand and business objectives. They will connect athletes with the innovation, experiences and sport activity that position Nike as an industry leading sport and lifestyle brand. The ideal candidate is a proven leader, curious and eager to innovate, learn and evolve. They value the importance of data and consumer insights and appreciate the creative process. They understand marketing technology, the role of online to offline (O2O), direct-to-consumer channels. They are a thought leader, a digital evangelist and a consumer advocate. They are self-aware, and model giving and receiving feedback as a gift.

The ideal candidate is someone who:

• Lives close to culture and brings a deep understanding of, and authentic connection to, the local market and communities where they work.
• Is passionate about Nike, Inc. brands, sport, and sport culture.
• Thrives in fast-paced, highly matrixed environments.
• Builds rapport naturally and values relationships—sparking conversations that lead to meaningful brand and account impact.
• Enjoys rolling up their sleeves to bring ideas to life on the ground

Qualifications:

• High-school degree (a bachelor's degree is a plus)
• 6+ years of experience in at least one of the following -Brand, Retail or Digital Marketing and/or Visual Merchandising and Styling experience (working at a consumer facing retail is a plus)
• Obsessed with details while can also pull-up to think strategically at the Big Picture
• Marketing analytics, deriving actionable insights and applying learnings
• Strong understanding of cultural and consumer trends
• Proven ability at creating meaningful connections with consumers and brands
• Growth mindset, open to receiving and sharing regular feedback anchored in a commitment to prioritizing personal development
• Passionate about learning new tools and technologies / is an early adopter
• Invested in team and office culture with commitment to put team's goals first
• Excellent communication, storytelling skills; experience crafting strategic recommendations and persuasive presentations to leadership
• Previous project management, or leadership experience in retail
• Highly effective at managing multiple and competing projects and priorities
• Ability to thrive within a fast-paced, high energy, skilled team of marketers
• Proficiency in Digital Marketing, Retail marketing, Visual Merchandising & Styling
• Able to drive a culture of always-on testing and learning, including the rapid application of consumer signals into strategy, planning, and content iteration
• Day-to-day use of: Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint or Keynote (or comparable)
• Benefit (not pre-requisite): SAP, Coupa, contract central, AirTable, A.I. (a bonus)
• Not a requirement, but a bonus: Strong passion and/or expertise for at least one of our key Sport Offenses: Running, Soccer and/or NSW / Lifestyle / Styling.

Key Capabilities:

• Insight-driven consumer mindset
• Cultural and marketplace fluency
• Integrated planning and matrix collaboration
• Innovative and strategic storytelling
• Community and partner engagement
• End-to-end activation mastery

Skills and Competencies:

• A passion for learning new tools and technologies is essential, with a proven track record as an early adopter who actively seeks out innovative solutions.
• Demonstrates investment in team and office culture, with strong commitment to prioritising the goals of the team as a whole.
• Collaboration and a collective mindset are critical to team success.
• Excellent communication and storytelling skills are complemented by experience in crafting strategic recommendations.
• The ability to deliver persuasive presentations to leadership ensures alignment and buy-in from key stakeholders.
• Previous project management or leadership experience within the retail sector provides valuable insights into operational effectiveness and team dynamics.
• The capacity to manage multiple and competing projects / priorities is necessary, enabling efficient handling of complex workloads and shifting deadlines.
• An ability to thrive in a fast-paced, high-energy environment is evident, particularly when working with a skilled team of marketers.
• Adaptability and resilience are central to maintaining performance under pressure.
• There is proficiency across Digital Marketing, Retail Marketing, Visual Merchandising, and Styling.
• These skills contribute to the creation of compelling consumer experiences and effective brand representation.
• A focus on driving a culture of continuous testing and learning is maintained, with rapid application of consumer signals to inform strategy, planning, and content iteration.
• Day-to-day utilisation of tools such as Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, or Keynote (or comparable platforms) is expected, supporting productivity and communication.
• Additional beneficial skills include familiarity with SAP, Coupa, Contract Central, AirTable, and A.I. technologies, although these are not prerequisites.
• Experience with these tools is considered an advantage.
• Not a requirement, but a bonus: Strong passion and/or expertise for at least one of our key Sport Offenses: Running, Basketball, Soccer and Training and/or NSW.

In this role you will be responsible for creating and executing an annual marketing plan. You will work amongst a team of marketers focused on building and growing the territory's direct & partner marketing ecosystem, transforming Nike into the most connected, athlete focused, digital and retail Brand in Canada (and across the world). You will bring best-in-class brand and commerce experiences to life for the consumer, working as part of an integrated O2O Marketing team.

More specifically, you will play a critical role in shaping Nike Inc.'s presence across our Authenticators partner ecosystem, from Physical Retail (Brick & Mortar), to Partner .COMs, spanning Running Specialty Group (RSG), NSW Specialty (NBHD), Soccer Specialty. Based on market needs you will occasionally stretch to support teammates across -Nike Store Partners, Sport Chek, JD Sports, Foot Locker), Apps and Social Ecosystems. You will connect the emotion of the Nike Inc. brand to athletes through innovative retail and digital strategies to drive demand, engagement, retention/acquisition, and brand affinity.

You will bring a best-in-class brand and commerce experiences to life for the consumer, and your responsibilities can be bucketed in these areas of focus:

• Leadership: Manage, lead and execute a growing, portfolio across all Retail & Digital platforms. Create integration and connectivity between teams to build elevated consumer journeys and O2O consumer experience. Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and innovative team culture
• Strategy: As part of Corporate Strategy Review (CSR), on an