Senior Principal, Government

This job is with Nike, an inclusive employer and a member of myGwork – the largest global platform for the LGBTQ+ business community. Please do not contact the recruiter directly.

Become a Part of the NIKE, Inc. Team

NIKE, Inc. does more than outfit the world's best athletes. It is a place to explore potential, obliterate boundaries and push out the edges of what can be. The company looks for people who can grow, think, dream and create. Its culture thrives by embracing diversity and rewarding imagination. The brand seeks achievers, leaders and visionaries. At NIKE, Inc. it's about each person bringing skills and passion to a challenging and constantly evolving game.

The NIKE, Inc. Government and Public Affairs (GPA) function is responsible for inspiring and driving public policy globally to power and protect Nike Inc.'s competitive advantages. The team ensures an integrated approach to engaging with government officials, international and local stakeholders, and industry partners to leverage the power of sport to accelerate business growth through the powerful intersection of business and public policy.

Nike, Inc. does more than outfit the world's best athletes. It is a place to explore potential, obliterate boundaries and push out the edges of what can be. The company looks for people who can grow, think, dream and create. Its culture thrives by embracing diversity and rewarding imagination. The brand seeks achievers, leaders and visionaries. At NIKE, Inc. it's about each person bringing skills and passion to a challenging and constantly evolving game.

The power of sport is at the heart of Nike's DNA - with our mission to bring inspiration and innovation to every athlete* in the world. The Government and Public Affairs (GPA) team fulfills this mission by inspiring and driving public policy to unlock Nike's potential. The GPA team seeks to accelerate business growth, enable our business and brands to operate effectively in almost all countries in the world.

At Nike, our Maxims represent our core values and beliefs and feature our fundamental behaviors that apply to all employees - no matter the role, location, or level. Serving athletes*, creating the future of sport, being on the offense always, doing the right things and winning as a team are all part of Nike's Maxims, while seeking to always do better, being constantly curious, bringing ideas of your own, and building on the great ideas of others are all behaviors underpinning those Maxims.

*This position will be based at Nike's Corporate Offices In London

*Application Deadline: Thursday 14 November 2024

Who You'll Work With

We are looking for an experienced and dynamic Government & Public Affairs (GPA) Director, focusing on supporting the business and enabling the brand in the United Kingdom (UK), and adjacent jurisdictions as necessary, by advocating on Nike's policy priorities and building relationships with key stakeholders. This role is essential for the achievement of Nike's business ambitions and to its next level of growth and the local, EMEA, and international levels.

Based in London, you will be a critical member of the Nike GPA EMEA team, reporting to the Vice President of GPA EMEA (based in Brussels). You will coordinate closely with, amongst others, the Nike UK leadership, Marketplace/Retail, Logistics/Supply Chain, Legal, Operations, and Communications teams at our European HQ in the Netherlands and our World HQ in Oregon, U.S.

At Nike, being a self-starter, playing fair, acting like an owner by making the best decisions, putting the team's success ahead of your own, building trust across your network, and fearlessly sharing your thoughts are key behaviors.

Who We Are Looking For

A successful candidate will be expected to clearly demonstrate and articulate experience of the below essential requirements in order to be considered. Candidates that meet these criteria will then be assessed based on the competencies also outlined below.

Essential requirements:

• 5-10 years of professional experience from a similar role in the private sector/multinational experience and government experience - most of it in the UK.

• Experience from working within the UK government, a UK government body or a political party.

• B.Sc. or B.A. degree required.

• Demonstrated ability to translate business priorities to policy priorities, and to translate business language into policy language, and vice versa;

• Deep understanding of the political system and how to advocate within it (balancing politics and policy).

• Demonstrated ability to effectively communicate internally and externally and influencing skills;

• Demonstrated track record of influencing legislation as well as legislative and policy agendas, and leveraging government relationships to deliver identified policy outcomes;

• Capacity to think strategically, and to prioritize relentlessly to focus on the legislative and regulatory items that will have the greatest impact to Nike's business;

• Capacity to understand both the details and the strategic, global picture, and the intersections between key policy areas such as trade, customs, sustainability, tax, intellectual property, digital and competition.

• Ability to represent the company publicly in a variety of professional settings;

• Excellent ethics and integrity record;

• Excellent ability to work as a team player with teams across different functions, cultures, and geographies;

• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English;

• Demonstrated flexibility and willingness to respond to unanticipated business needs;

• Domestic and international travel required;

Preferred Experience:

• Experience from working within the UK Government, a government body or a political party.

• Knowledge and experience in the areas of trade and customs policy, including logistics and distribution, marketplace/retail and supply chain.

• Knowledge and experience in dealing with external support, including outside counsel and consultancy firms.

• Knowledge and experience working with local authorities, especially in the area of planning permissions.

• Capacity to synthesize large amounts of complex information into straightforward, concise briefs.

• Experience with PowerPoint and building and delivering presentations highly desired.

• Fluency in at least one additional language.

• Passion for sports preferred.

What You'll Work On

As the UK GPA Director, your mission will be to develop, lead and execute business-relevant government engagement and advocacy strategies in the UK, at both a national and local level. As necessary, this outreach may include other jurisdictions as well:

• Develop and execute a proactive strategy to drive Nike's GPA priorities in support of Nike's growth aspirations through direct advocacy with government officials and other outreach;

• Develop alliances with similarly situated companies and brands (UK, European and multinational) and leadership of industry and trade associations to help advance Nike's policy goals and influence the policy environment;

• Monitor and track relevant legislative and regulatory developments in the following policy areas: trade, customs, retail/consumer goods, sustainability, tax, intellectual property, digital and competition. Provide continued intelligence and advice to the business on the impact of those developments;

• Support Nike UK's business priorities and strategic initiatives in both retail and logistics;

• Continuously develop and maintain a network of relationships with decision makers at various levels of government as well as their influencers (including NGOs, coalitions, industry associations, think tanks). This includes building positive relationships with local, regional and national authorities and other relevant entities, such as the diplomatic corps.

*If you have a body, you are an athlete.

NIKE, Inc. is a growth company that looks for team members to grow with it. Nike offers a generous total rewards package, casual work environment, a diverse and inclusive culture, and an electric atmosphere for professional development. No matter the location, or the role, every Nike employee shares one galvanizing mission: To bring inspiration and innovation to every athlete* in the world.

NIKE, Inc. is committed to employing a diverse workforce. Qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran status, or disability.