Principal, North America Media Relations, LA

Responsibilities

• Lead Los Angeles media relations plans for key projects across Sports Culture including but not limited to Sportswear, Training, and Entertainment Media.
• Maintains a deep and diverse network across Los Angeles media, creators, entertainment, sport, sneaker culture, community organizations, tastemakers, and cultural influencers. Leverages existing relationships to identify earned media opportunities to create meaningful connections for the Nike brand.
• Demonstrated ability to influence, align, and drive action across a highly matrixed organization where success depends on collaboration rather than direct authority.
• Develop earned-first communications plans, experiences and activations that create brand relevance and cultural impact.
• Identify Los Angeles stories that can scale nationally and contribute to North America Media Relations priorities.
• Strong project management and organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple complex workstreams simultaneously, anticipate challenges, and ensure flawless execution.
• Deep understanding of the media landscape, with strong instincts for identifying emerging media trends, earned creator talent, and storytelling opportunities and platforms before they reach the mainstream.
• Work cross-functionally with Los Angeles marketing, sports marketing, North America communications team and external partners to deliver integrated storytelling.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications or a related field. Will accept any suitable combination of education, experience and training.
• 8+ years of professional experience in fast-paced, high-profile media relations, communications or public relations roles supporting global brands.
• Extensive media relations experience and a strong, active network of relationships across North American media, storytellers, creators and influential voices in sport, business, culture, lifestyle and consumer media, with a focus on those Los Angeles based.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple complex workstreams simultaneously, prioritize effectively, meet tight deadlines and deliver high-quality work in a fast-moving environment.
• Deep understanding of the evolving media ecosystem, including social, digital, print, podcasts, newsletters, creator platforms and AI-powered discovery.
• Experience using audience insights, data, social listening and cultural intelligence to inform communications strategy and real-time decision-making.
• Proven ability to influence and align senior leaders, peers and cross-functional partners across a complex global and regional matrix.
• Demonstrated ability to initiate and lead ideation, bringing creative, innovative and business-minded communications solutions forward at the concept stage.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to simplify complexity and communicate with clarity, confidence and precision.
• High cultural fluency and curiosity, with a strong understanding of sport, style, footwear, apparel, entertainment and popular culture.