Planning Director Football (Nike Account)

Initiative Nederland | Part of Omnicom Media; Amsterdam; Hybrid; EUR 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

27 days off per year

Hybrid and flexible working

100-day onboarding plan and buddy

Learning & Development support

Free lunch and healthy snacks

Referral bonus

Group sports activities

Summer and End of Year events

Lease bicycle plan

Employee discounts

Job summary

Initiative Nederland, part of Omnicom Media, is seeking a Football Sport Media Lead for Europe to craft Nike’s football media strategy across the region. You will lead a diverse team, directing cross-channel initiatives that connect Nike’s football vision with sport, lifestyle, and culture audiences.

You will ensure campaigns reflect Nike’s values of innovation, inclusivity, and performance, drive measurable impact, and collaborate with Nike stakeholders and agency partners to deliver

Qualifications

• Experience leading multi-market media strategy for world-class brands, ideally within sport, lifestyle, or youth culture, with a strong focus on football.
• Proven track record delivering disruptive media solutions that drive brand and business results in football.
• Strong understanding of the evolving media landscape across digital, social and emerging platforms for football audiences.
• Exceptional leadership and communication skills to inspire teams and build trusted client relationships.
• Analytical mindset with data-driven media planning and campaign optimization experience.
• Operational mindset with ability to move projects from ideation to live deployment.

Responsibilities

• Lead the strategy, planning and flawless execution of Nike’s major football brand moments and high-impact campaigns across Europe.
• Act as the primary point of contact for Nike Football FOP media and campaign leadership.
• Foster a culture of bold thinking, experimentation and innovative approaches in media planning, buying and measurement.
• Orchestrate seamless collaboration across agency partners and Nike stakeholders for cohesive campaigns.
• Define and communicate a clear football media vision aligned with Nike’s brand values and business objectives.
• Recruit, develop and inspire a high-performing team, promoting inclusion and high energy.
• Stay ahead of emerging football media trends and coordinate with Initiative city teams and calendars.
• Lead delivery at scale, prioritizing initiatives with the greatest impact for Nike Football.
• Bring Omnicom resources to Nike campaigns for best-in-class talent and technology.

Skills

Multi-market media strategy

Leadership & communication

Analytical mindset

Operations & delivery

Adaptability

Nike values & diversity

Strategic media planning

In-market planning

Cross-functional collaboration

Measurement & analytics

Job description

Initiative is a proud member of Omnicom Media. We are a global media agency dedicated to driving growth for our clients through innovative strategies and data-driven insights. By working in close collaboration with our affiliate companies – Kinesso and Yune – we create exceptional, tailored marketing campaigns that connect brands with their audiences in meaningful ways.

Role Overview

As Nike’s Football Sport Media Lead for EMEA, you will be the architect of Nike’s football media strategy across Europe, driving innovation, operational excellence, and cultural resonance in every campaign. You’ll lead a diverse, high-performing team, managing cross-channel media initiatives that bring Nike’s football vision to life-across Sport, Lifestyle, and Culture. As a key member of the Nike team, you will live Nike’s mission: to bring inspiration and innovation to every athlete* in the world, with a relentless focus on football.

You are accountable for the quality, impact, and creativity of all football-related media work across channels and cities. Every campaign you lead must reflect Nike’s values of innovation, inclusivity, and performance, push boundaries and setting new standards for what’s possible in football and culture through media.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead Big Brand Football Moments: Own the strategy, planning, and flawless execution of Nike’s major football brand moments and high-impact campaigns across Europe. Ensure every initiative is innovative, athlete-centric, and sets new creative benchmarks for the sport.
• Stakeholder Management: Act as the primary point of contact for Nike Football FOP media and campaign leadership
• Drive Media Innovation: Foster a culture of bold thinking and experimentation, constantly seeking new ways to elevate Nike’s football media presence and connect with athletes everywhere. Champion innovative approaches in media planning, buying, and measurement for football.
• Cross-Agency Collaboration: Lead seamless collaboration across all agency partners, ensuring integrated campaign delivery, unified communication, and shared goals. Build strong relationships with Nike stakeholders, agencies, and Nike Cities to deliver cohesive, impactful football work.
• Strategic Campaign Leadership: Define and communicate a clear, purpose-driven football media vision aligned with Nike’s brand values. Ensure all campaigns are insight-led and support Nike’s business and brand objectives in football.
• Talent Development: Recruit, develop, and inspire a high-performing team, empowering individuals to challenge convention, take creative risks, and deliver breakthrough football media work. Foster a positive, inclusive, and high-energy environment.
• Trendspotting: Stay ahead of emerging media trends within football. Proactively manage with the support of Initiative city teams football calendars across the region. Building a listening culture within football crowds to benefit Nike above and beyond media.
• Operational Excellence: Lead the team to deliver at scale, enabling consistent improvements in quality, process, and outcomes. Ruthlessly prioritize initiatives that deliver the greatest impact for Nike Football and its consumers.
• Best of Omnicom: Bring Nike the best of Omnicom talent, media, and tech access, ensuring football campaigns benefit from world-class resources.

What You Bring

• Proven experience leading multi-market media strategy for world-class brands, ideally within sport, lifestyle, or youth culture, with a strong focus on football.
• A deep passion for innovation, with a track record of delivering disruptive media solutions that drive brand and business results in football.
• Strong understanding of the evolving media landscape, including digital, social, and emerging platforms relevant to football audiences.
• Exceptional leadership and communication skills, with the ability to inspire teams and build trusted relationships with clients and partners.
• Analytical mindset with experience in data-driven media planning and campaign optimization.
• Operational mindset and action orientation, with a demonstrated ability to take projects from ideation to live, simplifying the route to deployment.
• Adaptability and resilience, thriving in a fast-paced environment and quickly engaging teams toward new priorities.
• Commitment to Nike’s values: innovation, diversity, sustainability, and the belief in the power of sport—especially football—to move the world forward.
• Strategic media planning experience: Ability to understand and drive a POV on the role media plays across the entire marketing ecosystem, as well as how each individual channel plays a role in driving business outcomes.
• In market planning experience: Proven in market planning experience, preferably in one of the EMEA 5 markets. You have the ability to bring local nuance and perspective to the EMEA team.
• Cross-functional marketing: Experience managing multiple stakeholders and complex marketing orgs across Brand, PR, Creative and Media.
• Measurement mindset: You understand the value of brand and creative measurement to drive impactful business discussions.

Location & Travel:

Based in Amsterdam 3 days a week in the office shared between Nike Campus and Omnicom Offices

• 27 days off per year, including 26 vacation days and 1 “Celebrate You” day (based on a 40-hour workweek)
• Hybrid and flexible working options to support a healthy work-life balance—and even work from abroad for up to 14 days per year
• Comprehensive growth support, smooth onboarding with a 100-day plan and personal buddy, plus ongoing development through a strong Learning & Development team
• An inspiring environment where you’ll work with leading A-brands, collaborate with experienced international colleagues, and have the freedom and trust to take initiative and shape your role
• Healthy catering in the office, free lunch once a week, plus a variety of healthy snacks always available
• Referral Bonus – bring someone you know to Omnicom Media and enjoy a generous referral reward in return.
• A variety of group sports activities, from marathons and cycling events to walking races and internal company tournaments.
• Fun social events, including a Summer and End of Year party, pub quizzes, team outings, and themed events like Diversity Day celebration and Partners Festival
• Lease bicycle plan and travel reimbursement to support your commute and sustainable mobility
• Exclusive employee discounts: enjoy great deals on fashion, electronics, and leisure activities all year round