Principle Product Line Manager

Nike; United States; On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Nike Global Product Licensing seeks a strategic Product Licensing Manager to lead cross‑functional alignment across product creation, merchandising, design, legal, and licensees. You will drive enterprise‑level direction, governance, and partner relationships to deliver brand‑right, scalable, licensed products.

We value executive communication, stakeholder influence, and the ability to navigate a fast‑moving, matrixed environment while maintaining brand standards and consumer focus.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in business, product management, or related field.
• 8+ years of experience in product licensing or appropiate field.
• Proven ability to lead cross‑functional teams and external partnerships.

Responsibilities

• Own and set product strategy direction for licensee partners at an enterprise level.
• Provide governance across product creation, briefing, line planning, and gate processes.
• Lead alignment across senior stakeholders and licensee leadership on targets and distribution.
• Drive operating excellence and scalable processes for GPL and partners.

Skills

Product licensing

Cross-functional leadership

Strategic thinking

Executive communication

Ambiguity management

Relationship building

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor's degree in business or related field

Job description

WHO YOU’LL WORK WITH

Nike Global Product Licensing is a fast-growing, entrepreneurial team responsible for shaping and executing Nike’s long-term trademark licensing strategy across footwear, apparel, equipment, and accessories. We work closely with internal partners and external licensees to deliver brand-right, innovative products to consumers worldwide.

You will lead and drive alignment across Product, Design, Merchandising, Brand, Legal, Finance, and Geo/Territory teams, along with our external licensees, to accelerate strategic growth and deliver best‑in‑class licensed product.

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

We’re seeking a strategic, consumer-obsessed Product Licensing Manager skilled in product creation leadership, cross-functional alignment, and managing complex external partnerships. You bring strong product and process knowledge, uphold brand standards, and thrive in a fast-moving, matrixed environment.

• Bachelor's degree in business management, product management, merchandising, or related field. Will accept any suitable combination of education, experience and training.

• 8+ years of relevant experience

• Deep expertise in product creation, merchandising, franchise management, and consumer insights, applied to set strategic direction and drive enterprise‑level growth.
• Proven ability to lead, influence, and align cross‑functional leadership teams, driving outcomes through vision, clarity, and accountability rather than direct authority.
• Executive‑level communication skills, with the ability to clearly articulate strategy, synthesize complexity, and influence decision‑making through written, verbal, and presentation forums.
• Demonstrated success navigating ambiguity and complexity, managing competing priorities and leading effectively within a highly matrixed, global organization.
• Strong strategic rigor and operational discipline, paired with exceptional organizational skills and the ability to influence outcomes at scale.
• Track record of building trusted relationships and driving alignment across diverse teams, functions, and senior stakeholders to accelerate execution.
• Highly developed product vision and style sensibility, ensuring brand‑right, consumer‑relevant, and commercially impactful outcomes.
• Ability to travel up to 25%

WHAT YOU’LL WORK ON

Enterprise Product & Partner Leadership

• Own and set product strategy direction for licensee partners at an enterprise level, ensuring assortments are consumer‑right, brand‑aligned, and commercially scalable across categories and geographies.
• Exercise decision rights over seasonal product strategies, that balance brand vision, innovation, speed, and financial outcomes.
• Provide executive leadership and governance across partner product creation, briefing, line planning, and gate processes, ensuring consistent application of Nike brand standards.
• Serve as an enterprise product authority, leveraging deep category and franchise expertise to guide senior‑level decisions and long‑term growth opportunities.

Strategic Category & Marketplace Alignment

• Align senior cross-functional leadership and Licensee leadership around consumer targets, brand positioning, assortment architecture, and distribution strategy at scale.
• Sponsor and lead high‑visibility initiatives tied to major brand moments, innovation platforms, and strategic collaborations, with accountability for outcomes and impact.

Cross‑Functional Enterprise Influence

• Leverage Consumer & Marketplace insights to guide and drive alignment across Senior cross-functional leadership on product, design, materials, innovation, storytelling, and packaging.
• Ensure enterprise compliance and brand integrity by partnering with Product Safety, Tech Development, Materials, Packaging, Brand Marketing, Legal, and Athlete Representation.

Operating Model & Governance

• Own governance of the end‑to‑end product approval ecosystem, ensuring Nike standards are upheld while enabling speed, scalability, and partner accountability.
• Lead enterprise communication of strategy and decisions, aligning GPL, sourcing, finance, legal, systems, and operations teams.
• Drive operating excellence and continuous improvement, establishing scalable processes, best practices, and ways of working across GPL, licensees, and categories.
• Maintain executive oversight of seasonal readiness, including approvals, assortment integrity, and sample governance.

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.