Director, Performance Services - Nike Sports Research Lab - Innovation

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.

NIKE, Inc. designs the future. At NIKE, Inc. designers chase their curiosities and build what’s next, shaping the culture and advancing human potential. The Design teams include artists, inventors and specialists, all with different focuses, including color and material experts, and apparel, footwear and graphic designers. Nike designers look to the future, aggressively pursuing materials, ideas and forms that further elevate the athlete experience, raise the bar for modern style and reduce environmental impact.

In the Nike Sport Research Lab (NSRL), we believe in the power of science to solve real problems and drive new product and service innovations for all athletes*. The NSRL is a multidisciplinary team of researchers, innovators, and scientists who lead with science to make athletes* measurably better. We deliver validated insights and innovative capabilities to drive the future of Nike products and services.

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

As a Performance Director within the NSRL, you will lead the performance services and external partners portfolio for the Applied Performance Innovation team. You will act directly as the link between the Research Lab and Sports Marketing in partnering to define and manage the performance interactions and support offered to our elite level teams and athletes. You will also provide a link for innovation to the Nike Trainer network and Well Collective team to partner on Brand and Athlete communications and content. As part of your interactions across the innovation teams you will also help to create key insights into solution based strategies that could influence footwear, apparel, equipment, digital, and other innovations.

This role will require an appropriate level of sports science and/or applied human performance knowledge, research capability, and extensive experience of working with athletes and performance staff at the highest level. In addition you will have extensive experience of working with external partners and practitioners across a range of disciplines within the performance environment. You will need the ability to define strategies, manage a team that will have multiple projects, insuring success through all phases, including briefing, planning, execution, and presentation. You will also have an in-depth knowledge of data collection methods and sensor technologies utilized across both lab and field settings and be expected to promote the work and image of the NSRL group externally to the performance science  and research community.

WHAT YOU WILL WORK ON

You will need the ability to define and manage projects, with multiple groups involved, through all phases of the project, including briefing, planning, execution, and presentation. You will act directly as the link between the Research Lab and Sports Marketing in partnering to define and manage the performance interactions and support offered to our elite level teams and athletes. You will also provide a link for innovation to the Nike Trainer network and Well Collective team to partner on Brand and Athlete communications and content. You will also be expected to promote the work and image of the NSRL group externally to the performance science community.

WHO YOU WILL WORK WITH

Reporting into the Senior Director and working closely with the Principal Researcher(s), you will work on the Applied Performance Innovation team within the NSRL to identify and explore performance opportunities for athletes. You will link with Sports Marketing to manage the performance services offered to our elite level teams and athletes. In addition, you will work across the NSRL and Advanced Innovation groups to identify key performance challenges that may provide insight into product solutions across the footwear, apparel, equipment, and digital innovation teams.

WHAT YOU BRING

• PhD level degree with at least 4 years’ experience, or Masters level degree with at least 8 years additional experience (in fields relevant to basic or applied human performance, sport science, kinesiology, integrative physiology, etc) or equivalent combination of education, experience or training
• Experience formulating a vision for successful elite level performance, managing relationships with collaborating partners in such vision, and execution of that vision
• Experience of working with external partners to plan and deliver service provisions for athletes and teams
• Experience working with elite level athletes and/or teams
• A high level of human performance research experience in various settings covering both lab and field environments 
• Extensive capabilities with data collections tools commonly used in the performance science environment
• Ability to interpret complex data, to communication and to provide reports and recommendations to athletes and coaches visually and effectively
• Sport- and athlete-related certifications (such as Strength & Conditioning, Physical Therapy, Sports Dietetics, Sports Psychology, or other athlete related needs)
• Maintain knowledge and experience of best uses of leading technologies and procedures being utilized at the elite level
• Manage relationships and project requirements as defined by internal roadmap for responsibilities
• Act as an internal performance expert to provide insight to footwear, apparel, equipment, and digital innovation teams
• Ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously
• Experience being a creative scientist (e.g. novel protocols, processing techniques, communications, or applications and translations)
• Bias towards growth mindset, and action and resilience in the face of adversity or ambiguity
• Tendency towards curiosity and exploration of possibilities 
• Ability to take on team-centric attitude within a dynamic workplace environment
• Motivation to promote the work and image of NXT Sport Research group externally to the performance world

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

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.