Sustainability Project Manager, Nike Explore 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. ~

Innovation is oxygen for NIKE, Inc., and the company depends on its talented, global workforce to breathe originality and curiosity into everything they do. The Nike Advanced Innovation team strives for lighter, faster, bigger, smarter, smaller, more efficient, more sustainable and more personal. They imagine, research, analyze and invent the next industry-changing technology to advance athletic performance. In roles that span research, design, materials and manufacturing, the Advanced Innovation team looks to the future and focuses on making the seemingly impossible, possible.

Who We Are Looking For 

We are seeking an effective project manager who will play a meaningful role in crafting a more sustainable future. The Sustainability Project Manager, Nike Explore Team will choreograph a constellation of early-stage innovation projects, with priorities including new polymer and material development, advanced manufacturing technologies, and circular economy initiatives.

You will be responsible for planning, development, and execution of new programs from conceptualization to proof of concept and lead their transition to downstream Nike partners. Successful project delivery will include demonstration of technical viability and integration, cradle-to-grave environmental impact assessment, and a compelling business case. Successful project execution will require teambuilding and partner management across multidisciplinary Nike teams, as well as the initiation and development of new external partnerships.

You will handle resource allocation and planning across multiple projects, negotiate partnership agreements and craft statements of work, and prioritize and execute delivery of breakthroughs spanning a broad portfolio. You will be encouraged to effectively communicate both technical details and high-level strategy with a range of audiences, including senior leadership.

The NXT Sustainability Project Manager will be committed to creating a better world and a proven eagerness for taking on sophisticated challenges without clear solutions. You will need to draw on your experience in technological innovation, core project management, communication, and creative problem-solving skills to drive and deliver breakthrough solutions. A successful project manager will toggle between a carefully organized detail orientation and big-picture critical thinking.

You are an entrepreneurial utility player – understanding what success requires and creating solutions when none exist yet. Internal coalition building and stakeholder management will be critical. You will also need to cultivate and formalize new partnerships with the world’s top external solvers. You excel in operational organization, time management, and decision-making in an ambiguous environment. You have a consistent track record of delivering results through teamwork.

What You Will Work On

In this role, you will:

• Develop new, low-impact materials, methods of make, and advanced recycling solutions for a more sustainable Nike.
• Partner internally and externally to co-create breakthrough technical solutions and products.
  Work closely with NXT Sustainability leadership to develop and inform program goals and expectations.
• Plan and execute pilot programs to prove viability of technological innovation, including running project scope, requirements and success metrics.
• Build and lead cross-functional teams across the business, and manage multiple projects at varying stages of development.
• Develop and clearly communicate project plans, technical achievements, accountabilities, dependencies, budget and other resource requirements, and progress updates.
• Negotiate and execute new partnership agreements
• Assess environmental impact of new technologies with incomplete data
• Develop and communicate strong business case recommendation 

What You Bring

Requirements:

• A deep passion for sustainability
• Demonstrated capacity and eagerness for delivering novel solutions for complex challenges
• Bachelor's Degree in relevant technical field is required, with a Master's degree or PhD being a plus
• At least 5 years of solid experience executing project management
• Innovation experience in materials and manufacturing
• Experience in leading cross-functional collaborations
• Experience in new partnership negotiation and execution
• Proven capacity for communicating technical project essentials with a variety of audiences.
• Experience in Life Cycle Assessment or similar environmental impact assessment methodologies a plus
• Self-directed, entrepreneurial approach to delivering results

• 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.