Job Description
DIRECTOR OF NIKE BUSINESS OPERATIONS EMEA The Director of Nike Business Operations EMEA is responsible for building a high-performing, data-led operating system that enables the Nike EMEA account to deliver consistently, efficiently and at scale. Sitting at the intersection of operations, commercial success and client leadership, this role designs and maintains the processes, governance and tooling that give teams clarity on how work gets done and how success is measured. By creating self-serve ways of working, robust KPI frameworks and a culture of continuous improvement, the Director ensures that the Nike business runs predictably day-to-day while creating space for innovation and growth across the region
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Process design & continues improvement:
- Lead the end-to-end design of core operational processes, ensuring they are standardised, scalable and clearly documented across global markets and client teams.
- Own the lifecycle of key processes (design, pilot, rollout, refresh), maintaining a single source of truth for workflows, RACI, templates and playbooks.
- Facilitate working sessions with cross-functional stakeholders to map current-state processes, identify pain points, and co-create future-state solutions.
- Define process success criteria and measurable outcomes, ensuring that new or revised processes are aligned to business KPIs and client expectations.
- Establish governance routines (e.g. process councils, change requests, periodic reviews) to manage process changes and control scope creep.
- Monitor process performance through KPIs and feedback loops, using data and qualitative input to prioritise optimisation opportunities.
- Ensure process changes are operationalised through clear communication, training, and change management plans, including impact assessments and adoption tracking
- Maintain alignment between global standards and local ways of working by supporting markets with localisation of processes while protecting core principles.
Data‑Driven Operations & KPI Management
- Define and maintain the operational KPI framework for Nike EMEA operations, ensuring clear ownership, consistent definitions, and alignment with commercial and client success metrics.
- Partner with Finance, Data, and Client Leadership to translate business objectives into measurable KPIs and operational targets (e.g. utilisation, velocity, quality, SLAs, margin, and scope adherence).
- Design and implement data collection, reporting and governance routines, ensuring data completeness, standardisation and accuracy across tools (Smartsheet, Asana, Workfront, etc.).
- Working with the data visulaidation team design and evolve self‑serve dashboards and reports that provide real‑time visibility of operational health, enabling informed decision-making for senior leaders, account teams and clients.
- Establish regular performance reviews (e.g. monthly/quarterly operational reviews) to track KPIs, identify trends, and prioritise corrective actions or optimisation initiatives.
- Champion a data‑driven culture within Nike EMEA Team, advocating for better tooling, data literacy, and clear storytelling of operational performance to senior stakeholders.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Experience
- 8-10+ years in operations, programme management or business operations roles within media, digital, or brand-led organisations, including experience on large, complex accounts or regions.
- Proven track record leading operational transformation, process design and continuous improvement across multi-market or EMEA remits.
- Demonstrated experience building and managing KPI frameworks, dashboards and performance rhythms that drive decision-making and accountability.
- Background working closely with commercial, finance and client leadership teams to balance operational excellence with growth and profitability goals.
Skills
- Strong operator with the ability to design, document and embed scalable processes, governance models and ways of working.
- Advanced proficiency with project and workflow tools (e.g. Smartsheet, Asana, Workfront, Jira) and strong Excel/Sheets skills for analysis and reporting.
- Comfortable manipulating and interpreting data to generate insight, define hypotheses, and track impact of operational changes.
- Excellent communication, facilitation and storytelling skills, able to translate complexity into clear, actionable direction for diverse audiences.
Mindset & Behaviours
- Strategic, systems thinker who can zoom between big-picture operating model decisions and detailed implementation.
- Highly collaborative, with a track record of influencing senior stakeholders without formal authority and aligning cross-functional teams behind shared ways of working.
- Bias to action, with a test-and-learn approach, curiosity to challenge the status quo, and resilience in ambiguous, fast-changing environments.
- Champion of inclusive, high-performance cultures who role-models Nike values and embeds them in daily operations.
Education & Credentials
- Bachelor’s degree in Business, Operations, Engineering, Economics or related field;
- Formal training or certification in project/programme management (e.g. PMP, PRINCE2, Agile/Scrum) and/or process improvement (e.g. Lean, Six Sigma) is a strong plus.
As part of the joining Kinesso, you’ll enjoy a range of benefits, such as:
27 days off pe r year, including 26 vacation days and 1 “Celebrate You” day (based on a 40-hour work week)
Hybrid and flexible w orking options to support a healthy work-life balance—and even work from abroad for up to 14 days per year
Comprehensive growth s upport, 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 twice a week, plus a variety of healthy snacks always available
Referral Bonus– bring someone you know to MediaBrands and enjoy a generous referral rew ard 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.
About Medi a brands
IPG Mediabrands is the global media holding company that encompasses all media agencies of the Interpublic Group (NYSE: IPG). The company employs over 13,000 marketing experts worldwide across more than 130 countries, prioritizing diversity and inclusivity. We advise our clients on how to use media and content in the best possible way to help them achieve their marketing and communication objectives.
In the Netherlands, these include full-service media and consultancy agencies Initiative and UM, the digital performance, data, and tech agency KINESSO which also includes Buying and Planning, and the full-service social and content marketing agency YUNE. Specialized labels in the Netherlands are Orion (trading & capital), and Rapport (OOH specialists). Our offices are located in Amsterdam and Groningen.
At IPG Mediabrands, we celebrate differences and believe this makes us stronger. IPG Mediabrands are equal-opportunity employers committed to championing an inclusive culture that provides a sense of belonging for all our employees. We do not discriminate against any applicant based on age, disability, race, colour, ethnicity, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, belief, marital status or any other characteristic protectedby law.
IPG Mediabrands has ‘CHALLENGE’ in its DNA. We are a company of Challengers. We are not the largest, but we are there for brands and marketers who want to be surprised, challenged, and stimulated so they don’t stand still. Additionally, the IPG Mediabrands labels have ‘TOGETHER’ in their DNA. We are one collective, we form one house and believe that together we are bigger and stronger and have more knowledge. We are the ‘House of Challengers!
