Director of Product Management - Activity & Research

Overview

Reporting to the Senior Director of Product for Marketing Technology (MarTech), the Director of Activity & Research will guide the product vision and strategy for Nike Run Club (NRC), Nike Training Club (NTC), and the collaborative product initiatives with the Nike Sport Research Lab (NSRL). This role demands collaboration across design, engineering, data science, research scientists, biomechanics, sport experts, trainers, coaches, marketing, and business leaders to evolve Nike’s activity applications by turning cutting-edge research and athlete insights into dependable, scalable features that empower athletes and consumers to attain their objectives.

Key Responsibilities

• Craft and drive a multi-year product strategy that encompasses NRC, NTC, and digital capabilities stemming from NSRL, working closely with cross-functional teams to convert athlete needs, business aims, and research priorities into strategic roadmaps and tangible business outcomes.
• Identify and capitalize on opportunities to enhance how users discover workouts and runs, engage with training plans, receive coaching, monitor activities, and celebrate achievements to foster habit formation and motivation.
• Lead senior stakeholder communications to shape investments and prioritize product decisions balancing athlete benefits, scientific integrity, brand alignment, business goals, technological considerations, privacy, and AI ethics.
• Oversee product discovery and definition phases across activity and research projects by outlining athlete journeys, validating hypotheses, and setting product requirements and priorities.
• Design integrated user experiences connecting coaching, training plans, activity tracking, sensor data, personalized guidance, and community challenges that cater to athletes of all levels.
• Coordinate globally distributed teams, ensuring synchronized releases, release readiness, and ongoing optimization of research-driven product features across various markets.
• Develop structured processes to transition NSRL research and prototypes through stages from concept to production, including validation, testing, readiness assessments, and long-term operational planning.
• Ensure appropriate governance and rigor to differentiate between exploratory research, experimental products, and mature capabilities, including privacy and technical reviews.
• Foster continuous feedback loops linking athletes, product teams, and researchers to integrate real-world insights into future coaching, training, and motivation enhancements.

Candidate Profile

• Bachelor’s degree in business, product management, computer science, data science, sports science, or related disciplines, or a comparable blend of education, experience, and training.
• A minimum of 9 years in product management or leadership roles involving digital consumer mobile apps, sport technology, research translation, or innovation, with at least 5 years leading teams.
• A genuine passion for sports and athlete advancement through research-based, user-friendly digital experiences.
• Proven ability to define and communicate long-term product strategies, prioritize portfolios, and influence senior leadership.
• Experience translating athlete insights, research data, behavioral trends, coaching requirements, emerging technologies, and AI/ML prospects into scalable product solutions with clear metrics for success.
• Expertise in consumer-facing mobile products that promote onboarding, personalized coaching, habit building, activity tracking, performance feedback, and goal progression.
• Superior communication skills to articulate complex research and technical subjects into compelling product narratives and actionable plans.
• Preferred experience with digital fitness, wellness, coaching platforms, activity tracking, wearable devices, or community motivation features.
• Familiarity with NRC, NTC, NSRL, or similar organizations integrating sport science, coaching, content, and community to support athlete development.

Additional Information

Nike provides several accommodations during the interview process, including screen readers, sign language interpreters, accessible interview locations, closed captioning, and other reasonable modifications as needed. Candidates requiring accommodations due to disability are encouraged to request support during the application process.