Senior Manager, Apparel Supplier Management

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

Materials are critical enablers of innovation, product excellence, and sustainable growth. As Nike continues to evolve its materials supply chain, we are seeking a Senior Manager, Supplier Management to lead and be fully accountable for supplier performance results for a subset of our supply base.

This role integrates strategic supplier relationships with materials manufacturing accountability and is the primary owner of end-to-end performance outcomes for suppliers within scope- quality, delivery, cost, sustainability, resilience and capability - while operating within established supplier performance frameworks and processes.

The Senior Manager leads a supplier-facing team and translates enterprise supplier strategies, performance frameworks into disciplined execution and measurable results, with day-to-day accountability sitting squarely with this role.

You are results-oriented, highly collaborative, and comfortable operating close to the work while managing complexity through others. You bring strong materials manufacturing expertise, supplier-facing credibility, and the ability to coach and develop a team to consistently deliver against Nike’s standards.

WHAT YOU WILL WORK ON

Supplier Performance Ownership

• Own final supplier performance outcomes for all suppliers in scope, escalating significant risks, systemic issues, or decisions to Supplier Management leadership alongside proposed solutions, including delivery, quality, cost, compliance, sustainability, capacity readiness, and manufacturing capability.

• Serve as the owner for strategic supplier relationships within suppliers in scope, driving alignment, trust, transparency, and accountability.

• Translate enterprise supplier performance expectations into clear priorities and actions for suppliers and internal partners.

• Proactively identify, assess, and lead resolution of manufacturing risks and issues, ensuring timely escalation, clear communication, and durable solutions.

• Lead and coach supplier-facing teams to ensure strong execution against seasonal deliverables while progressing longer-term capability and resilience priorities.

Risk Management & Continuous Improvement

• Proactively identify emerging supplier, manufacturing, or capacity risks; lead mitigation plans and ensure transparent communication with leadership and partners.

• Leverage data, root cause analysis, and structured problem-solving to drive sustained supplier performance improvement.

• Support supplier capability advancement within established frameworks (manufacturing excellence, development and innovation, compliance, sustainability, and operational stability).

Team Leadership & Work Allocation

• Assign work to your team based on complexity and capability of suppliers. Actively manage workload and prioritization to ensure results are delivered sustainably.

• Set clear priorities, decision rights, and expectations to ensure consistent execution across the team.

• Provide coaching, performance feedback, and development support, with emphasis on building capability, judgment, and supplier-facing effectiveness.

Strategic Input & Project Leadership

• Provide strategic input to Supplier Management leadership such as materials subtype insights, supplier capability gaps, and emerging risks or opportunities.

• Lead and participate in projects focused on improving supplier performance management, operational efficiency, processes, or ways of working.

Cross-Functional Partnership

• Partner closely with Sourcing, Planning, Manufacturing, Costing, Responsible Supply Chain, Sustainability, and Product Creation to ensure aligned supplier signals and integrated decision-making.

• Represent Supplier Management in cross-functional forums related to materials manufacturing execution, supplier performance, and risk management.

WHO YOU WILL WORK WITH

• This role leads a team of individual contributors across G40, G35, and G30 levels aligned to a specific materials subtype and reports to the Director, Supplier Management (G50). You will work closely with cross-functional partners across Supply Chain (including Sourcing, Costing, Partner Management and Engineering), Planning, Sustainability, Responsible Supply Chain, Product Creation and Innovation.

• Externally, you will engage directly and frequently with material suppliers as Nike’s primary performance owner for the portfolio, serving as Nike’s relationship and performance leader for all suppliers in scope.

WHAT YOU BRING

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience.

• 7–10 years of relevant experience in supplier management, materials manufacturing, supply chain, or related fields.

• Proven experience owning supplier performance outcomes across complex supplier portfolios.

• Strong working knowledge of materials manufacturing environments and supplier ecosystems.

• Demonstrated people leadership experience, with the ability to coach and develop others through increasing levels of responsibility.

• Strong judgment and problem-solving skills in complex and ambiguous environments.

• Excellent written and verbal communication and influence skills with suppliers and cross-functional partners (in English).

• Experience identifying, managing, and resolving supplier or manufacturing risks.

• Ability to travel approximately 10%.