WHO YOU’LL WORK WITH

This role reports directly to the Senior Manager, Brand Creative for Japan, who leads the creative discipline across the market. The Lead, Brand Creative Retail Design supports this leader in delivering Nike’s Brand Design, Experience, and Retail creative. By leveraging the Asia Pacific Latin America (APLA) Brand Creative Network and collaborating with global colleagues, this role helps produce top-tier work in partnership with external agencies.

The Lead is responsible for managing agency relationships and professional services to ensure local projects are executed effectively and within scope. Collaboration spans across Nike’s Brand Marketing group, APLA, and Global Brand Marketing teams to drive brand impact. Key internal partners include Brand Management, Retail Marketing, Digital Marketing, Integrated Media, Brand Planning & Operations, and Sports Marketing. External collaborators include local creative agencies, collectives, athletes, retail partners, and community leaders who contribute to Nike’s storytelling.

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

Nike Japan seeks a visionary and strategic Lead, Brand Creative Retail Design to shape the future of immersive brand experiences, activations and innovative retail environments. This role demands a passion for sport and creative problem solver that thrives at the intersection of brand, culture, and commerce. The ideal candidate can translate Nike’s global design ethos into locally resonant consumer experiences.

This is a multidisciplinary designer and team leader with a deep expertise in architecture, brand environments, materials, and retail storytelling. A proven track record of innovation and ability to leverage emerging technologies to build impactful spaces and drive consumer engagement are essential. The candidate is equally comfortable ideating, illustrating, and executing in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.

• Minimum of 6 years of experience in retail design, brand environments, or experiential marketing.
• Bachelor’s degree in architecture, graphic design, industrial design, environmental design, or a related field.
• Passion for sport, youth culture, and innovation, with strong collaboration skills to manage complex projects and deliver within timelines and budgets.
• Proficiency in design tools such as Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Figma, and 3D software.
• Fluency in English and Japanese, with strong visual and verbal communication skills and deep understanding of local culture and retail landscape.
• Travel domestically and internationally to support execution and alignment, estimated about 10-20% annually.

WHAT YOU’LL WORK ON

You will lead the creative development of retail experiences, brand activations and immersive storytelling in Japan. You will focus on delivering culturally resonant design solutions, collaborating across teams and partners, and driving innovation that connects deeply with consumers.

• Lead creative strategy and execution for seasonal retail, live events, brand activations, and pop-ups.
• Adapt global brand standards into locally resonant experiences with cultural nuance and consumer insight.
• Develop compelling 2D/3D presentations to communicate concepts across leadership and cross-functional teams.
• Collaborate with Store Development, Retail Brand, Digital, Comms, and external partners to ensure feasibility and excellence.
• Drive design innovation through materiality, spatial design, proportion, and consumer journey exploration.
• Integrate physical and digital touchpoints to deliver immersive storytelling and elevate brand engagement.
• Stay ahead of design trends, consumer behaviors, and retail innovations to inform future strategies.