Assistant Director, Sports Performance Nutrition

PAY GRADE: 28E

CONTEXT OF THE JOB: 

The Sports Performance Nutrition Assistant at the University of Delaware is a valued member of our multidisciplinary sports performance health care team, upholding and embracing the departmental mission of “Achieving Excellence Together”, a dynamic individual who will report directly to the Director of Sports Performance Nutrition. 

This person must support the athletics department’s vision of providing an excellent student-athlete experience surrounding all aspects of sports performance and foster a commitment to inclusiveness throughout the program.   

Alongside the Director of Sports Performance Nutrition, the Assistant Director of Sports Performance Nutrition is responsible in supporting the day-to-day operations of the Sports Performance Nutrition Department, to include shared oversight of the fueling and education of 21 Division I varsity sports as assigned by the Director of Sports Performance Nutrition. The Assistant Director of Sports Performance Nutrition will work in collaboration with current Sports Performance Nutrition staff, Strength and Conditioning staff, Athletic Training staff, Sport Psychology staff, and other members of the Sport Performance department to ensure that all policies and procedures are followed and implemented.   

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

Clinical Duties  

• Provide nutritional care and education to student-athletes, work collaboratively with team physicians, campus healthcare professionals, coaches and staff to maximize student-athlete performance, health and well-being; assess and counsel student-athletes on optional nutritional practices. This position works in a creative and collaborative team environment with athletic trainers, strength and conditioning coaches, sports psychologist, sport coaches, team physicians, campus partners, and administrators to foster a multidisciplinary approach to student-athlete health and wellness. 

• Assess and counsel student-athletes on optimal nutritional practices for training, competition, recovery from practice, competitions, injury and illness, weight management, hydration and supplementation and on medical-related nutrition concerns utilizing appropriate medical nutrition therapy techniques for concerns such as disordered eating, anemia, diabetes, bone mineral disturbances, amenorrhea, hypertension, gastrointestinal concerns, food allergies and intolerances, and other medical conditions. 

• Assess and counsel student athletes regarding sport-specific and gender-specific recommendations for optimal body composition and weight for overall health and athletic performance; provide and coordinate meal and snack plans to promote achieving short- and long-term goals for athletic performance and overall health. Develop and counsel in hydration protocols; educate and develop resources to support educational efforts regarding the nutritional needs of a student athlete. 

• Operates fueling station for teams to assist athletes in meeting daily energy requirements for high level performance.   

Administrative Duties  

• Serve as a resource for sport coaches, athletic trainers, and strength & coaches, team physicians, mental health staff, and administration regarding sports nutrition and sports performance related issues; stay current on industry-related trends regarding food, nutrition, and health issues and research related to sports performance nutrition; develop and oversee nutrition policies and procedures. 

• Evaluate sports supplements, for legality, safety, quality, and efficacy, and identify NCAA compliant products to be distributed and consumed by student-athletes including continual research of the changing sports supplement industry. Assess and counsel student-athletes on appropriate and legal use of dietary supplements, regularly banned drugs and restricted substances in compliance with sport governing bodies; e.g. NCAA, U.S. Anti-doping Agency (USADA), World Anti-doping Agency (WADA) and the Division of Athletics policies. 

• Conform with and abide by all Department, University, NCAA, and CAA Conference policies and procedures. 

• Communicate, educate, and work closely with Managers of Team Operations and sport coaches to provide best options for specific team needs. 

• Provide counsel and recommendations to coaching and operations staffs for nutrition for home and travel games as it pertains to sport-specific pre-game/post-game meals, for example, catering, hotels, competition for team; recommend appropriate pre-, during, and post-exercise fluids and snacks for individual training, team practice, and competition. 

• oversight of Sports Performance Nutrition budget related to assigned sports administrative needs, programming needs, as well as food budget.   

• Responsible for working within budget of Athletic/Campus contracts related to food or beverage products (Pepsi/Gatorade, Muscle Milk, etc.).   

• Purchasing and expenditure responsibilities with issued p-card.   Work with appropriate parties within Athletics, on campus, and in state organizations to ensure proper certifications are obtained and kept up to date related to food distribution. 

• Assist Director of Sports Performance Nutrition with duties related to being a department liaison to academic programs related to nutrition in order to develop undergraduate and intern opportunities with Sports Performance Nutrition 

• Oversee duties and management of undergraduate and/or graduate students within Behavioral Health and Nutrition Department; and/or dietetic interns. 

•  Partner with the Director of Sports Performance Nutrition with duties related to being a department liaison to School of Agriculture and farm supervisor for ongoing student-athlete garden, produce from School of Agriculture and any associated opportunities for student/student-athlete internships. 

• Partner with the Director of Sports Performance Nutrition with duties related to being a department liaison to campus dining services personnel in order to program dining hall tours and education. 

• Partner with the Director of Sports Performance Nutrition with duties related to being a department liaison to on-campus kitchen cooking demo facility to program team cooking demos. 

• Comply with industry standard and campus requirements related to documentation of patient visits.   

• Work with Student Health Services Director and Team Physician regarding Electronic Medical Record system documentation requirements. 

• Document all initial patient encounters as well as follow up appointments. 

• Produce documentation when asked by athletics and campus administration related reports when necessary. 
• Maintenance of yearly continuing education in the field of sports dietetics required. 

Programming Duties  

• Partners with campus dining services to incorporate and operate a department-wide food option program. Serves as the department lead on the development of meal and nutrition/fueling station programs. 

• Plans and executes initiatives and special projects; meet with prospective student athletes as requested by sport coaches; develop, coordinate, and teach nutrition education, cooking programs and grocery store tours for student-athletes.  

• Partner with Student Leadership and Student Development to incorporate educational programs for student-athletes. Plan and execute grocery store tours and dining hall tours with individual athletes or teams. 

• Perform miscellaneous job-related duties as assigned. 

QUALIFICATIONS: 

• Bachelor's Degree in Nutrition or closely related field and two years of experience as a dietitian, or equivalent combination of education and experience.  

• Current registration as a Dietitian from the American Dietetic Association and licensure or eligibility for licensure by the State of Delaware Board of Dietetics and Nutrition (or eligible for licensure at time of hire).  

• Familiarity with NCAA regulations regarding the health and safety of student athletes.   

• Previous experience within a Division I athletics program as a full-time Sports Nutrition or within a professional team/organization preferred. 

• Ability to obtain licensure in the state of DE if RD. 

• Knowledgeable of NCAA rules and policies.  

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: 

• Position hours include early mornings, evenings, weekends, and travel. 

• Maintenance of yearly continuing education in the field of sports dietetics. 

• Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics (CSSD) certified or obtained within one year of employment. 

Physical Demands and Work Environment 

• Ability to lift, move, push, and pull equipment or boxes more than 40 lbs. 

• Should be able to handle outdoor temperatures for a reasonable period. 

• Ability to work flexible hours to include nights, weekends, and holidays.