Assistant Director of Sports Nutrition

VCU Athletics is seeking a professional, seasoned sports nutritionist.

Summary:

Reporting to the Assistant AD for Sports Medicine, this position will collaborate with VCU Athletics to support the health and well being of all student-athletes by providing education to all coaches, healthcare providers, and student-athletes on safe and proper fueling for competitive performance using the latest scientific-based evidence and NCAA guidelines as well as be knowledgeable in supplement education and regulation. In addition to providing individual and team-based education, the Assistant Director of Sports Nutrition must be competent in food service management tasks required at fueling stations. Responsibilities include monitoring student workers, placing orders twice a week, managing the nutrition budget, developing monthly budget reports, authenticating purchase transactions, and monitoring supplement inventory. This role will also coordinate and execute day-to-day nutrition operations, participate as a member of an interdisciplinary sports performance team, and ensure that sports nutrition strategies are effectively implemented and prioritized by team support and coaching staff.

Typical Duties

Dietary Counseling & Coordination of Care

• Provide nutritional care and education to student-athletes, coaches, and sports medicine staff to maximize student-athlete performance, health and well-being;
• Assess and analyze dietary practices, body composition, strength development, and energy balance (intake and expenditure) of student-athletes in the context of athletic performance and health;
• Document and record all counseling sessions within the medical health record system; identify high-nutrition-risk athletes;
• Provide structured meal plans if deemed necessary based on clinical judgement;
• Counsel student-athletes on optimal nutrition for exercise training (aligning nutrition with training phases and goals), competition, recovery, weight management, hydration, travel, and supplementation;
• Guide and counsel student-athletes in achieving and maintaining a body mass, body fat percentage, and muscle mass that support both good health and peak performance;
• Maintain efficient communication with Sports Performance Team regarding player development;
• Provide medical nutrition therapy (MNT) for specialized conditions such as anemia, food allergies, injuries and menstrual dysfunction as necessary;
• Provide guidance and recommendations to coaching and operations staff on nutrition for home and away games (e.g., catering, hotels, airlines, and competition nutrition for the team);
• Facilitate and/or participate in multidisciplinary Wellness Team meetings to support student-athletes with high-priority nutrition concerns, such as:
• GI-related nutrition issues
• Eating disorders and disordered eating
• Other concerning nutrition-related health issues
• Food insecurity support
• Partner with Sports Psychologist to effectively refer student-athletes requiring behavioral support for nutrition-related concerns. Ensure adherence to HIPAA regulations and maintain seamless coordination throughout the process.

Sports Performance Team Collaboration

• Communicate with facilities managers to ensure nutrition events are approved and all logistical details are accounted for;
• Prepare all home game day fueling services and ensure timely communication with away teams for travel nutrition support;
• Promote recruitment efforts by engaging with prospective student-athletes and their families regarding the Performance Nutrition Program;
• Assist in planning and execution of daily team meals, where appropriate, while coordinating with caterers, the sports performance team, and operations staff;
• Collaborate with coaches and members of the Sports Performance Team to coordinate appropriate pre-, during- and post-exercise fluids and snacks for individual training, team practices, and competitions;
• Serve as a resource for Sport Coaches, athletic trainers, and strength & conditioning coaches; collaborate with other members of the Performance Nutrition Team to develop and oversee nutrition policies and procedures;

Nutrition Education

• Develop and utilize resources to support educational efforts regarding the nutritional needs of student-athletes;
• Create engaging, interactive and individualized education activities for athletes to enhance learning outcomes;
• Facilitate grocery store tours, team talks, cooking classes, hydration tests, and provide access to local food pantry resources;
• Develop and maintain social media platforms to promote services and provide nutrition education to student-athletes;
• Stay up-to-date on current food, nutrition, supplement, and health related research in sports nutrition;
• Develop detailed sports nutrition injury protocols and regularly review updated literature for necessary adjustments;
• Educate all teams on dietary supplements and run database analyses to approve or decline supplement intake;
• Plan and execute events for National Nutrition Month, and National Eating Disorder Awareness Week.

Fuel Station Management & Supervision

• Assist in the management of the Fuel Station, including supervision of 20-25 work-study students, overseeing budget and financial planning for the nutrition staff, and managing purchase orders for all Fuel Station products;

Typical Education and Experience

Minimum Qualifications
Minimum hiring standards include:
Bachelor's Degree in Nutrition or closely related field;
Registered Dietitian (RD)
2 years experience (GA or internship experience is acceptable);
Familiarity with NCAA regulations regarding the health and safety of student-athletes;

Preferred Qualifications
Preferred hiring standards include:
An advanced degree or training and work experience that equates to an advanced degree;
At least one (1) year of experience working within Division I Athletics;
Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics (CSSD) or CSSD eligible within 6 months of hire;
Knowledge of ED/DE signs and symptoms and experience providing nutrition counseling and working in a team setting for care.

Typical Licensure

Credentialed Registered Dietitian through the Commission on Dietetic Registration or ability to become credentialed within six months of start date

Typical Physical and Cognitive Requirements

Physical Demands and Activities:
Light lifting ( Pushing/pulling - Essential
Standing - Essential
Sitting - Essential
Repetitive motion - Essential
Emotional Demands:
Fast pace - Essential
Average pace - Essential
Multiple stimuli - Essential
Frequent change - Essential
Intense customer interaction - Essential
Mental/Sensory Demands:
Memory - Essential
Reasoning - Essential
Hearing - Essential
Reading - Essential
Analyzing - Essential
Logic - Essential
Verbal communication - Essential
Written communication - Essential

ORP Eligible

Job Family - Health Sciences, Clinical Dietitian 21121

Due to the nature of this role, VCU Athletics is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position.