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 c