Director of Sports Nutrition (Olympic Sports) - Tennessee Athletics - UTK

The Director of Sports Nutrition for Olympic Sports oversees the provision of nutrition related services to student-athletes competing on all Olympic sport teams, including oversight of budget and staffing decisions as well as development of and adherence to policies and procedures.  The Director will work directly with specific Olympic sports team(s) as assigned. 

• Oversight of all nutrition and dietitian related services provided to Olympic sport student-athletes.

• Provide leadership and administrative oversight to all full-time, part-time, and Intern dietitians working directly with Olympic sport teams.

• Assist in developing, managing and overseeing nutrition budget and related policies and procedures.   

• Communicate with Team Physician and Director of Sports Medicine to research, evaluate, recommend, purchase, distribute and monitor permissible and effective nutritional supplements with attention to NCAA and IOC rules, regulations and nutrition related bylaws. 

• Works with members of sport coaching staffs, the strength and conditioning staffs, the sports medicine staffs and related student-athlete service providers to ensure a collaborative and comprehensive approach to training, nutrition and recovery, as well as aiding in the treatment of diet and nutritional related medical issues. 

• Attend team practices, workouts, competitions, and travel with assigned team(s), when able and requested. 

• Conduct nutritional assessments and screenings for individuals and team. 

• Provide nutritional counseling and education for individual student-athletes and teams. 

• Implement sports team nutritional plans, including consultation on team meals and fueling strategies based on schedule/activities.

• Plan and implement nutritional recovery process for individuals and team. 

• Conduct body composition assessments by utilizing and maintaining appropriate technology (i.e. Bodpod, DEXA) including education and follow up consultation meetings with student-athletes to discuss progress towards goals.

• Work as part of a multidisciplinary sports performance team. 

• Collaborate with Director of Sports Nutrition for Football regarding issues related to Smokey's Training Table such as menu content and preparation, meal deliveries, and team meal schedules.   

• Conduct nutritional assessments and counseling upon referral from team physician or Director of Mental Wellness, for athletes with clinical nutritional needs, such as eating disorders, IBS, Celiac disease, Crohn’s disease, food allergies, and diabetes. 

Required Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Nutrition or related field.
• Experience: Minimum of three years of experience working as a sports dietitian/nutritionist in collegiate athletics at Division I level or comparable experience working directly with elite athletes. 
• Knowledge, Skills, Abilities: 

  • Must possess analytical and problem-solving skills, computer skills and excellent organizational skills.

  • Leadership ability to mentor, supervise, and support staff assigned to work with all Olympic sports teams.

  • Ability to thrive in an up-tempo environment.

  • Self-motivated and able to create structure in an ever-changing environment.   

  • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills for counseling. 

  • Understanding of confidentiality requirements of counseling role. 

  • Possess an understanding, sympathetic, and positive approach when dealing with student-athletes and coaches. 

  • Ability to work productively, independently or as a member of a team. 

  • Value diversity in staff and students to provide a climate of openness, acceptance, opportunity and respect for individuals, their beliefs and points of view. 

Preferred Qualifications

• Education: Master’s degree in Nutrition or related field. Registered and Licensed Dietitian (RD/LDN) via the American Dietetic Association. Board Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics (CSSD).

Work Location