Director of Sports Nutrition

OVERVIEW –  

Under the direction of the Senior Associate Athletics Director for Sports Medicine and within the umbrella of Sports Performance, the Director of Sports Nutrition will work closely with the Sports Medicine Staff and Strength and Conditioning Staff in supporting the athletic and nutritional goals of coaches and student-athletes. The Director of Sports Nutrition will lead, develop, and implement comprehensive performance nutrition programs supporting Fresno State’s NCAA Division I Football program with oversight of all 22 varsity sports teams. As a member of the sports performance group, they will work to advance the overall objective of meeting the sports performance goals of all of the departments’ intercollegiate athletic teams.

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Policy Development - Collaborate with Sports Medicine and Strength and Conditioning in development of policy and procedures relative to nutrition education, weight and body composition management, use of dietary supplements, prevention of heat illness and dehydration, fueling for optimal performance, ergogenic aids, injury and illness recovery and sport-specific nutrition. 
• Education for Teams, Coaches and Sports Performance Areas - Provide counsel and recommendations to coaching staffs for nutrition during home and away competition as needed for sport specific fueling needs. Develop, coordinate, and implement nutrition education, cooking programs and grocery store tours for student-athletes independently and in collaboration with student-athlete development programming. Oversee nutrition education material development, social media interactions, and student-athlete dining education material development. Assess and counsel student-athletes and staff on appropriate and legal use of dietary supplements, 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 Fresno State Athletics Department. 
• Nutrition Facilities and Staff Management - Oversee and manage the Sports Nutrition staff, which includes Assistant Director of Sports Nutrition and interns/hourly staff. Manage the Sports Nutrition budget including ordering, inventory, and procurement of goods through vendors for fueling stations. Serve as the department lead on the development and implementation of nutrition/fueling station programs. Compile reports for athletic administration, including but not limited to usage, frequency, peak times, etc. 
• Coordinate with Sports Medicine Staff and Team Physicians - Participate as a member of an interdisciplinary team on medically related nutrition concerns including medical screenings, treatment, and ongoing medical management. Coordinate appropriate medical nutrition therapy for concerns such as disordered eating, anemia, diabetes, bone mineral disturbances, amenorrhea, hypertension, gastrointestinal concerns, food allergies and intolerances, and other medical conditions. Coordinate the management of student-athlete blood work and supplementation for nutrient deficiencies as prescribed by sports medicine staff and team physicians. Provide consistent communication to coaches, strength coaches, athletic trainers, team physicians, mental health staffs and administration regarding sports nutrition and sports performance related issues. As a member of this interdisciplinary team, assist in the assessment and counseling of student athletes regarding sport-specific and gender-specific recommendations for optimal body composition and weight for good health and athletic performance. 
• Coordinates Individual Nutritional Counseling - Coordinate the assessment, education, and counseling of student-athletes to include fueling for optimal performance, weight management, dietary supplements, prevention of heat illness and dehydration, ergogenic aids, sport injury and illness, sport-specific nutrition. Provide outpatient nutrition counseling services including evaluation, interpretation of patient data, treatment, reevaluation, and discharge planning of patients referred from other health professionals and those utilizing direct access. 
• Football Nutrition Oversight - Work directly with the Assistant Athletics Director for Football on development of hotel menu guidelines & banquet event orders (BEOs), setup/flow of dining logistics, and oversight of all food-related requirements for team at home and on the road. Manage football athlete dining and fueling programs. Designs and selects menus and fueling products. Administers budgeting, purchasing, payment, invoicing, and distribution of performance meals for football student-athletes, to include game day and travel support, training tables, catered meals, fueling stations, and dietary/nutritional supplements in compliance with NCAA regulations and Fresno State Athletic Department policies and procedures. Oversee daily operations of the fueling station by maintaining appropriate supply levels and placing orders through approved food vendor contracts, stocking, and monitoring inventory/usage within football locker room, weight room and practice field. Provide scientifically based nutrition counseling to football student-athletes on diet and performance nutrition principles for training, competition, exercise or injury recovery, weight management, hydration, and supplementation. Develop and implement personalized meal plans to enhance performance, body composition, and recovery goals. Educate athletes on sports nutrition topics including hydration, fueling strategies, supplements, weight management, and recovery nutrition. Educates and addresses nutritional challenges to performance such as food allergies, bone mineral density concerns, gastrointestinal disturbances, iron depletion or deficiency, vitamin D deficiency, return-to-play, eating/body image disorders, and other nutrition-related deficiencies. 
• Miscellaneous - Meet with prospective student-athletes as part of the recruiting process as requested and available. Maintain professional competency and certifications required for professional practice, including but not limited to current food, nutrition, and health issues and research related to sports nutrition. Maintain knowledge of and compliance with specific NCAA, Mountain West Conference, and institution rules that relate to this position. Assist in advancing the department's mission, vision, and strategic plan including its commitment to equity and diversity. Position will work flexible hours which may include early mornings, evenings and weekends and periodic travel with teams.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Knowledge of: 

• Considerable knowledge of the principles and practices of effective management and supervision, motivation, and performance evaluation. 
• Sports nutrition and the use of dietary supplements.
• The latest principles, practices and trends related to student athlete health, nutrition and health. 

Skill/Ability to: 

• Exercise professional independent judgment and discretion. 
• Work effectively with individuals from diverse ethnic, cultural and socio-economic backgrounds and project a professional attitude. 
• Ability and willingness to support the diversity and equity commitments of the department. 
• Counsel athletes on safe practices to minimize injuries, illnesses and in maintaining good health. 
• Assess and analyze dietary practices, body composition, and energy balance of athletes in the context of athletic performance and health. 
• Counsel athletes on optimal nutrition for exercise training, competition, recovery from exercise, weight management, hydration, and supplementation. 
• Continuously evaluate and develop processes that establish a collaborative, high performance, player first culture that supports athletes. 
• A history of regular attendance and positive performance evaluations.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year institution in Nutrition or related field. 
• Minimum of two years professional experience working with college age population, collegiate student-athletes or other high-performance athletes (i.e., Professional and/or Olympic athletes). 
• Registered Dietitian (Commission on Dietetic Registration) 

Preferred Knowledge, Skills or Abilities: 

• Master’s degree in Nutritional Sciences or related field. 
• Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics (CSSD). 
• Three or more years of professional experience. 
• Familiarity with NCAA regulations regarding supplements and health and safety of student athletes. 
• Experience managing Division I Athletic Fueling Stations and Training Table Program. 
• Experience providing sports nutrition services to NFL or Division I collegiate football athletes. 
• Experience coordinating large group team meals on the road.