Director of Sports Nutrition - Football

The Department of Sports Nutrition in Athletics at West Virginia University is currently accepting applications for a Director of Sports Nutrition.

About the Opportunity

The Director of Sports Nutrition will provide individual and group/team nutrition counseling and education to enhance the performance of football student-athletes. Primary responsibilities include counseling individuals and groups on daily nutrition for performance and health; translating the latest scientific evidence into practical sports nutrition recommendations; tracking and documenting outcomes of nutrition services; serving as a food and nutrition resources for coaches, athletic trainers, and strength coaches; providing sports nutrition education for athletic teams; and maintaining professional competency and skills required for practice.

We strongly believe in work-life balance and keeping time for things we love outside our work. WVU offers generous benefits, including:

• 37.5-hour work week
• 13 paid holidays (staff holiday calendar)
• 24 annual leave (vacation) days per year (employee leave)
• 18 sick days per year (for when you're ill, for when you need time to care for sick family, for your own, or your family's, regularly scheduled medical appointments. Who is family for the purpose of this leave? A lot of people in your life including immediate relatives and in-laws as well as others considered to be members of your household living under the same roof)
• WVU offers a range of health insurance and other benefits
• 401(a) retirement savings with 6% employee contribution match, eligibility to continue health insurance, and other retiree perks. Looking for more retirement benefits information? Check out retirement health insurance benefits, retirement income, and FAQ's.
• Wellness programs

What you'll do:

• Oversee pregame, in-game, half-time, and post-game fueling/refueling.
• Accompany appropriate football staff for advance travel to assess hotel catering execution, post-game recovery meal catering.
• Assess and analyze dietary practices, body composition and energy balance (intake and expenditure) of student-athletes in the context of athletic performance and health.
• Counsel student-athletes, in conjunction with strength and conditioning coaches and athletic trainers, on optimal nutrition for exercise training (match nutrition to training phases and goals), competition, recovery from exercise, illness or injury, weight management, hydration, immunity, disordered eating, travel and supplementation.
• Counsel student-athletes on achieving and maintaining a level of body mass, body fat and muscle mass that is consistent with good health and good performance.
• Develop resources to support educational efforts; educate in food selection and food preparation. Provide personalized meal and snack plans to promote achieving short- and long-term goals for athletic performance and good health.
• Develop and counsel in hydration protocols. Recommend appropriate pre-, during and post-exercise fluids and snacks for individual training, team practices and competition.
• Address nutritional challenges to performance, i.e. food allergies, bone mineral disturbances, gastrointestinal disturbances, iron depletion and iron-deficiency anemia.
• Evaluate nutritional supplements, including herbal supplements, for legality, safety, quality and efficacy; monitor use of appropriate supplementation.
• Collaborate with student-athlete's family, physician, coach and other health professionals as appropriate.
• Serve as liaison between the football staff and Sodexo regarding schedules, special events, and menu execution.
• Develop all menus (breakfast, lunch, snacks, dinner, travel, pregame, etc.) that surrounds the football program. Responsible for menu implementation and consultation with the culinary staff on healthy cooking techniques.
• Develop and deliver nutrition education presentations, demonstrations or events on various topics related to nutrition for performance.
• Maintain dietetic registration and continuing education requirements.
• Meet with prospective student-athletes during official and unofficial visits to discuss the nutritional program and services available to student-athletes.
• Perform other job-related duties as assigned by the Assistant Athletics Director/Head Coach for Football Strength.
• Report directly to the Assistant Athletics Director/Head Coach for Football Strength and Conditioning; work closely with strength and conditioning and athletic training staff and senior athletic administrative staff and with all others involved with carrying out the philosophy and objectives of the intercollegiate athletic program.
• Maintain professional growth and development through seminars, workshops, and professional affiliations.
• Maintain knowledge of and comply with all rules, regulations, policies and guidelines of West Virginia University, the Big 12 Conference and the NCAA; must adhere to NCAA Bylaw 11.1 Conduct of Athletic Personnel. Failure to adhere to these policies will result in appropriate disciplinary action including possible suspension and termination.
• Participate in the shared responsibility in maintaining the academic integrity essential for the University to accomplish its mission; adhere to the University's policies and guidelines regarding academic integrity and dishonesty. Treat the academic requirements necessary for progress toward a degree as a matter of the highest priority for the student-athletes in their charge and must actively encourage them to succeed academically and graduate.
• Represent the University on the highest professional level with dignity, integrity, and strength of character and will exhibit ethical behavior; must respect the rights and dignity of individuals with sensitivity to problems that may arise from racial, ethnical and sexual orientation differences.
• Demonstrate a cooperative attitude towards all sports within the intercollegiate athletic program.
• Possess the ability to adapt to any situation, make decisions and work independently; position must have the ability to build and maintain relationships with student-athletes, coaches, staff members and constituencies; required to use creative abilities to develop new techniques and approaches in dealing with many issues controlled by this position; responsibilities of the position are ever-changing and require constant education; requires the ability to adapt to any situation and make decisions.
• Manage sensitive and confidential information related to student-athletes, coaches and staff utilizing discretion and correct decisions. Failure to use proper discretion at required level could result in major and significant embarrassment to the University and/or have a significant impact on image, revenues and eligibility of student-athletes.
• Manage professional and personal time to be handle time sensitive-issues, tight deadlines, extended hours beyond the normal workday, weekend work and on-call availability.
• Faithfully and diligently execute related duties of the department, as requested or assigned by supervisor.

• Bachelor's degree, preferably in nutrition, exercise physiology or similar field
• A minimum of two (2) years involving:
  
  
  
  • Nutrition counseling or administration, preferably with emphasis on sports nutrition
  • Graduate assistant experience is acceptable
  
  
  
  
• Any equivalent combination of related education and/or experience will be considered.
• All qualifications must be met by the time of employment.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Maintain high standard of ethics and integrity related to intercollegiate athletics
• Demonstrated knowledge of NCAA Division I intercollegiate athletics
• Maintain knowledge of state and University policies and procedures
• Exhibit strong creative, organizational and interpersonal skills
• Demonstrated ability in public speaking skills
• Demonstrated ability to function professionally under high stress and confrontational circumstances
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple tasks for extended period of time
• Demonstrated ability to independently plan and organize work
• Proactive attitude towards work and assignments
• Demonstrated interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse community
• Demonstrated knowledge of record keeping and adherence to schedule
• Ability to stay abreast of information impacting the affected area
• Demonstrated ability to organize and motivate groups and individuals
• Ability to maintain proper unit attendance and punctuality standards, work extended hours including nights and weekends (often with extensive walking and standing)
• Ability to make administrative / procedural decisions and judgments
• Knowledge of food service quality and safety procedures
• Ability to accurately measure height and body weight
• Ability to accurately assess body composition (body mass, body fat and muscle mass)
• Knowledge of measurements of resting metabolic rate, energy expenditure, VO2mas and lactate threshold
• Ability to accurately assess and evaluate energy balance
• Knowledge of eating disorder/disordered eating signs and symptoms
• Knowledge of complementary medicine, ergogenic aids and nutritional supplements, including herbal supplements
• Compliance with Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA)
• Knowledge of rules and regulations of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), regarding banned drugs and restricted substances

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree

• Valid driver's license
• Registered Dietitian with American Dietetic Association preferred
• Certification/license as required by state
• Board Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics (CSSD) preferred
• Sanitation certificate
• Food handlers card

West Virginia University is a place of purpose and community. We take pride in our profound impact on the state of West Virginia and are committed to the personal and professional growth of our employees.

From the groundbreaking R1 research at our flagship campus in Morgantown to the career-oriented programs at WVU Potomac State in Keyser, and the technology-intensive programs at WVU Tech in Beckley, the contributions of WVU employees resonate across the state, touching lives and shaping futures.

At WVU, you will discover a supportive community that champions work-life balance and fosters a collaborative atmosphere. Our core values - service, curiosity, respect, accountability and appreciation - unite us as Mountaineers.

Join us at West Virginia University, where your work will make a lasting impact. To learn more about WVU, visit wvu.edu.

West Virginia University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We invite all qualified applicants regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or Veteran status.