What are the responsibilities and job description for the Sports Nutrition & Dietician Support position at Washington Spirit?
The Washington Spirit is seeking a Performance Nutritionist/Dietician Support staff member who will provide the day-to-day front facing delivery of the overall Nutrition/Dietician strategy. Led by an expert consultant Nutritionist/Dietician, this individual will work closely with the Director of WHIP and under matrix management of the Senior Director of Performance to deliver nutrition services, including club food/nutrition provision, rollout of any bespoke strategies, and supporting education, to enhance the health, recovery, rehabilitation and performance of female athletes.
Working closely with the wider Multi-Disciplinary Team, they will support all nutrition and dietary requirements related to day-to-day fueling, individual player needs, managing stock, matches, travel, preseason and offseason.
The Sports Nutrition & Dietician Support Staff will:
- Direct the day-to-day provision of nutrition-related services for the Washington Spirit.
- Provide nutritional support to players during all training sessions and games, including meals/drinks/fueling stations/remote access - with the ability to travel if required.
- Educate and support players under the direction of consultant Nutritionist/Dietician OR SDPS/DWHIP.
- Support the delivery of individualized high performance, injury/illness, recovery and nutrition plans for players.
- Co-ordinates nutrition/food provision for home facility, domestic and/or international travel, for example liaising with suppliers, catering, hotel, airlines, competition, for individuals and the team.
- Delivery of food/drink service including preparation/cleanup/stocking and coordination of meal room, snack/drink stations and storage areas.
Under guidance support nutrition related assessments, screenings & delivery of individualized plans:
- Support Directors/Consultants with assessing and analyzing dietary practices, body composition, blood profiling, and energy balance in the context of athletic performance and health.
- Implement team nutrition plans as instructed, including menu building, consultation on team meals and snacks based on schedule and activities, at the training facility and during away camps and fixtures.
- Research, evaluate, recommend, purchase, distribute and monitor permissible and effective nutritional supplements with attention to USADA, WADA and IOC rules, regulations, and nutrition related bylaw.
Stock management and relevant records and administration to manage department specific budgets, documentation and ordering:
- Detailed records of performance supplementation, including scheduling, procurement, ordering, receiving, inventory and stakeholder/relationship management.
Research & MDT support:
- In collaboration with the Performance and Medical staff, support relevant research and PHD students.
- Work collaboratively with the department to support, and educate, by supporting implementation and monitoring optimal female health, wellbeing, recovery, physical profiling, strength and conditioning, training and match load monitoring, nutrition, psychology, and return to play strategies.
Other:
- Perform other duties as assigned with the scope of qualifications.
Key Attributes & Expectations
- Drive innovation and uphold world-leading standards in women's performance and medicine.
- Communicate effectively and respectfully across all departments, fostering a unified, high-performance culture.
- Demonstrate commitment to equality, diversity, inclusion, and safeguarding best practices.
- Comply with all Club policies, processes, procedures and strategies
- Represent the Club professionally and positively at all times.
- Flexibility to work non-traditional hours and travel for training, matches, and events.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in Nutrition Science or Dietetics OR studying towards such.
- Master’s degree or ongoing qualifications would be support with part-time role.
- Two (2) years of experience working as a sports dietitian/nutritionist or chef/food provision in a professional or in a comparable setting working directly with elite athletes, preferably in soccer.
- Excellent interpersonal, communication, presentation, and counseling skills.
- Have a passion for innovation and the growth of women’s sport.
- Knowledge of NWSL and women’s professional soccer preferred.
- Ability to work non-traditional hours, including scheduled games that can/will be weekends, evenings and perhaps Holidays.
- Flexibility in hours
Preferred:
- Experience working with female athletes, with an understanding of female physiology.
- Desire to learn to accurately measure body weight, assess body composition, hydration, sweat rate/composition, and evaluate energy balance and needs.
- Knowledge of food service quality and safety procedures.
- Knowledge of and/or compliant with Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
- Knowledge of rules and regulations of supplementation for athletic governing bodies: e.g., USADA, WADA, NSF.