Assistant Director Of Olympic Sports Performance Nutrition

JOB DESCRIPTION AND POSITION REQUIREMENTS:

Penn State Intercollegiate Athletics, a Division I and Big Ten Conference Institution, is seeking an Assistant Director of Olympic Sports Performance Nutrition. This position will help engage, educate, and fuel various Olympic Sport student-athletes for performance nutrition fundamentals to facilitate behavior change and performance at their highest potential on and off the field of play. This position oversees all aspects of nutrition including fuel station and/or locker room management, practice and competition fueling, medical nutrition therapy and counseling, team education, performance meetings, student-athlete meals, and be a collaborator with all members of the sports performance team (i.e., nutrition staff, sports medicine, athletic performance, sports psychological services, campus dining, and sport team personnel. This position reports to the Assistant Athletic Director for Performance Nutrition Services. This position will play an integral role in providing evidenced-based nutrition, health, and wellness assistance to the Penn State Olympic Sport program(s) in concert with the philosophy, mission, and vision of the Penn State Performance Nutrition Department along with Penn State Intercollegiate Athletics

Responsibilities include:

Performance Nutrition & Individual Counseling

• Maintain documentation of nutrition services provided annually and evaluate the effectiveness of nutrition strategies towards meeting desired outcomes (i.e., organizational, and individual goals).
• Create and deliver nutrition team education 4-6 times per year to student-athlete and provide department education to coaches and practitioners annually.
• Provide referrals and necessary updates to all relevant Sports Performance Staff members through performance team meetings and utilization of Microsoft teams.
• Evaluate nutrition related laboratory values and supplement in accordance with Performance Nutrition Protocols.
• Provide medical nutrition therapy to those who may have special health care needs (i.e., food allergy, gastrointestinal disturbances, bone mineral disturbances, disordered eating/eating disorders, vitamin/mineral depletion, dietary requirements, and those recovering from injury and/or illness based on Performance Nutrition Department Protocols.
• Educate, evaluate, and advise on dietary supplements in accordance with the NCAA rules and regulations and the ICA drug testing policy.
• Serve as a nutrition resource expert for coaches, sports performance team members, food service, along with other members of the program.
• Lead the completion of sweat testing annually (as needed), with periodic hydration testing, and provide hydration recommendations in accordance with Performance Nutrition Hydration Protocol.
• Support initiatives of the Performance Nutrition Department and assist with all aspects of nutrition including physical, mental, and health related nutrition services to student-athletes.
• Attend team activities such as practices, lifts/conditioning/training, competitions, meetings, and other program events where nutrition support is needed or as directed.
• Lead the completion of body composition assessments, interpret data, and translate findings alongside the use of current research into practical insights for energy balance that encourages optimal athletic performance and wellness.
• Lead the completion of annual performance nutrition assessments, counsel and create nutrition plans to support performance and body composition goals.
• Assist the development and monitoring of departmental initiatives and protocols relating to nutrition operations for Penn State Olympic Sport Program(s).

Food Service and Menu Development

• Assist the coordination of nutrition fueling for home and away competitions:
  • Home: pre/during/post game fueling set-up (fuel and hydration).
  • Away: Assist with promoting performance-based food selections for pre/post game meals.
• Assist daily nutrition fueling and hydration for practice and lift training sessions.
• Educate regarding food selections and preparation through grocery store tours and cooking demonstrations.
• Home: pre/during/post game fueling set-up (fuel and hydration).
• Away: Assist with promoting performance-based food selections for pre/post game meals.

Leadership

• Management, supervision and mentorship of paid interns, dietetic interns, and PSU nutrition students.
• Communicate regularly with food service, campus health, development and enrichment, and vendors in efforts to strengthen relationships and provide greater resources for the students.
• Collaborate care with sports performance team members to enhance outcomes of student-athletes sport performance and overall health and well-being.

Continuing Education

• Strive to complete the CSSD.
• Remain current with the latest performance nutrition scientific research and translating this to policy and practice.
• Maintain dietetic registration (RD and PA LD) with the completion of continuing education requirements.

Skills include:

• Excellent Communication and organization skills.
• Strong interpersonal, time and priority management.
• Identify, troubleshoot, and resolve problems alone and in group settings.
• Ability to lift greater than 20 pounds with or without accommodations and perform other physical labor tasks (pushing, pulling, stocking, loading etc.).
• Ability to operate a vehicle.
• Ability to handle a fast-paced, intensive work environment.
• Ability to work independently, collaboratively, and proficiency in all aspects of the position.
• Ability to work as a team.
• Ability to prioritize and multi-task.

Required Qualifications include:

• Must hold registration through Commission of Dietetic Registration (CDR), Please provide credentialing including CDR number.
• At least 1 year experience working within athletics.
• Able and willingness to work non-traditional workdays (i.e., early mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays).
• Typically requires a Bachelor’s Degree or higher plus 5 years of related experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience for a level 2; additional experience and/or education and competencies are required for higher level jobs. Bachelor's or Master's degree in Food, Nutrition, Dietetics, Food Service, and Kinesiology or related field preferred.

This position requires the following clearances in addition to applicable background checks: PA State Police Criminal Background Check, PA Child Abuse History Clearance Form, and Federal (FBI) Fingerprint Criminal Background Check. This position requires that you operate a motor vehicle as a part of your job duties. A valid driver’s license and successful completion of a motor vehicle records check will be required in addition to applicable background checks.

The Pennsylvania State University is committed to and accountable for advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in all of its forms. We embrace individual uniqueness, foster a culture of inclusion that supports both broad and specific diversity initiatives, leverage the educational and institutional benefits of diversity, and engage all individuals to help them thrive. We value inclusion as a core strength and an essential element of our public service mission.

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