Sports Dietitian (Director, Football Performance Nutrition)

The US Air Force Academy Athletic Department has a very unique and challenging mission of contributing to the preparation of tomorrow's leaders. We do this by providing realistic leadership experience in an environment that is both mentally and physically challenging. Through athletic competition, we are able to prepare tomorrow's warriors for challenges they will meet as commissioned officers in the Air Force. This "forged in fire" concept lays the fundamental foundation of courage, strength, and discipline that they will take with them as they become the defenders of our great nation.

The Athletic Department’s Sports Medicine Division is a unified team of high-performance professionals, committed to developing the future leaders of the Air and Space Forces. We elevate cadet athletic performance, operational readiness, and long-term well-being across physical, mental, and emotional domains. Championship culture is our shared standard. We take ownership, lead by example, seek to understand, and embrace continuous improvement. We embody teamwork and create impact through every interaction, championing cross-disciplinary collaboration to solve complex problems, adapt to challenges, and innovate in pursuit of peak performance.

The Sports Medicine Division, comprised of Athletic Training, Strength and Conditioning, Performance Science, Performance Nutrition, and Performance Psychology is seeking a highly qualified Performance Nutrition Professional who demonstrates high character and a commitment to the Core Values of the Academy…”Integrity, Service, and Excellence” and who demonstrates professional qualities and commitment consistent with the goals and values of the Athletic Department and the Sports Medicine Division.

Compensation

• Base salary starting at $76,650.

• Eligible for overtime, premium pay, and performance-based incentives, in accordance with applicable policies.

Job Description

Leads, develops, and implements comprehensive performance nutrition programs supporting the US Air Force Academy’s NCAA Division 1 Football program.  Works in collaboration with the Director, Olympic Sports Dietitian to support Athletic Department performance nutrition programs, to include additional assignments as the primary Sports Dietitian for select additional Division 1 Olympic Sports teams.  Reports directly to the Associate Athletic Director, Sports Medicine.

Responsibilities

• 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 cadet-athletes, to include game day and travel support, training tables, catered meals, fueling stations, and dietary/nutritional supplements in compliance with NCAA regulations and USAFA Department policies and procedures.

• Work directly with the football Director of Operations 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.

• Oversee daily operations of the football 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 and assigned Olympic sport cadet-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.

• Assists in the coordination and development of nutritional education products and outreach to including nutrition labeling, grocery store tours, dining hall tours, social media, and presentation or reference materials.

• Oversee and monitor the safe and effective use of performance supplements, ensuring compliance with NCAA guidelines.

• Track and assess the nutritional status of athletes, including DEXA body composition, weight changes, eating habits, hydration, supplement compliance and performance outcomes. Utilizes body composition and nutritional assessments to educate, evaluate, and monitor cadet-athlete health, wellness, and performance consistent with medical principles and best-practices.

• Develop evidence-based hydration protocols for football cadet-athletes.  

• Oversee and ensure execution of optimal hydration practices for football team to include the purchasing and distribution of hydration products for daily football practices, hotel, and game day support.

• Assist with the planning, development, organization, implementation, and evaluation of improvement projects that support the vision and goals of USAFA's Division I Sports Nutrition Program. 

• Work collaboratively and engage in regular Performance Nutrition Department team coordination and meetings. Work with an interdisciplinary team to communicate and coordinate nutrition programming appropriate to the needs and health of football and assigned Olympic sport cadet-athletes.

• Serves as a member of the Athletic Department and USAFA eating disorder interdisciplinary team, working with team physicians to coordinate, recognize, evaluate, and provide early intervention of disordered eating.

• Evaluate effectiveness of nutritional strategies toward meeting desired outcomes and maintain current and accurate documentation (approved medical charting system) as it relates to patient care current with medical privacy standards (HIPAA).

• Assists in the development of sport nutrition program, research trends, implements best-practices, and evaluates effectiveness of nutritional strategies toward meeting desired program and individual outcomes. Identifies obstacles to program effectiveness, derives innovative solutions, explores/evaluates validity of interventions, and implements proactive measures to resolve shortfalls and elevate performance.

• Assists in the research and analysis of scientific and lay reports related to nutrition and athletic performance, including nutritional supplements and diets, translating findings into sound advice for coaches, medical staff, and cadet-athletes.

• Supervises assigned interns; directs work and experiences to meet educational program requirements; optimizes efficiency and effectiveness of support to the assigned teams.

Expectations

Work closely with sports medicine, athletic development, and sports science staff to ensure a holistic approach to athlete care and recovery. Uphold respected and trusting relationships among student-athletes, performance staff, and coaching staff. Be knowledgeable of and comply with all applicable NCAA, conference, and institutional rules and regulations. Maintains knowledge of departmental activities, sports schedules, and procedures. Maintains professional competency and skills required for professional practice, including but not limited to current food, nutrition, and health issues and research related to sports nutrition. Maintains clinical privileges and credentialing with the installation Medical Facility. Perform other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher from an Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND)–accredited program. Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) required.

• Current Registered Dietitian (RD/RDN) credential in active status through the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR).

• Eligible to obtain Colorado Registered Dietitian licensure on 01 Sept 2026.

• Minimum of two (2) years of performance nutrition experience in NCAA Division I or professional athletics.

• Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree or higher in Nutrition, Dietetics, Exercise Physiology, or a closely related field.

• Board Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics (CSSD).

• Three (3) or more years of professional experience as a Sports Dietitian in a collegiate or professional sports nutrition program.

• At least one (1) year of experience working closely with an NCAA Division I football program is highly preferred.

Requirements / Conditions of Employment

• Must be a U.S. citizen

• Must successfully complete a background investigation with favorable results

• Must possess a valid driver’s license and be able to operate a motor vehicle

Application Instructions

To apply, please submit the following required documents via email to Ms. Diem Villanueva, Associate Athletic Director, Human Capital Management, at Diem.Villanueva@afacademy.af.edu:

• Resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV)

• Three professional references with contact information (at least one must be a current or former supervisor)

• Letter of interest