Assistant Director of Sports Nutrition

Western Kentucky University, a member of Conference USA and a Football Bowl Subdivision (I-A) NCAA member institution, seeks to hire an individual for the position of Assistant Director of Sports Nutrition for Football.  This is a 12-month, full-time position.  This position will report to the Chief of Football Staff and the Director of Football Strength and Conditioning. Applicants must have a commitment to and responsibility for adhering to all rules and regulations of WKU, Conference USA and the NCAA.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

The following duties are customary for this position but are not to be construed as all-inclusive.  Duties may be added, deleted, and assigned based on management discretion and institutional needs.

• Assesses and analyzes dietary practices, and energy balance (intake and expenditure) of athletes in the context of athletic performance and health.

• Counsels athletes on optimal nutrition for exercise training (match nutrition to training phases and goals), competition, recovery from exercise, weight management, hydration, immunity, travel, and supplementation.

• Counsels athletes on achieving and maintaining a level of body mass, and muscle mass that is consistent with good health and good performance.

• Provides personalized meal and snack plans to promote achieving short- and long-term goals for athletic performance and good health.

• Addresses nutritional challenges to performance, such as food allergies, bone mineral disturbances, gastrointestinal disturbances, iron depletion, and iron-deficiency anemia.

• Counsels athletes on optimal nutrition for recovery from illness or injury.

• Evaluates nutritional supplements, including herbal supplements, for legality, safety, quality, and efficacy; monitors use of appropriate supplementation.

• Develops resources to support educational efforts.

• Educates in food selection (grocery store tours, food storage) and food preparation (cooking classes).

• Develops and oversees nutrition policies and procedures.

• Coordinates nutrition for domestic and/or international travel, for example, catering, hotels, airlines, competition, for individuals and teams.

• Manages budgets for purchasing and distribution of nutritional supplements.

• Develops and delivers nutrition education presentations, demonstrations, or events on various topics related to nutrition for performance.

Knowledge and Skills Considered Essential for Success:

• Excellent communication, presentation, and counseling skills.

• Ability to accurately measure height, and body weight.

• Ability to accurately assess and evaluate energy balance.

• Comprehensive knowledge and application of medical nutrition therapy, including interviewing and education techniques.

• Self-motivation and ability to work independently.

• Excellent time management, organizational, and record-keeping skills.

• Knowledge of complementary medicine, ergogenic aids, and nutritional supplements, including herbal supplements.

• Competence with nutrient analysis, word processing, and presentation software.

• Compliance with Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA).

• Knowledge of food service quality and safety procedures.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree.

• Registered Dietitian Certification/Licensure with active registration by the Commission on Dietetic Registration of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.