Director, Performance Nutrition

Summary

The Director, Performance Nutrition provides individual and group nutrition counseling and education to enhance the performance of Army West Point Athletic Association Inc. (“AWPAA) cadet-athletes. Primary responsibilities include, but are not limited to counseling individuals and groups on daily nutrition for performance and health (on-site and during travel); translating the latest scientific evidence into practical sports nutrition recommendations; tracking and documenting outcomes of nutrition services, maintaining health and safety of all nutrition areas, serving as a food and nutrition resource for cadet-athletes, coaches and athletic trainers; providing sports nutrition education for health/wellness programs, athletic teams, and community groups; and maintaining professional competency and skills required for professional practice.  This is a professional position, and all duties of the position must be conducted in adherence with the policies, rules, and regulations of the United States Military Academy (“USMA”), AWPAA, the applicable member conferences and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (“NCAA”).  

 

Scope of Impact

The responsibilities outlined in this job description are integral to the success of the AWPAA. This position collaborates and coordinates nutritional care for cadet-athletes as a member of the multidisciplinary sports medicine & sports performance team, working with coaches, sports performance, sports medicine, team physicians, food service personnel, and behavioral health. This position is responsible for coordinating nutritional care with the other registered dieticians at USMA (e.g., USMA’s United States Corps of Cadets (“USCC”) and Keller Army Community Hospital) and advocate for cadet-athletes’ nutrition and performance across USMA.

 

Level of Decision Making

This position is responsible for creating and delivering proactive nutrition education for both cadet-athletes and coaches to maximize performance. This position is responsible for ensuring nutritional supplement recommendations comply with the rules and regulations of all governing bodies (e.g., USMA, NCAA, USADA, WADA) regarding banned drugs and restricted substances. This position is responsible for assessing and analyzing dietary practices, body composition and energy balance and making referrals for medical care as necessary. 

 

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Summary

The Director, Performance Nutrition provides individual and group nutrition counseling and education to enhance the performance of Army West Point Athletic Association Inc. (“AWPAA) cadet-athletes. Primary responsibilities include, but are not limited to counseling individuals and groups on daily nutrition for performance and health (on-site and during travel); translating the latest scientific evidence into practical sports nutrition recommendations; tracking and documenting outcomes of nutrition services, maintaining health and safety of all nutrition areas, serving as a food and nutrition resource for cadet-athletes, coaches and athletic trainers; providing sports nutrition education for health/wellness programs, athletic teams, and community groups; and maintaining professional competency and skills required for professional practice.  This is a professional position, and all duties of the position must be conducted in adherence with the policies, rules, and regulations of the United States Military Academy (“USMA”), AWPAA, the applicable member conferences and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (“NCAA”).  

 

Scope of Impact

The responsibilities outlined in this job description are integral to the success of the AWPAA. This position collaborates and coordinates nutritional care for cadet-athletes as a member of the multidisciplinary sports medicine & sports performance team, working with coaches, sports performance, sports medicine, team physicians, food service personnel, and behavioral health. This position is responsible for coordinating nutritional care with the other registered dieticians at USMA (e.g., USMA’s United States Corps of Cadets (“USCC”) and Keller Army Community Hospital) and advocate for cadet-athletes’ nutrition and performance across USMA.

 

Level of Decision Making

This position is responsible for creating and delivering proactive nutrition education for both cadet-athletes and coaches to maximize performance. This position is responsible for ensuring nutritional supplement recommendations comply with the rules and regulations of all governing bodies (e.g., USMA, NCAA, USADA, WADA) regarding banned drugs and restricted substances. This position is responsible for assessing and analyzing dietary practices, body composition and energy balance and making referrals for medical care as necessary. 

 

Success Factors

Success in this position will be evaluated by the Supervisor on the employee’s performance in a variety of areas, including but not limited to: Commitment, Coachability, Efficiency, Initiative, Collegiality, Communication, Quality of Work, and Compliance with applicable rules and regulations.

Essential Functions

25% Education & Counseling

• Provide individualized Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) to athletes addressing nutritional challenges for performance, body composition assessments, food allergies, bone mineral disturbances, gastrointestinal disturbances, iron depletion/anemia, nutrient deficiencies, disordered eating, or other nutrition related conditions.
• Develop and deliver team nutrition education presentations, demonstrations, or events on various nutrition related topics for performance two to four times per month.
• Counsel athletes on optimal nutrition for exercise training (utilize nutrition practices to meet nutritional need of training phases and performance goals), pre/during/post competition, recovery from exercise/competition, nutrient timing, body composition, hydration, immunity, disordered eating, travel nutrition, and supplementation.
• Counsel athletes on achieving and maintaining a level of body mass, body fat, and muscle mass that is consistent with good health and good performance.  
• Support cadet- athletes in the Monitored Athlete Program (MAP) and After-Monitoring Athlete Program (A-MAP) throughout their career.  Maintain tracking of all athletes in the program.
• Counsel cadet-athletes on optimal nutrition for recovery from illness or injury.
• Develop educational materials to support team talks for athletes and AWPAD support staff.
• Educate regarding food selection at Cadet Mess Hall as well as conducts grocery store tours and cooking classes.
• Develop and deliver nutrition education for food service personnel.

25% Collaboration & Policy Development

• Coordinate nutritional care as a member of multidisciplinary sports medicine and sports performance team.
• Participate in weekly Monday Mess Hall meeting (1200-in person). Discuss concerns with AWPAD operations prior to meeting and bring any concerns or questions from AWPAD. Act as the AWPAD liaison.
• Attend monthly meetings with Keller and USCC Dietitians (duties to include peer review, monthly check in, group presentation feedback and development, case study review once seeing 1:1).
• Participate in the healthy eating working group with behavior health and the USCC surgeon.
• Follow Army Body Composition Standards (AR 600-9).
• Develop and counsel cadet-athletes in hydration protocols.
• Collaborate with the individual’s family, physician, coach, and other health professionals, as appropriate.
• Educate and mentor dietetic interns and others as appropriate.
• Develop and oversee nutrition policies and procedures.

20% Direct Nutritional Support

• Manage budgets for purchasing and distribution of nutritional supplements.
• Oversee fueling station operations including budgets for purchasing, inventory procurement, and distribution of nutritional supplements. Attend Fueling station during busy lifting time to provide education.
• Maintain fueling station sanitation standards set forth by forth by Army Public Health and Veterinary Services.  Perform weekly inspections in team room food areas to ensure cleanliness.
• Attend Mess Lunch with Cadet-Athletes. Chooses a team to be with during a meal and model types of training plates based upon what training may look like for that day.
• Provide personalized meal and snack plans to promote achieving short- and long-term goals for athletic performance and good health.
• Evaluate nutritional supplements, including herbal supplements, for legality, safety, quality, and efficacy, monitors use of appropriate supplementation.
• Coordinate and manage quantity food production and distribution such as developing and managing training table menus and catering.
• Coordinate nutrition for domestic and/ or international travel, for example, catering, hotels, airlines, competition, for individuals and teams.
• Recommend appropriate pre-exercise, during, and post-exercise fluids and snacks for individual training, team practice, and competition.
• Coordinate nutrition during summer training.

20% Assessment & Analysis

• Assess and analyze dietary practices, body composition, and energy balance (intake and expenditure) of athletes in the context of athletic performance and health.
• Attend Team practices weekly to gain a better understanding of training cycle, current team issues, which will feed development of education materials such as handouts, deliverables, demos, or group presentations. Connect with ATCs and Strength Coaches at practice.
• Document nutrition services provided and evaluate the effectiveness of nutrition strategies towards meeting desired outcomes using the Nutrition Care Process.
• Observe and assess cadet-athletes for potential eating disorders and other nutritional concerns in coordination with other members of the sports performance and sports medicine team.

10% Other Duties as Assigned

• Maintain dietetic registration and acquires/maintains other required credentials (CSSD), continuing education requirements and contact hours.
• Maintain up to date knowledge of current food, nutrition, and health issues and research related to sports nutrition.
• Conduct self in a manner that demonstrates adherence to standards of professional performance.
• Utilize effective written and oral communication skills to promote and maintain effective working relationships with all significant parties.

Supervisory Responsibilities

Oversees up to one full-time staff member in sports nutrition, as well as sports nutrition cadet-athlete assistants, and indirect supervision of assigned Army dietician fellow as applicable.

Work Conditions & Physical Requirements

• Perform duties in a fast-paced, ever-changing work environment.
• Must be able to remain in a stationary position for 50% of the time.
• Ability to move self and supplies up to 75 lbs, from various locations to support nutritional needs of cadet-athletes in various facilities. 
• The person in this position needs to occasionally move about inside the office to access file cabinets, office machinery, etc. 
• Constantly operates a computer, printer, and phone. 
• The person in this position frequently communicates with team members, United States Military Academy (“USMA”) staff and vendors. 
• Occasionally works in outdoor weather conditions.
• Must be able to work nights, weekends, and holidays as needed.

Travel 

The Director, Performance Nutrition may be required to travel throughout the year to support cadet-athletes per the competition schedule.  

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in clinical nutrition, food and nutrition, or related area, granted from a U.S. regionally accredited college or university.
• Completion of a didactic program in dietetics and supervised practice program approved by the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education (CADE) of the American Dietetic Association.
• Minimum of 2 years’ experience in nutrition counseling with athletes or active individuals.
• Registered Dietitian with active registration by the Commission on Dietetic Registration of the American Dietetic Association; Certification/Licensure as required by state of practice, or ability to transfer license within a reasonable period.
• Must possess highly professional mannerisms, unimpeachable moral and ethical character, and be a role model.  

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in nutrition or exercise physiology preferred. 
• Two years’ experience in nutrition counseling in collegiate athletics with an emphasis on sports nutrition.
• Board Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics (CSSD) preferred.

Additional Eligibility Requirements

• Must be eligible to work in the United States of America, without sponsorship.
• Must be eligible to work on a military installation, including a willingness to submit to a background screen.
• Must possess a valid driver’s license.

Pay Range

$70,000 - $74,000

This job posting contains a pay range, which represents the range of salaries that AWPAA believes, in good faith, at the time of this posting that it might be willing to pay for the posted position. AWPAA expects to hire for this position near the middle of the range. Only in truly rare and exceptional circumstances, where an external candidate has experience, credentials or expertise that far exceed those required or expected for the position, would AWPAA consider paying a salary or rate near the higher end of the range.

About Us

USMA is renowned as the world’s preeminent leadership development institution. Located on the banks of the Hudson River in West Point, NY, it is approximately one hour from New York City. The mission of USMA is "to build, educate, train, and inspire the Corps of Cadets to be commissioned leaders of character committed to the Army Values and ready for a lifetime of service to the Army and Nation." This position will be housed within the AWPAA, which is a non-profit corporation organized to manage and support the 30 intercollegiate athletic programs at the Academy. The AWPAA mission is to recruit, educate, train and inspire leaders of character who are committed to the Army Values through an extraordinary NCAA Division I athletic experience.

Equal Opportunity Employer

AWPAA is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other basis protected by law.

Applicant qualifications are considered without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other basis protected by law. 

Disclaimer Statement

This position description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change, or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.

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