University of Washington
Football Performance Dietician
Summary
The University of Washington Athletics department is hiring a Football Performance Dietitian to support approximately 115 football student-athletes as part of a multidisciplinary high-performance team. The role partners closely with the Director of Football Performance Nutrition to deliver comprehensive nutrition services that optimize health and athletic performance while ensuring compliance with NCAA and related regulations.
What you'll do
Educate student-athletes, coaches, and staff on performance nutrition and effective dietary habits.
Assess dietary practices and create individualized nutrition plans to support short- and long-term performance and health goals.
Teach lifestyle nutrition skills (e.g., grocery selection, food storage, pre/during/post competition fueling, cooking classes, food demonstrations).
Evaluate body composition and provide education on body composition strategies across the training year.
Conduct physiological testing as needed (e.g., hydration testing via urine specific gravity and sweat rate testing).
Provide medical nutrition therapy for conditions such as GI disorders, type 1 diabetes, bone health/stress fractures, celiac disease, severe allergies, post-surgical needs, illness, eating disorders, REDS, and disordered eating.
Collaborate with mental health professionals, physicians, athletic trainers, and strength and conditioning staff on nutrition-related medical and behavioral concerns.
Manage the football fueling station, including ordering/inventory, hiring/scheduling/mentoring hourly staff and interns, and planning/delivering customized snacks and smoothies/supplementation support.
Coordinate with vendors and hotel catering for menu planning and meal execution, including travel needs as applicable.
Partner with UW Housing and Food Services to develop performance-based menus for the student-athlete dining facility.
Create nutrition education materials for the Don James Center (e.g., serving sizes, competition fueling, macronutrients, hydration) with required approvals.
Educate on dietary supplements considering NCAA guidelines, safety/efficacy, and drug-nutrient interactions; assist physicians with recommendations when medically indicated.
Attend training table meals to provide real-time nutrition coaching during meal service.
Perform other related duties as required.
Requirements
Bachelor’s degree in Food and Nutrition Sciences or Dietetics (or equivalent education/experience where allowed).
At least 1 year of experience as a student intern, fellow, or dietitian in collegiate or professional sports.
Registered Dietitian (Commission on Dietetic Registration); eligible for Washington State Department of Health requirements upon hire.
Knowledge of NCAA/anti-doping rules and banned/restricted substances; ability to work in a HIPAA-compliant environment.
Competence in nutrient analysis and meal planning.
Maintain a Washington State Food Worker Card and demonstrate safe food service knowledge.
Ability to recognize signs/symptoms of eating disorders/disordered eating and collaborate on interventions with the high-performance team.
Comprehensive knowledge and application of medical nutrition therapy and therapeutic diet planning/implementation.
Strong teamwork, independence, time management, organization, record-keeping, communication, presentation, and counseling skills.
Preferred: Master’s degree in Food Sciences/Nutrition/Exercise Physiology; CSSD (preferred or encouraged within one year); NCAA Division I experience; body composition (DXA, ISAK) and hydration testing (USG, sweat rate) experience.
Conditions
Regular, full-time position (100% FTE).
Shift: First Shift (United States of America).
Taxable benefits may include tickets to UW intercollegiate home competitions.
Non-local candidates may be eligible for a moving allowance.
Benefits available through the University of Washington benefits programs.
Must participate in athletics rules education programs and maintain compliance with University, NCAA, conference, and state regulations.