The Director of Sports Nutrition reports to the Associate Athletics Director: Healthcare and Wellness and provides comprehensive nutrition services and leadership to the entire sports Nutrition program. This position assumes a leadership role and responsibility for planning, development, implementation, evaluation, and management of nutrition services provided to student-athletes representing all sports.  Primary responsibilities include providing appropriate nutrition strategies to student athletes, supervising, and managing full time, graduate assistant and student staff and being a primary collaborator with all disciplines including sports medicine, strength and conditioning, psychological services, and team staffs.

Essential Functions:

Individual Nutrition Counseling 

• Assess and analyze dietary practices, body composition, and energy balance of athletes in the context of athletic performance and health
• Counsel athletes on optimal nutrition for exercise training, competition, recovery from exercise, weight management, hydration, immunity, disordered eating, travel, and supplementation
• Outline personalized meal and snack plans to promote achieving short and long term goals to support health and athletic performance
• Develop and counsel regarding hydration protocols
• Address nutritional challenges to performance, such as food allergies, bone mineral disturbances, gastrointestinal disturbances, iron depletion, and iron-deficiency anemia
• Counsel athletes on optimal nutrition for recovery from illness or injury
• Coordinate nutritional care as a member of multidisciplinary sports medicine teams for conditions such as disordered eating.
• Evaluate dietary supplements based on rules and regulations of the NCAA and the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA)
• Develop educational resources to support nutritional independence
• Maintain documentation nutrition services provided and evaluate the effectiveness of nutrition strategies towards meeting desired outcomes
• Teams/group education
• Recommend appropriate pre-, during, and post-exercise fluids and snacks for individual team practice, and competition
• Educate regarding food selection (grocery store tours, food storage) and food preparation (cooking classes)
• Serve as a nutrition resource for coaches, sports performance staff, athletic trainers, food service personnel, and parents

Food Service and Menu Development:

• Collaborate with team to develop and manage team meal menus
• Coordinate nutrition for team travel (catering, hotels, airlines, competition)
• Oversee fueling stations and procurement of goods
• Collaboration & execution of athlete centered menus with Wagner Dining Facility

Leadership 

• Collaborate with the Assistant Director and other nutrition staff members to develop the strategic plan for the program, which includes setting short- and long-term goals, monitoring team performance and reporting on metrics.
• Lead and develop student-internship program and dietetic interns
• Assist with overseeing Sports Nutrition Graduate Assistants & other nutrition staff members
• Remain current with the latest performance nutrition scientific research and translating this to policy and practice
• Assist in Developing Policies and Processes. Ensuring quality and consistency in clinical, food service, and education programming through training and quality management studies

• Compliance with the rules & regulations of the University, the NCAA, the Big-12 conference, and the State of Oklahoma or any other governing body is of paramount importance to the University

Budget & Fiscal Responsibilities 

• Facilitate procurement process with outside vendors
• Remaining fiscally sound in managing sports nutrition budget, and allocation of funds in fueling stations
• Manage sport Gatorade allotment

Professional Development 

• Maintain dietetic registration and continuing education requirements
• Stay current on food, nutrition, and health issues including research related to sports nutrition

Job Requirements

Required Education: Master Degree, AND: 

• 36 months related experience 

Equivalency/Substitution:  Will accept 72 months experience in lieu of the Master's degree for a total of 108 months related experience.

Skills:

• Detail oriented for accuracy of data and information
• Highly organized and able to handle multiple projects and deadlines
• Able to produce reports and complete work within deadlines
• Able to work well with interdepartmental teams and initiatives
• Able to communicate well and build rapport quickly with students, coaches, adminstrators and other staff
• Able to demonstrate ability to work well with a diverse group of clients
• Create and deliver effective training presentations
• Able to gain and maintain working knowledge of university, Big 12, and NCAA rules and regulations

Departmental Preferences:

• Registered Dietitian (or/eligible) with active registration by the Commission on Dietetic Registration
• Licensed Dietitian (LD) in the state of Oklahoma within 6 months of start date
• Certified (or/eligible) Board Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics (CSSD)
• 2-3 years of experience working with nutritional needs of athletes; experience in a collegiate setting
• Ability to comply with disclosure regulations relative to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPPA) 
• Knowledge of rules and regulations of the Big12 Conference

Advertised Physical Requirements:

• Must be able to see including color, depth perception and clarity hear, and communicate verbally  
• Frequent exposure to pressure caused by deadlines and busy periods; may be required to travel
• Ability to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse community

Supervision: Team Leader

Special Instructions:

• If you are selected as a final candidate for this position, you will be subject to The University of Oklahoma Norman Campus Tuberculosis Testing policy.  To view the policy, visit https://hr.ou.edu/Policies-Handbooks/TB-Testing.

Diversity Statement

• The University of Oklahoma is committed to achieving a diverse, equitable, and inclusive university community by recognizing each person's unique contributions, background, and perspectives. The University of Oklahoma strives to cultivate a sense of belonging and emotional support for all, recognizing that fostering an inclusive environment for all is vital in the pursuit of academic and inclusive excellence in all aspects of our institutional mission.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

• The University of Oklahoma, in compliance with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations, does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, genetic information, gender identity, gender expression, age, religion, disability, political beliefs, or status as a veteran in any of its policies, practices, or procedures. This includes, but is not limited to, admissions, employment, financial aid, housing, services in educational programs or activities, and health care services that the University operates or provides.

Hiring contingent upon a Background Check?- Yes

Special Indications: Hiring contingent upon driver's license check 

Job Posting: Apr 29, 2022