Towson University (TU) is one of the nation’s top 100 public universities. Located north of Baltimore, TU currently enrolls over 19,000 students and is the second-largest university in the prestigious University System of Maryland. Towson University values diversity and fosters a climate that is grounded in respect and inclusion to cultivate the intellectual and personal growth of the entire university community.
The Director of Sports Nutrition will coordinate and provide comprehensive nutrition services to student-athletes individually and in a group/team setting. The incumbent will provide education and counseling to enhance performance, maintain records and food/snack inventory, and ensure fiscal responsibility as it relates to the sports nutrition division within sports performance. This position will coordinate all aspects of sports nutrition education and fueling strategies; organize meals for athletes, coaches, and staff for pregame, in-game, halftime, and post-game, both onsite and during travel; and work to cater events with TU food service and local vendors in conjunction with a multi-disciplinary sports performance team.
The Director of Sports Nutrition will work collaboratively with the Sr. Associate Athletic Director (AD) for Sports Medicine and Performance, head athletic trainers, athletics and campus dietitians, strength and conditioning coaches, chiropractors, massage therapists, and sports psychologist to ensure a positive student-athlete experience and nutritional outcomes. This position will report to the Sr. Associate AD for Sports Medicine & Performance and must be able to work in a creative and collaborative team environment where change is embraced and innovation is encouraged.
The Director will serve on the leadership team for sports performance. This position will be responsible for all aspects of teams’ meal planning, timing plans, medical nutrition therapy, translating evidence-based scientific evidence into practical sports nutrition recommendations, body composition assessments, oversight of supplementation approval, fuel zone management, and practical sports nutrition recommendations as a member of a multidisciplinary sports performance team. The individual will manage administrative duties such as tracking/documenting outcomes of nutrition services, budget management, and scheduling of personnel as assigned by the Sr. Associate Athletics Director for Sports Medicine and Performance. This individual will also serve as a preceptor/mentor to the sports dietitian, student interns, and dietetic students, as well as take on various other duties at the discretion of the Sr. Associate Athletics Director for Sports Medicine and Performance.
Responsibilities and Duties
Duties for the Director of Sports Nutrition include, but are not limited to the following:
Provides nutrition education, counseling, and support to all athletics sports programs including, but not limited to analyzing dietary practices, body comp, and energy balance
Counsels student athletes on optimal nutrition recommendations for exercise/training, competition, recovery, weight management, hydration, immunity, disordered eating, travel, and supplementation; provides personalized meal/snack plans to promote short and long-term goals for athletic performance; addresses nutritional challenges such as food allergies, bone mineral changes, gastrointestinal disorders, iron depletion, and iron deficiencies; counsels student athletes on optimal nutrition for recovery from illness and/or injury; evaluates nutritional supplements for legality, safety, quality, and efficacy; and develops nutrition protocols in conjunction with health care providers
Collaborates with athletic health care providers and kinesiology as needed
Responsible for staff management, budget management, ordering inventory stocking of fuel zone, body composition assessments, etc., including, but not limited to working directly with TU food service on ordering, serving as inventory manager for tracking, advising senior leadership on expenditures, establishing food partnerships in the department, and working with Bod/Pod and pouring rights partners on campus
Develops and delivers nutrition education presentations and demonstrations or plans events on various topics related to nutrition and performance including, but not limited to food selection in grocery stores and food preparation; educates coaching staff on food timing/menu plans and appropriate pre, during, and post exercise fluid and food intake for training/team practice, and competition
Serves on the leadership team for sports performance and as a resource for all coaches, administrators, athletic trainers, food service personnel, physicians, and staff
Maintains dietetic registration and continuing education requirements; develops and implements an individualized plan for growth and development including participation in professional organizations, activities, workshops, seminars, and development programs; stays current with food, nutrition, and health-related issues and research related to sports nutrition
The work hours for this position include occasional nights and weekends and are based around sports schedules. Travel is required.
Qualifications and Skills
Required Qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree in clinical nutrition or dietetics, exercise science, food science, sports administration, or a related field
Two years of registered dietitian experience
Registered dietitian with active registration by the Commission on Dietetic Registration of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
Eligible for Licensure as required by the state of Maryland Board of Dietetic Practice upon hire
Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics (CSSD) or must obtain certification within one year of hire
Ability to evaluate medical condition of student-athletes prior to and during their participation in intercollegiate athletics
Knowledge of NCAA rules and regulations
Ability to work in and understand human performance in relation to workload management, as it relates to fueling student athletes
Preferred Qualifications:
Master’s degree in nutrition, dietetics, exercise science, or a related field
Two years of clinical experience as a sports certified Registered Dietitian at the collegiate level
Evidence of strong clinical skills in a team environment
Evidence of integration in sports performance models
Additional exercise science background with CSCS
Salary and Benefits
Competitive salary and full University benefits that include 22 days of annual leave, up to 14 holidays, personal and sick days; excellent health, life, and retirement plans; and tuition remission. To learn more about our benefits, please click here. TU also offers a variety of great perks and discounts, which can be found here.
For consideration, please submit a resume with your online application. This position will be open for a minimum of 14 days.
The safety of our students, faculty, staff, and neighbors has been our top priority and the focus of every one of our decisions since the earliest days of the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, the University System of Maryland (USM) has strongly encouraged full COVID vaccination and up-to-date booster shots (when eligible) for all faculty, staff, and students at all schools in the USM as both a reasonable and necessary means of protecting our health and safety.
