Position Function:
Assist the Assistant AD of Sports Nutrition and the Associate Director of Sports Nutrition with the assessment and counseling of student-athletes on optimal nutritional practices for exercise training, competition, recovery from practice, recovery from injury and illness, weight management, hydration, and supplementation.
Salary Grade: 14
Please see Staff Compensation Structure for salary ranges.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
1. Assess and counsel student-athletes on medical-related nutrition concerns utilizing appropriate Medical Nutrition Therapy techniques.
2. Coordinate use of and administer body composition analysis systems, including in-house DEXA and BodPod.
3. Assist in the coordination of student-athlete blood work and supplementation for nutrient deficiencies in coordination with team physicians and athletic trainers.
4. Manage relevant nutrition app accounts and users.
5. Provide sport- and gender-specific assessments, recommendations, and counseling regarding body composition and weight for optimal health and athletic performance.
6. Communicate with coaches, strength and conditioning staff, athletic trainers, team physicians, counseling/sport psychology staff, and administration regarding sports nutrition and sports performance-related issues.
7. Serve as an active member of an interdisciplinary, integrated performance team charged with screening, treatment, and prevention of disordered eating and eating disorders.
8. Perform hydration testing with assigned teams; assess, plan, and develop hydration plans for individual student-athletes.
9. Coordinate travel nutrition needs for assigned teams in collaboration with team director of operations.
10. Actively participate in meal monitoring and plate-side nutrition education for student athletes at training table meals.
11. Provide team-specific nutrition trainings and recommendations.
12. Coordinate grocery tours and cooking demonstrations (in coordination with performance nutrition chef) to enhance a healthy understanding of and relationship with food.
13. Meet with prospective student athletes as part of the recruiting process, as requested.
14. Assist Director of Sports Nutrition and Director of Olympic Sports Nutrition in managing and educating sports dietitian fellow(s).
15. Assist in development of nutrition education materials, social media posts, and on-site student-athlete dining education.
16. Ability to present on performance nutrition related topics for a variety of groups both on- and off-campus.
17. Maintain professional competency, skills, and continuing education required for professional practice.
18. Maintain knowledge of and compliance with NCAA, SEC, and institutional rules as they relate to this position.
19. Maintain knowledge of and compliance with the rules and regulations regarding banned drugs and restricted substances for additional athletic governing bodies: including the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) and World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
This position may have supervisory responsibilities for sports dietitian fellows, intermittent workers, dietetic interns, SNIP interns, and student workers, as applicable and as assigned.
The above essential duties are representative of major duties in this position. Specific duties and responsibilities may vary based upon departmental needs. Other duties may be assigned to the above consistent with the knowledge, skills and abilities required for the job. Not all the duties may be assigned to a position.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Education: Bachelor’s degree in nutrition/dietetics (or related degree)
- Experience: One (1) year working with college and/or professional athletes
- Certifications: Registered Dietitian (Commission on Dietetic Registration) and Licensure (State of Mississippi) required upon hire (or proof of application in process for Mississippi licensure). Must maintain yearly continuing education in the field of sports dietetics.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Master’s degree in nutrition (or related degree)
- Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics (CSSD)
- Two (2) years of experience working with collegiate and/or professional athletes
- One (1) year of experience in nutrition counseling and medical nutrition therapy, including eating disorders counseling.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
• Excellent communication, presentation, and counseling skills.
• Self-motivation and ability to work independently.
• Excellent time management, organizational, and record-keeping skills.
• Ability to organize, prioritize, and perform multiple tasks with little or no supervision.
• Ability to work long and irregular hours.
• Comprehensive knowledge and application of medical nutrition therapy, including interviewing and education techniques.
• Knowledge of eating disorders/disordered eating behaviors.
• Knowledge of complementary medicine, ergogenic aids, and nutritional supplements, including herbal supplements.
• Competence with nutrient analysis, word processing, and presentation software.
• Knowledge of food service quality and safety procedures.
Working Conditions and Physical Effort
• Frequent external imposed deadlines set and revised beyond one’s control; interruptions influence priorities; difficult to anticipate nature or volume of work with certainty beyond a few days; meeting of deadlines and coordination of unrelated activities are key to position; involves conflict-resolution or similar interactions involving emotional issues or stress on a regular basis.
• Regularly involves lifting, bending or other physical exertion. Often exposed to one or more elements such as heat, cold, noise, dirt, chemicals, etc.
• Job frequently requires walking, standing, lifting, sitting, reaching, talking, hearing, and handling objects with hands.
• Requires handling of heavy weight objects up to 100 lbs. on a regular basis and on occasion up to 150 lbs.
• Vision requirements: Ability to see information in print and electronically.
Instructions for Applying:
Please apply online and submit a resume and cover letter.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:
Mississippi State University is an equal opportunity institution. Discrimination is prohibited in university employment, programs or activities based on race, color, ethnicity, sex, pregnancy, religion, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, genetic information, status as a U.S. veteran, or any other status to the extent protected by applicable law. Questions about equal opportunity programs or compliance should be directed to the Office of Civil Rights Compliance, 231 Famous Maroon Band Street, P.O. 6044, Mississippi State, MS 39762, (662) 325-5839.
What do I do if I need an accommodation?
In compliance with the ADA Amendments Act (ADA), if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation in order to apply for a position with Mississippi State University, please contact the Department of Human Resources Management at tel: (662) 325-3713 or ada@hrm.msstate.edu.
If you have any questions regarding this policy, contact the Department of Human Resources Management at (662) 325-3713 or ada@hrm.msstate.edu. Upon request, sections of this job listing are available in large print, and readers are available to assist the visually impaired.
