Performance Dietitian

Position: Performance Dietitian (Full-time)

Location: Moore Park, New South Wales

Reports to: National Head of Performance Nutrition

Purpose

There are three pillars to the purpose of the Performance Dietitian position.

1. A first for Rugby Australia, this position will develop and lead a world-class high-performance nutrition program for women’s rugby 7s and 15s, underpinned by a specialist understanding of female athlete health and nutrition. With the Olympic (women’s 7s) and World Cup (women’s 15s) campaigns in the next twelve months, the Performance Dietitian will be a critical success factor in working alongside other high-performance staff to ensure all elements of performance for the athletes are optimised.

2. This position will provide an integral role to the men’s 7s as they embark on their international season and 2024 Olympic campaign success.

3. The Performance Dietitian will lead a system-wide approach to performance nutrition through the lens of female athlete health as an integral facet of rugby high-performance through strong relationships with Super W teams.

Key Accountabilities

  • Develop and deliver performance nutrition systems and processes, appropriate for national level teams and tailored to female and male athlete health and performance
  • Monitor research trends and developments in female athlete health to provide advocacy and leadership across the Rugby Australia system on female athlete nutrition
  • Educate and support coaches and players on athlete nutrition, particularly as it pertains to female athlete health
  • Oversee the athletes use of supplements in accordance with the implementation of the Rugby Australia Supplement Policy
  • Undertake a collaborative, player-centred case management approach to ensure players are maximising their ability to train and compete, working closely with other high performance staff
  • Provide nutrition servicing that utilises suitable non-traditional digital resources to ensure consistent and continued nutrition engagement whilst on the road
  • Travel when it is required for specialist skills input and athlete consultation, e.g. implement a heat management strategy when it has been developed, oversee the food environment in challenging locations or at high-value tournaments
  • Develop and reinforce strong working relationships with key commercial stakeholders in the nutrition space to provide access to quality nutrition products as well as support commercial opportunities for the benefit of the game

Capabilities, Experience & Qualification Requirements

Capabilities

  • Extended knowledge of female athlete health
  • Knowledge and understanding of the Australian high-performance sport system or equivalent international system knowledge
  • Extensive grasp of contemporary issues and evidence-based performance nutrition management of high-performance athletes
  • Skilled in the diagnosis and management of clinical nutritional issues, and individual nutrition counselling
  • Ability to identify barriers to optimal nutrition practices and develop and implement creative solutions
  • Understanding of athlete availability, injury and illness prevention, and load monitoring principles
  • Highly developed communication skills
  • Proven ability to build and maintain effective relationships both internally and externally with a diverse range of stakeholders, particularly sports science and sports medicine practitioners
  • Demonstrated ability to drive programs
  • Demonstrated ability to collaborate with a wide range of professionals
  • Reliable
  • Good ability to build relationships

Experience

Required

  • Minimum of 3 years’ experience in providing nutrition services in a high-performance environment at a national and international level
  • Proven ability to work in an integrated team with high-performance coaches and athletes
  • Experience in high-performance sport across different sports and levels of high-performance pathways
  • Demonstrated ability to manage remotely located programs
  • Commitment to ongoing professional education and personal development

Desirable

  • Experience at a national level managing a performance-focused nutrition program for a national sporting organisation
  • Passion for rugby

Qualification Requirements

Required

  • Bachelor’s degree in Nutrition and Dietetics from a Dietitians Australia (DA) accredited course, or a bachelor’s degree in science or an allied field, followed by a postgraduate degree in Nutrition and Dietetics from a DA accredited course, or a DSR examination for overseas trained dieticians, administered by DA
  • ISAK accredited
  • Member of DA as an Accredited Practicing Dietician
  • SDA Accredited Sports Dietitian

Desirable

  • IOC Diploma in Sports Nutrition preferable
  • SDA Advanced Accredited Sports Dietitian status is preferable (or the equivalent international status)
  • Annual update of Sports Integrity Australia’s Anti-Doping Fundamentals course

Please apply by emailing your cover letter and CV to madelaine.allaway@rugby.com.au by Friday, November 3, 2023.