The Nutrition Program Lead is responsible for designing and delivering a world class, evidence-based sports nutrition program that is focused on empowering players to understand why and how to support their training and game day performance, not just within the Club nutrition environment but also at home in their performance lifestyle needs.

The Nutrition Program Lead has collaborative working relationships within the Football Department to ensure performance nutrition behaviours are supportive of performance outcomes and also considerate of a holistic approach to player health and performance. The Nutrition Program Lead ensures the nutrition program has foundations in the latest research and nutrition innovations as well as in educational and behavioural research to ensure world-leading nutrition behaviours are foundational to players’ lifestyle and performance processes.

The Nutrition Program Lead is responsible for the design of a Club-wide nutrition program (with varying levels of responsibility) suitable for implementation in the AFL and AFLW programs. In a full time role, they are also responsible for the delivery of an aligned and integrated Football Department nutrition program to the players. In a part time, job-share role, they will work collaboratively with the Sports Dietitian from the alternate program to ensure aligned and integrated delivery.

Team size: Minimum 32 players

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Nutrition Program Lead

• Work directly with the High Performance Manager to design and develop a nutrition program focused on:
• Training and competition performance;
• Optimal response to training and competition stimulus;
• Achievable nutrition behaviours both at the Club and in players’ home environments;
• Sports Supplement program supportive of players’ health and performance;
• Club food environment focused on education and development of performance food behaviours.
• Lead nutrition education and professional development across the Club for key Football Department and other staff that includes the “whys” and “hows” of the Club’s nutrition program.
• (If relevant) collaborate with and support other staff to deliver consistent, effective and impactful nutrition services to athletes.
• Work collaboratively within the High Performance team to create daily and competition performance environments.
• Monitor and implement global, evidence-based trends in high performance sports nutrition that are aligned with a food focused sports nutrition philosophy targeting athlete and coach nutrition behaviours.
• Contribute to the sharing of high performance knowledge with others in the Richmond Football Club ecosystem to ensure the nutrition program is aligned and consistent with other areas of high performance support philosophy.

2. Sports Dietitian (AFL and/or AFLW Program)

• Provide world-leading, evidence-based sports nutrition support with a food focus to players, ensuring their nutrition behaviours and environments are in alignment with their individual performance needs.
• Provide individual, purposeful nutrition guidance to players, focused on performance in training and competition, response to training stimulus, and long-term physical development.
• Provide individual nutrition guidance to players on how to best utilise the Club’s food environments to achieve individual performance goals.
• Design and support the use of evidence-based sports supplements through the Club’s supplement program where food can’t provide suitable nutrient availability.
• (If relevant) work with the Nutrition Program Lead to ensure food service delivery is purposeful and matched to the performance and adaptation goals of training plans and competition schedules.
• Ensure that nutrition behaviours modelled through the Club’s team and food environment are achievable within players’ home environments to support consistent nutrition behaviours both in and away from the Club.
• Continually evaluate and develop players’ shopping, preparation and meal planning skills and knowledge to ensure they are developing lifelong positive food behaviours.
• Store and share athlete data in the athlete management system and other approved platforms in line with professional standards.
• Work collaboratively with all areas of high performance and coaching at the Club to understand how nutrition behaviours can impact physical, mental and social capabilities to ensure optimal athlete health and performance outcomes.
• Contribute to the development of, where required, athlete training and/or rehabilitation plans including regular review opportunities to measure nutrition progress towards agreed standards.
• Work collaboratively as a part of a high performing team, establishing and maintaining effective partnerships with key internal and external stakeholders to identify, lead and deliver high-quality integrated outcomes.
• As a member of the High Performance team and broader Football Department, take shared accountability for setting a high performance culture to enable successful outcomes.

*NB: The role(s) have no game day responsibilities, however there will be an assistant who can deliver the Nutrition Program at games or while the team is travelling.

**This role is available as a job share arrangement for the right candidate.

WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR: 

We are looking for someone/ones who is curious, collaborative and a coach at heart, who can develop world leading nutrition behaviours in our players that are purposeful, consistent and achievable with a food focused
philosophy and an optimal health and performance mindset.

1. At least one or more of the following:
   • Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietetics from a Dietitians Australia (DA) accredited course; or
   • Bachelor degree of Science or a related field, followed by a postgraduate degree in Nutrition and Dietetics from a DA accredited course; or
   • Dietetic Skill Recognition (DSR) examination for overseas trained Dietitians, administered by DA.
2. In addition to the above, all of the following:
   • Accredited Practicing Dietitian (DA);
   • Accredited Sports Dietitian (SDA);
   • Sports Dietitians Australia (SDA) Sports Nutrition Course or Tertiary course recognised by Sports Dietitians Australia (SDA).
3.  At least one of the following:
   • Current Level 1 (or above) ISAK Accreditation; or
   • Pending re-accreditation of previously held Level 1 (or above) ISAK Accreditation; or
   • Agree to obtain Level 1 (or above) ISAK accreditation upon acceptance of Contract; or
   • Ability to interpret strength, physical and physique testing metrics.
4. At least 5 years’ experience in a similar role embedded in an elite, high performance system and/or professional sport.
5. Previous experience in AFL or similar team sports with similar physiological demands (highly desirable).
6. Demonstrated experience delivering best practice sports nutrition servicing to achieve performance outcomes for elite athletes and their coaches competing across playing seasons.
7. Proven ability to work collaboratively in a high performance environment with coaches and support teams, and to maintain effective partnerships with key internal and external stakeholders to identify, lead and deliver high quality, integrated outcomes.

#Flexibility is something we value and we recognise that this will mean different things for different people. If this is important to you, please raise this with us. 

ABOUT US:

Richmond Football Club is one of the largest clubs in the Australian Football League, proudly rooted in our rich history and tradition. As we honour our past, we’re focused on building a Strong & Bold future – both on and off the field– through living our purpose of Belonging, Thriving and Winning.

We understand the power of sport to connect people, and at the heart of the Club’s purpose is being involved with our community. At Richmond, culture is paramount, and the Club is committed to developing its people in a supportive environment. Belonging, Thriving and Winning is not just about connecting with fans and members, but about staff, players and coaches connecting with each other with humour and care, through storytelling and authenticity, to build genuine relationships.

WHY WORK FOR US:

• Award-Winning Culture: Join an organisation that is an Australian HR Employer of Choice finalist and a Flexible Work Champion.
• Flexibility #: Enjoy a flexible work environment with options like flexible hours, work-from-home options, a relaxed dress code and the ability to observe public holidays that align with your cultural beliefs.
• Inclusive & Belonging: We are deeply committed to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, ensuring that everyone feels valued and respected, no matter their background or abilities
• Work-Life Balance: We believe in a ‘people first’ culture, where your personal and professional life can thrive together.
• Growth & Development: Your growth is our priority with professional development opportunities tailored to suit your goals.
• Wellbeing & Fun: We work hard but know how to have fun, fostering a high-performance, caring culture that values holistic wellbeing.
• Community Connection: Make a positive impact in the wider community and engage with our charity partners by supporting the Alannah and Madeline Foundation or get involved in one of our community programs across Korin Gamadji or the Bachar Houli Foundation.
• Perks & Benefits: Enjoy money can’t buy experiences, a range of perks, including discounts through our sponsors!

Click here to view our Employee Value Proposition (EVP) to find out why you should work at our Club!

OUR COMMITMENT TO THE SAFETY AND WELLBEING OF CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE:

The Richmond Football Club is committed to providing a safe and supportive environment for all children and young people. We exclusively hire individuals committed to fostering a child safe culture, irrespective of their role, and it is essential that all our staff understand their responsibility in relation to child safety. Individuals will require pre-employment checks, including a police check and a valid Working with Children Check for this role.