The Purpose:       

The purpose of this position is to implement best practices in performance nutrition for Manchester United's First Team, with a focus on optimizing physical attributes, promoting performance readiness, and facilitating recovery. Working collaboratively with the multidisciplinary team and adhering to established protocols, the successful candidate will be responsible for developing, implementing, and evaluating evidence-based practices to maximize athletic growth, competition readiness, and injury prevention. This role requires a strong ability to apply cutting-edge nutritional strategies, work collaboratively with other professionals, and stay up-to-date with industry developments.

The Role:

• Develop and implement evidence-based performance nutrition practices to optimise physical attributes, readiness, and recovery for Manchester United's First Team


• Collaborate with multidisciplinary team members and adhere to established protocols to reduce injury risk, maximise athletic growth, and optimize competition readiness


• Proactively consult with players to review individual nutrition strategies in line with training and development goals, and provide daily reactive support


• Collaborate with the 1st team Head Chef and Catering Manager in setting weekly menus specific to 1st team requirements, but also developing the food culture and approach that runs throughout the club.


• Manage the administration of daily menu analysis via Nutritics, and presentation of key information at point of service.  Working in partnership with other key stakeholders on further integration of this data within new technology innovations.


• Deliver individual and group education sessions to players, families, and support teams


• Co-ordinate provision of performance nutrition services in the 1st team program, including management and development of the nutrition assistant


• Manage and lead monitoring of body composition and nutritional biomarkers screening


• Implement and supervise performance-based investigations and projects


• Design and implement systems and methodologies to evaluate department impact and effectiveness


• Contribute to knowledge development, aggregation, and sharing across the department


• Play a key role in developing applied research streams in the MUFC setting

The Person:

Qualifications

• Registration with the BDA’s Sports & Exercise Nutrition register or equivalent.


• Hold post graduate level qualification in Sports Science / Nutrition.


• ISAK accreditation


• Level 2 Food Hygiene


• UKAD Accredited Adviser

Experience

• Substantial experience as a practicing registered sports and exercise nutritionist or equivalent


• Experience of working within a multi-disciplinary performance team in the delivery of services to elite athletes – Minimum 5 years


• Experience of supporting athletes at international training & competition


• Computer literacy essential with high level of expertise in Excel and Nutritics


• Significant experience of 1:1 consultancy with athletes


• Excellent communication skills with the ability to build meaningful, strong strategic relationships with club staff and players.

Knowledge & Skills

• Demonstrated experience of applying coaching skills and different behaviour change models to support players.


• Demonstrated ability to analyse a range of athletes in relation to their performance needs. To develop, implement and evaluate bespoke nutrition support.


• An understanding of the needs of elite athletes and coaches in a high performance environment.


• Ability to implement innovative ideas and influence athlete and coach support programmes


• Ability to communicate complex data in terms that are easily understood by a wide range of audiences.