Performance Nutrition Assistant

This is a Full Time Job

Under the direction of the Director of Performance Nutrition, the position of the Nutrition Assistant will be an integrated role that serves the Phoenix Suns & Phoenix Mercury. The position includes the development of the team and individual nutrition programming, the development of nutrition education materials, food service management and culinary oversight, and other related diet and nutrition functions.

This will be a hybrid role to include being the full-time nutritionist/dietitian for the Phoenix Mercury for the entirety of their in-season (April-August), post-season (Sept-Oct), and off-season (Nov-March), and when not working with the Mercury will be assisting the Director of Performance Nutrition with Phoenix Suns duties especially owning travel menu development and execution.

What You Will Do:
• Menu coordination and development for the Phoenix Suns & Mercury. This includes creating menus for the airlines (Suns), hotels (Suns & Mercury) Pre-game snacks @arena (Suns), and post-game meals @arena (Suns & Mercury).
• Coordinating with KJ Sports Travel & Top Notch Catering for all Suns’ meals on the road from menu creation to execution to delivery
• Having constant contact with the hotel’s banquet manager, chef, and supporting staff for the optimal roll-out of the menus i.e. completing BEOs and reviewing BEOs in a timely manner, communicating food allergies, sensitivities, preferences, etc.
• Coordinate inventory, ordering, & stocking of the Suns & Mercury supplements
• Implement & refine existing basketball-specific sports nutrition program that includes developing evidence-based nutrition education materials such as presentations, signage, and deliverables
• Assist in conducting performance nutrition assessments and consult with individual Sun’s players
• Assist in developing nutrition recovery and supplementation protocols for individual athletes in multiple settings (practice facility, home arena, travel)
• Collaborate with the Sports Medicine and Athletic Performance staff to design nutrition and supplement strategies for injured players during their rehabilitation process and return to play Strategies should include current evidence-based research.
• Phoenix Mercury specific nutrition support with help from the Director, Performance Nutrition, including but not limited to
• Provide nutrition assessment, develop nutrition care plans (in-season, training day, game day & off-season), and provide individual medical nutrition therapy as part of a multidisciplinary sports performance team.
• Collaborate with Athletic Medicine Staff to provide care to support overall health and injury prevention and treatment.
• Implement supplement prescriptions under the supervision of the Director of Performance
• Manage supplement inventory & supplement ordering,
• Implement and maintain hydration systems and protocols
• Conduct physiological testing as indicated/requested, including hydration testing with urine MX3, InBody (Body Comp), weekly weights, sweat rate testing, etc.
• Make and hand-deliver pre-workout & game-day drinks/snacks
• Create and own travel menus as stated above
• Serve as a member of a multidisciplinary treatment team (CARE team) and work closely with mental health professionals, team physicians, and athletic trainers on issues specific to student-athletes with eating disorders or disordered eating habits and other diet-influenced medical conditions
• Engage players in the nutrition education and meal planning process to provide them with a sense of ownership of their personal nutrition and to promote healthy eating habits.
• Work with players and staff to establish and fulfill specific dietary goals for individual players and the collective
• Assist in designing educational materials, education delivery methods, menu development, travel meals,
• May be asked to participate in various community outreach programs and charitable endeavors on behalf of the organization
• Maintains regular and reliable attendance

Additional Competencies:
• Passion for food service and creating menus – could use help with elaborating and focusing on this
• Focus on hospitality and food service
• Takes initiative with projects, sets goals and tracks progress
• Has excellent and effective communications skills
• Focused on delivering high-quality service
• An active life-long learner who engages in regular continuing education and professional development
• Enjoys traveling and lives a physically active, healthy lifestyle
• Personal skills, capable of working well with

What We Need From our Assistant:
• Bachelor’s degree in Dietetics or related nutrition field and completion of dietetic internship (RDE), preferably with a sports nutrition emphasis
• Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN)
• Clinical dietetics w/ a focus on integrative & functional nutrition and food service experience

Preferred
• Master’s degree in nutrition or related sports and performance field
• Former high school/collegiate athlete OR competitive athlete as an adult
• Exceptional organizational, as well as written and verbal communication
• Work experience in the retail, restaurant, or customer service
• Willingness to obtain CSSD within 2 years of hire

Additional eligibility requirements:
• Must maintain confidentiality about personal health information of all Phoenix Suns, Phoenix Mercury players, staff, coaches, and all other employees that the Director of Performance Nutrition renders services

What You Can Expect:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by a teammate to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
• Light work: exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently and/or a negligible about of force frequently
• Work includes both indoor and outdoor work with exposure to environmental needs
• Will require some travel with the team for overnight or multiple nights during the NBA regular season, NBA playoffs, NBA Draft, NBA Summer League, WNBA Season, and WNBA playoffs.
• Requires ability to travel by car and plane
• This role requires the ability to attend all home Traditional business hours are anticipated for non-game days. This role requires flexible scheduling to include evenings, weekends, some holidays, and some overtime as business rise.
• Ability to stand for extended periods of time
• Ability to walk short and long distances
• Climb stairs
• Moving from one workplace to another to accomplish tasks
• Assessing the accuracy, neatness, and thoroughness of the work assigned
• Capable of public speaking and communicating to large groups
• Capable of distinguishing colors and/or shades of color
• Communicating with others to exchange information
• Ability to respond quickly to sounds and alarms
• Ability to see and respond to dangerous situations
• Will need to be able to work within and/or around a full-service kitchen
• Ability to Read, Write & Speak in English

Suns Legacy Partners, LLC. is committed to employing a diverse workforce. Qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran status, or disability.

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.