Nutritionist

About the role

We have an exciting opportunity for an individual to join our Nutrition team. The main focus of this job is to provide performance nutrition support primarily for the U18 and U21’s teams, those who are transitioning into the First Team and players on loan working alongside the Head of Nutrition to ensure consistency with our First Team protocols at the AXA Training Centre.

What will you be doing?

The overarching roles and responsibilities include:

• Responsibility for the Education and Development of player nutritional awareness.
• Supporting Match Day and Training sessions with nutritional input and advice.
• The management of strategies and protocols in accordance with Club standards and directives.
• Providing monthly reports on loan players based on information gathered from loan clubs.
• Attend medical and multi-disciplinary meetings to provide updates on individual nutritional plans as necessary.
• Having a presence in the dining rooms to advise players, providing creative options and ensure food standards
• Providing regular communication and updates to the Head of Nutrition providing support as and when required.
• Supporting players who are transitioning into the First Team in their development and awareness of nutrition. 
• Travelling with the U18 and U21 teams, as and when required, also for all away games manage the preparation for the teams including briefing hotels, ensuring that the locker rooms are set up correctly, ensuring recovery strategies and post-match catering is provided to Club nutritional standards.
• Developing and evaluating bespoke nutritional programs for elite players.
• Providing regular nutritional education to players and parents throughout the age group.
• Implementing strategies to support players' training and competitive programs whilst demonstrating a comprehensive knowledge of the science that supports sports nutrition e.g., nutrition to support strength development, recovery, hydration, supplementation, use of ergogenic aids, recovery from surgery etc.
• Implement injury and rehabilitation nutrition programs for elite players as part of a team with other medical, fitness and coaching staff.
• Develop standards and protocols for key areas of nutrition provision e.g., supplementation, travel, performance catering and menu planning as well as illness and injury contingency plans.
• To be the point of contact for the catering team around timings, nutritional needs and culinary creativity.

Please note your job and role title may be changed subject to operational requirements.  From time to time your manager may ask you to do other reasonable tasks not stated within this advertisement but commensurate to the position.

Who are we looking for?

To be successful you must have experience working with elite athletes in an elite sports environment and you must have a post-graduate degree in Performance Nutrition or Nutrition with sports expertise or a similar nutrition based discipline from a recognised university.  You must have a nutrition qualification e.g., SENr Accredited (or have the ability to complete accreditation within an agreed time period).  Likewise, you must have an ISAK Level 1 or willingness to undertake training and experience in body composition measurements, interpretation and data storage.

You must also have:

• Experience of catering and cooking on a basic level;
• Experience of developing and implementing evidence-based innovative ideas and putting them into practice, including working in an applied and integrated multi-disciplinary manner;
• Experience in or evidence of understanding the provision of nutritional support to athletes and coaches to support performance, which should include the planning, implementation and monitoring of specific nutrition programs; and experience in or evidence of understanding the ability to modify nutritional programs according to assessment data, in conjunction with Fitness, Medical and other support staff.

• UKAD advisor certificate / attended the Introduction to Clean Sport course

• Be able to work flexible hours and travel both nationally and internationally and understand the pressures and commitments required for elite players involved in higher level youth football.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, the ability to adapt to the football schedule and be well experienced in consulting situations.
• The ability to be an excellent role model and demonstrate the ability to create positive working relationships with key stakeholders.

It is desirable that you have:

• Evidence of further development and recent CPD activities - this could include experience in elite sporting environments other than football
• Knowledge of the overall Elite Player Plan (EPPP) and specifically the sports science elements of EPPP.

Why should you apply?

This is a full-time, permanent role working 35 hours per week on a 5 days in 7 basis.  Your main base will be our AXA Training Centre and LFC Academy in Kirkby, Merseyside.  This role will require the job holder to be willing and able to work during evenings, weekends and bank holidays when required.

To reward your hard work and commitment we offer a competitive salary, 33 days holiday (including 8 bank holidays) and a contributory pension scheme.  You will have access to our benefits kit bag where you can take advantage of high street discounts and a selection of benefit schemes.  There are opportunities to get involved with volunteering through our LFC Foundation to give back to the local community.

At Liverpool Football Club, we have an unwavering commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and are always looking to making a positive difference in the communities that we operate within. We are proud of our achievements in this area; maintaining the Premier League Equality Standard Advanced Level, becoming a founding signatory of the Football Association’s Football Leadership Diversity Code and being recognised as a leader in this important area on and off the pitch.

We take our responsibilities in this area seriously and through the work being done across the club, we are committed to increasing the diversity of our people and becoming an increasingly inclusive workplace for all.

We are committed to hiring great people representative of diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills across our entire business. If you share our enthusiasm and passion for inclusivity, then we want to hear from you.

Liverpool FC is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all Colleagues and Volunteers to share this commitment.  This role is subject to a satisfactory enhanced DBS check.