Performance Nutrition & Wellness Lead in Sheffield

Responsibilities

• Oversee all matchday nutrition provision, attending home and away fixtures in conjunction with the support Nutritionist(s).
• Lead the planning and delivery of periodised training nutrition strategies aligned with performance objectives and training load.
• Design menus for away fixtures and travel periods and, in conjunction with the Head Chef, develop training-ground menus using a food-first philosophy.
• Analyse player body composition data, communicate findings to staff and players, and implement appropriate SOPs.
• Support matchday and MD-1 live cooking operations where required.
• Develop and implement evidence-based supplementation strategies aligned with a food-first philosophy, ensuring all supplements are batch-tested (LGC/Informed Sport) and compliant with WADA and UK Anti-Doping regulations.
• Conduct regular one-to-one and group consultations with players to review dietary habits, wellness behaviours, and apply targeted behaviour-change strategies.
• Manage and oversee the matchday nutrition, supplementation, wellness technology, and nutrition technology budgets.
• Maintain up-to-date data within the Athlete Management System, including body mass, body composition, blood markers, microbiome analysis, sleep metrics, and relevant wellness indicators.
• Analyse first-team blood test results to identify micronutrient deficiencies and develop interventions using nutrition and wellness strategies.
• Liaise with players' personal chefs to coordinate scheduling, performance goals, and menu design.
• Design, implement, and lead a club-wide athlete wellness programme encompassing sleep quality monitoring, stress and load management, and recovery optimisation, integrating data from wearable technologies and the AMS.
• Work in close collaboration with the Club's Clinical Psychologist to integrate psychological wellbeing into the day-to-day performance and nutrition environment.
• Develop and deliver a structured wellness education curriculum for players and backroom staff, covering sleep hygiene, mental resilience, lifestyle habits, and holistic health beyond nutrition.
• Lead the club's applied research and innovation agenda in partnership with Sheffield Hallam University and other relevant institutions, including the design and oversight of research projects, ethics applications, and the translation of findings into applied practice.
• Coordinate recovery monitoring protocols in collaboration with the Sport Science and Medical teams, including HRV analysis, sleep tracking, and subjective wellness questionnaires, to inform daily training load and individualised recovery strategies.
• Produce regular wellbeing reports for the Head of Performance, synthesising data across nutrition, sleep, mental health, and recovery markers into actionable strategic recommendations.
• Conduct performance reviews with direct reports, setting clear objectives that support high performance and encompass wellbeing, learning, and development.

Qualifications

• MSc in sports nutrition or a related discipline.
• ISAK level one trained.
• Level 3 Food and Hygiene certification.
• Experience working full-time in nutrition in a professional sport environment.
• Experience in promoting wellness strategies within a sport environment.
• Excellent IT skills and knowledge of Microsoft Office.
• Knowledge and experience of using nutrition software to design individual meal plans and menus.
• Experience in designing and delivering educational presentations, workshops, and resources.
• Ability to translate nutritional science onto a plate.
• Excellent design skills for infographics & other educational resources.
• Knowledge of athlete wellness frameworks, including sleep science, HRV monitoring, and recovery optimisation.
• Good knowledge of key behavioural motivation techniques used in nutrition and wellness.
• Ability to communicate and build trusted relationships with elite athletes, coaching staff, and multidisciplinary colleagues.
• Professional approach to all aspects of work; punctual, reliable, diligent, and passionate about performance and holistic health.
• Strong motivational ability and genuine commitment to athlete wellbeing.
• Able to work as part of a team within an interdisciplinary sport science and medicine department.
• Able to use initiative and work to tight deadlines and rapidly changing scenarios.
• Ability to be assertive with athletes and staff when appropriate.
• Empathetic and emotionally intelligent approach when working with players on sensitive wellbeing issues.

EEO Statement

Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme.