Title: Academy Nutritionist (Casual)    

Reports to: Head of Academy Sport Science & Medicine

Location: Various (Canford Park Arena & new training ground)

Core Hours: Casual – 8 hours per week. 23/24 Season.

About AFC Bournemouth

Entering an exciting new chapter in its long and storied history, AFC Bournemouth is proud to retain its focus on family and community. Delivering that engagement with our loyal supporters is a passionate and integrated backroom staff, working closely together to provide a positive and lasting experience for all at Vitality Stadium.

Since its takeover by chairman Bill Foley, in a partnership including Hollywood actor Michael B. Jordan, the club has seen significant investment committed towards sustaining AFC Bournemouth in the Premier League, highlighted by the construction of a state-of-the-art training facility and the arrival of promising young talent from top clubs around Europe.

In the academy, there is a continued focus to become a category two academy, and this appointment will play a supporting role in that. This is a really exciting time to join the academy, as we move on to the next stage and continue to support the first team.

Academy Values:

• Players First: holding individual player development as the main intention behind decisions made as a coach and wider professional.
• Togetherness: working in a prosocial manner as part of a wider team – willing to contribute beyond own interests.
• Integrity: carrying out academy and club values in an open and honest manner.
• Accountability: willing to take responsibility for actions in a manner which allows learning, growth and reflection.

Main Duties

The current post holder will strive to develop gold standard Nutrition practice within the Academy Sport Science department at AFC Bournemouth. The role will involve overseeing, developing, and delivering the nutrition programme to elite level standards within the academy.

• Develop and implement a curriculum of education for players, parents, and staff across U9-U21 age groups.
• Provide recommendations on nutritional requirements of the developing athlete relating to certain periods of development e.g., during the adolescent growth spurt or transitioning from schoolboy to full time football.
• Provide bespoke support to PDP players to enhance health, performance, and recovery.
• Provide bespoke support to injured players and advise them on nutritional strategies that will enhance their recovery process.
• Provide nutritional support to the academy sport science department for planning purposes in relation to the nutritional strategies provided to the PDP squads.
• Lead on monitoring strategies linked to performance support including, body composition, nutritional knowledge, anti-doping, and hydration).
• Develop and provide a comprehensive matchday nutritional support strategy for players to aid performance and post-match recovery.

Professional Requirements

• Attend continued professional development sessions organised by the academy or other professional bodies.
• Attend seasonal safeguarding training as required by the club.
• Adhere to all guidelines contained within the club's Safeguarding Policy.
• Utilise the ‘MyConcern’ system to ‘recognise, respond, report and record’ any safeguarding incidents in a timely and detailed manner.

General

• As a casual worker you must adhere to the club’s safeguarding policies and procedures and are committed to our safeguarding values, creating a safe and positive environment for all those who interact with the club.
• Obligation to adhere to the club’s health and safety policy and procedures.
• Actively promote the club’s equality policies and practices to ensure a welcoming, safe and inclusive environment for everyone engaged with the club.

Key competencies

Required

• Undergraduate Degree in Sports Nutrition/Sport Science or related discipline
• A recognised nutrition qualification e.g., UK Sport & Exercise Nutrition Register Accredited (SENr)
• ISAK Level 1 or willingness to attain within a certain timeframe
• Experience in or evidence of understanding the provision of nutritional support to athletes and coaches to support health and performance
• FA Safeguarding children certificate

Desired

• UKAD advisor certificate
• Post-graduate qualification in Performance Nutrition/Nutrition or similar
• Experience working in an academy football setting delivering nutritional support to players and staff

Person specification

The club’s values are at the core of its staff behaviour and how they approach everything they do, therefore we are looking for someone is honest, inclusive, kind, hardworking, loyal and respectful.