Director, Performance Nutrition

United States Soccer Federation 1•Atlanta, GA

About The Position

U.S. Soccer is seeking an innovative and collaborative leader to serve as the Director of Performance Nutrition. As a senior leader within the Integrated Performance Support (IPS) Unit, this role will oversee the strategic vision, operational delivery, and continued evolution of performance nutrition and culinary services across the Federation’s National Team environments. Working within a cross-functional team, this position will collaborate across Performance Medicine, Performance Science, Performance & Data Analytics, and Performance Innovation to support player development, health, performance, and longevity. The Director will guide an integrated model that combines world-class performance nutrition, culinary operations, player and coach education, body composition strategy, recovery fueling, and performance dining experiences to support elite preparation and sustained high performance. Working closely with the Executive Director of Culinary Services at the Arthur M. Blank National Training Center, National Team Performance Chefs, consulting sports dietitians, and IPS practitioners, this individual will build scalable systems and standards that elevate athlete care and performance support across Youth, Extended, and Senior National Team programs. The ideal candidate is a progressive systems thinker and relationship-builder who thrives in collaborative, fast-paced, high-performance environments, brings a team-first mindset, and a passion for innovation.

Requirements

Master’s degree in Nutrition, Dietetics, Exercise Science, or related field required; PhD preferred
Registered Dietitian (RD/RDN) in good standing with applicable state licensure
Board Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics (CSSD)
ISAK Level 1 (or higher) accreditation
Minimum 8 years of experience in elite sport, professional sport, collegiate athletics, Olympic sport, or federation environments
Demonstrated experience leading integrated performance nutrition programs and/or culinary performance operations
Experience managing interdisciplinary staff, consultants, vendors, or distributed service networks
Strong applied expertise in body composition assessment, athlete profiling, nutrition periodization, and performance fueling strategies within elite sport environments
Experience collaborating within interdisciplinary performance and medical teams
Knowledge of WADA, USADA, FIFA, and anti-doping best practices related to supplementation and athlete education
Strong operational leadership, communication, organizational, and project management skills
Capable of working in fast-paced and demanding environments
Must be able to connect “micro” details to the “macro” vision and mission
Proficient experience with Microsoft Suite (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Outlook)
Ability to work non-traditional hours, including evenings, weekends, and extensive domestic/international travel

Nice To Haves

Previous experience within professional sport, Olympic sport, and National Team environments is desired

Responsibilities

Lead and oversee U.S. Soccer’s Performance Nutrition & Culinary Services strategy across all National Team programs and events
Direct and support a growing network that includes: National Training Center Executive Chef, Full-time Performance Chef staff, Consulting and network sports dietitians, External nutrition partners (i.e.: Powerade)
Establish operational standards, workflows, service expectations, and performance systems across all nutrition and culinary environments
Collaborate with culinary leadership to deliver elite dining and fueling experiences at the National Training Center and during camps, competitions, and travel
Develop scalable systems for menu planning, supplementation, hydration delivery, grab-and-go fueling, recovery stations, and performance dining operations
Oversee vendor relationships, food sourcing strategies, inventory systems, budget planning, and quality assurance processes
Create alignment and continuity across Youth & Extended National Team environments through centralized standards
Build and support a high-performance culture centered on collaboration, innovation, learning, mentorship, and athlete service
Lead U.S. Soccer’s fueling optimization strategy
Design and operationalize evidence-informed nutrition systems that maximize availability, adaptation, recovery, resilience, and long-term athlete health
Lead body composition and athlete profiling initiatives in collaboration with Performance Science, Performance Medicine, and Performance & Data Analytics staff
Establish federation-wide standards and best practices for body composition assessment, interpretation, reporting, and education
Integrate body composition insights into individualized nutrition periodization, recovery planning, readiness management, and long-term athlete development strategies
Support growth and maturation considerations within Youth National Team environments through integrated monitoring and education systems
Collaborate across IPS to support integrated performance planning and real-time readiness management processes
Utilize data-informed approaches to optimize fueling, hydration, recovery, and player availability strategies
Operate as a senior leader within a transdisciplinary Integrated Performance Support model built around shared accountability and collaborative decision-making
Contribute to athlete profiling and long-term player development systems
Partner with Performance Innovation and Data Analytics to evolve monitoring systems, education tools, and performance nutrition technologies
Support integrated performance planning processes that align technical, tactical, physical, psychosocial and nutritional priorities into one unified preparation strategy
Collaborate with clubs, external providers, and federation stakeholders to ensure continuity and alignment of athlete support systems
Contribute to the continued evolution of U.S. Soccer’s high-performance environments and athlete experience standards