Consultant Performance Nutritionist

Durham Cricket C.I.C.; Chester-le-Street; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Part time

Job description

Organisation: Durham Cricket C.I.C.
Salary: £200 per day
Location: Chester-le-Street
Contract type: Fixed Term (Part time)
Closing date: 28 April 2025

Job Description

Durham Cricket – Consultant Performance Nutritionist

The Performance Nutritionist will provide a high quality nutrition education and support service to all Durham Cricket players (male and female, boys and girls). This service will be pivotal in ensuring that high quality performance nutrition provision is provided throughout the male and female pathway from those beginning their journey to established professional players. The service will involve working with the client as part of a multi-disciplinary team to deliver best practice, to achieve the performance and professional objectives of the Science and Medicine team and wider ambitions of the client.

The consultant will demonstrate a high standard of professionalism and skill, alongside experience of working in a team sport environment. Exceptional communication skills and the ability to problem solve logistical complexities surrounding the sport of cricket are essential. Previous experience working within cricket is beneficial but not essential. While the service will be supported by the Head of Performance Science, the consultant must be able to work autonomously and will show a commitment to continuing professional development and growth.

This service will be a 2 day per month provision for 10 months of the year, including the annual cricket season and pre-season on a contractor basis. This may include working outside normal office hours and on Public Holidays where necessary.

DUTIES

Service: Consultant Performance Nutritionist
Client: Durham Cricket
Location: The Banks Group Riverside, Chester-Le-Street.
Reports To: Head of Performance Science/Lead Strength and Conditioning Coach (Men & Womens)
Direct Reports: Nil

KEY RELATIONSHIPS

• Director of Cricket
• Science and Medicine Team
• Club Medical Officer
• Technical Coaches

PURPOSE

To provide Performance Nutrition provision and support to male and female cricketers affiliated to Durham Cricket. The aim is to deliver best practice for performance, education and to maximise the output of players within a safe and supportive environment.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Oversee and lead the governance of nutrition within the club.
• Work alongside the science and medicine team aligning with other disciplines to support identified players, screening and monitoring, injury and illness management.
• Work with identified players to support performance goals through appropriate nutrition strategies.
• Work with identified players during injury, aligning with medical staff as appropriate.
• Actively promote the role of food to enhance performance, working closely with catering to ensure the food provision whilst training and travelling is optimal.
• Work with coaches and support staff in determining appropriate methods of implementing the overall programme of nutrition service; including strategic support, educational programmes, individual consultations and group sessions, as required.
• Ensure that the delivery of nutrition support effectively meets the objectives and commitments of players and coaches.
• Develop, implement and monitor innovative and evidence-based practical nutrition strategies tailored to the needs of the sport.
• Develop, implement and review nutrition policies, standards and protocols that are best practice, including a policy on supplementation for all players.
• Oversee the relationships with key stakeholders including supplement partners.
• Work within the rules of professional confidentiality, liaise with athletes, primary care managers, parents, coaches and other support staff as appropriate within the rules of the SENr (or equivalent) Code of Conduct, standards and guidelines.
• Maintain a comprehensive, indexed database of work conducted with athletes and coaches, including detailed records of work done with individual athletes.
• Maintain a comprehensive indexed database of supplements provided to all individual players and teams.
• Having the willingness to engage with and support continuous professional development in anti-doping, i.e. UKAD Accredited Advisor Certification.
• Demonstrate knowledge and awareness of Athlete Support Personnel roles and responsibilities under the current World Anti-Doping Code.

QUALIFICATIONS AND KEY COMPETENCIES

Essential

• Undergraduate Degree in Nutrition, Sports Science, Dietetics or related subject
• Higher degree (IOC diploma in sports nutrition or PG Cert/Dip/Masters in Sports Nutrition or a related subject)
• Graduate on the Sports and Exercise Nutrition Register
• A minimum of 3 years’ post graduate experience in the provision of nutritional support to athletes and coaches in an elite sporting environment.
• Experience of analysing the demands of a team sport in relation to their nutrition needs in order to develop, implement and evaluate nutrition programmes for individual athletes within that sport.
• Experience of working with chefs and writing catering guidelines.
• Anti-Doping Clean Sport Advisor.
• Record of continuing professional development.
• Full UK Driving License.
• ISAK Level 1 Accreditation.

Desirable

• A knowledge of cricket as a sport and experience of working within cricket.
• Budgetary management experience and appreciation of a cost-effective service delivery.
• A verifiable record of working within a multidisciplinary team in the delivery of performance nutrition support in elite sport.
• Experience of working with supplement partners and managing key stakeholder relationships.

Specific Knowledge and Skills

• Effectively translate nutrition science into practical food advice
• Sound knowledge and understanding of the use of nutrition supplements and ergogenic aids
• Knowledge of nutritional support appropriate to the needs of high-performance athletes (performance and clinical)
• Ability to influence athletes and coaches to support programmes that impact performance.
• Ability to communicate complex data in terms that are easily understood by a wide range of audiences.
• Good communication and presentation skills.
• An interest in sport and recognition of the importance of promoting and supporting equality, safeguarding and anti-doping within sport.
• An understanding of the elite sporting environment.
• An understanding of the needs of elite athletes and coaches in a high-performance cricket environment.
• Skilled in building and maintaining productive relationships with high performance staff within national governing bodies of sport.
• Can demonstrate knowledge and awareness of Athlete Support Personnel roles and responsibilities under the World Anti-Doping Code.
• Having the willingness to engage with and support continuous professional development in anti-doping, i.e. UKAD Accredited Advisor Certification.

Personal Attributes, Aptitudes and Abilities

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• A commitment to equal opportunities and working towards equality standards
• A positive attitude with initiative, focus and drive
• Attention to detail and ability to plan effectively
• Patience with an orderly approach to problem solving
• Ability to work independently
• Ability to work within a team and contribute to the overall success of the team and the Club
• Interact effectively with all departments and personnel at the Club
• Passionate towards developing young players in preparation for elite cricket performance
• Contribute positively at all times to facilitate a pleasant and friendly atmosphere throughout the Club
• Commitment to work to the club standards within formalised rules, regulations, policies, and procedures

How to apply

To register your interest in being considered for the consultancy, please send a current up to date CV and a covering letter to [e-mail] detailing your suitability to provide the services required, relevant previous experience and key nutritional considerations for working in professional cricket. Closing date for applications is the 28th April 2025, initial interviews via Microsoft Teams scheduled for w/c 5th May 2025.