Lead Academy Performance Nutritionist

Crystal Palace FC; Greater London; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Complimentary match day ticket

Health and Wellbeing benefit scheme

Holiday allowance: 25 Days

Travel Season Ticket loan

Discounts in Retail Stores

Discounts in gyms

Job summary

Crystal Palace Football Club is seeking an experienced Academy Nutrition Lead to oversee the nutrition function across the U9–U21 pathway. You will design evidence-based programmes, fuel and hydrate players, measure body composition, and integrate nutrition with coaching and medical staff.

You will develop education for players, staff and families, manage the working budget, collaborate with catering to deliver nutritionally rich menus, and contribute to research and quality improvement projects

Qualifications

• MSc or equivalent in Sports Nutrition or related discipline.
• SENR accredited.
• ISAK Level 1 qualification.
• Experience in elite sport, preferably football.
• Experience using body composition data to inform interventions.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Academy nutrition function across the U9–U21 pathway.
• Develop and evaluate a periodised nutrition programme for training, matchday and rehab.
• Provide individualised nutrition support considering growth and maturation.
• Design and deliver nutrition education for players, staff and families.
• Collaborate with MDT to integrate nutrition into performance systems.
• Develop systems to monitor body composition and athlete data.
• Maintain accurate records and governance around data.

Skills

MSc in Sports Nutrition

SENR accreditation

ISAK Level 1

Elite sports experience

Nutritional data analysis

Education

MSc in Sports Nutrition or equivalent

Job description

Job Location: Academy Training Ground, BR3 1NZ

Deadline: 20th September 2026

Who we are:

We are Crystal Palace Football Club, a Premier League Football Club with more than 160 years of proud history.

Spread across three different sites - brand new main offices at Selhurst Park Stadium, our London office, and our Training Ground/Academy, we offer the best atmosphere and culture for our fans and our employees.

We strive for excellence in the workplace with a philosophy of high standards, professionalism, and a strong work ethic from our employees. We are constantly trying to grow, diversify and build with not only our team on the pitch, but also our team in the offices and on the ground.

About this role:

Working at our Copers Cope Academy training ground, you will be a collaborative and pragmatic practitioner looking to deliver a periodised, performance-focused, evidence-based and data-driven nutrition programme. You will design and deliver engaging, age-appropriate education strategies for players, staff, parents and host families that translate nutrition knowledge into sustainable behaviours. You will create systems to measure, monitor, interpret and share body composition data, while maintaining accurate records of consultations, interventions and outcomes. You will build strong interdepartmental relationships with the culinary team to create inventive, nutritionally rich and varied menus, and with the wider MDT to align messaging, educate coaching staff and integrate nutrition into rehabilitation, to support player development. You will lead the nutrition function, managing the working budget and providing oversight and development to our studentship programme, delivering nutritional support across our long-term player development pathway from U9–U21.

Responsibilities:

• To lead the Academy nutrition function, working collaboratively with the Head of Sports Science and Medicine and wider Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) to deliver a high-quality, evidence-based nutrition service across the Academy pathway (U9–U21).
• To develop, implement and continuously evaluate a periodised nutrition programme that supports player development, health and performance across training, matchday, travel and rehabilitation environments, including fuelling, hydration, recovery and supplementation.
• To provide individualised, age-appropriate and athlete-centred nutritional support to Academy players, with particular consideration to growth and maturation, energy availability, bone health, recovery and the nutritional demands of developing athletes.
• To design and deliver engaging nutrition education for players, coaches, staff, parents and host families, translating nutrition knowledge into practical and sustainable behaviours and building strong, trusting relationships with players and their support networks.
• To work collaboratively with Performance, Medical, Strength and Conditioning and Coaching staff to integrate nutrition into wider MDT performance systems, including player development, injury rehabilitation and return to performance.
• To lead the development and implementation of systems to measure, monitor and interpret body composition and other relevant athlete data, using appropriate data visualisation and reporting to inform interventions and objectively evaluate their impact on player development, health and performance.
• To maintain accurate and comprehensive records of consultations, interventions, body composition assessments, outcomes and relevant athlete data, ensuring appropriate confidentiality, governance and professional standards are maintained.
• To work closely with the Academy culinary and catering teams to develop inventive, nutritionally rich and varied menus, translating nutritional requirements into practical food provision and daily player behaviours.
• To lead and manage the Academy nutrition working budget and provide oversight, support and development to the Academy studentship programme.
• To contribute to player, parent, host family and coach education, as well as the continuing professional development of Sports Science and Medicine staff, maintaining up-to-date knowledge of the current evidence base and best practice in sports nutrition.
• To support and contribute to relevant research, audit and quality improvement projects across the Academy, ensuring practice continues to develop in line with current evidence and relevant Premier League / EPPP requirements.
• All employees may be required to undertake any other duties as may be reasonably requested, together with other duties and responsibilities as required by the line manager.
• Upholding and promoting the Club’s policies and procedures, including Health and Safety, Safeguarding and Equal Opportunities policies and procedures.
• Other duties and responsibilities as required by line manager.
• Upholding and promoting the Club’s policies and procedures, including Health and Safety, Safeguarding and Equal Opportunities policies and procedures.

Experience, Skills and Qualifications:

• MSc or equivalent qualification in Sports Nutrition or a related discipline.
• SENR accredited.
• Minimum ISAK Level 1 qualification.
• Demonstrable experience working within an elite sporting environment, ideally within professional football, with experience supporting the long-term development, health and performance of young athletes.
• Demonstrable experience supporting young athletes through growth and maturation, with a strong understanding of energy availability, bone health, recovery and the nutritional demands of developing athletes.
• Experience using body composition and athlete data to inform individualised interventions and evaluate outcomes.
• Experience applying performance nutrition strategies across training, matchday, travel and rehabilitation environments, including fuelling, hydration, recovery and supplementation.
• Experience working collaboratively with catering teams to translate nutritional requirements into practical food provision would be advantageous.
• Demonstrable up-to-date knowledge of the current evidence base and the ability to translate this into practical, athlete-centred practice.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to educate, advise and motivate young athletes, parents, coaches and staff.
• Strong interpersonal, organisational and leadership skills, with the ability to build effective relationships, manage competing priorities, take ownership of interventions and work collaboratively within a high-performance MDT.
• Confident, self-motivated and able to work effectively under pressure, with a commitment to continuous professional development and high standards of professional practice.

Benefits:

• Complimentary match day ticket
• Reward and Discount Scheme through our Tech Scheme and Simple Health app
• Health and Wellbeing benefit scheme
• 20% Discount in our Retail Stores
• Discounts in various gyms through GymFlex
• Volunteering Day - 1 Workday off to support a charity of your choice.
• Travel Season Ticket loan
• Holiday allowance: 25 Days

Our commitment to Equality

At Crystal Palace Football Club, Equality, Diversity & Inclusion is spirited and continues to grow due to the working environment, which makes all staff feel appreciated and welcomed. Crystal Palace Football Club do this by encouraging good relations and practices towards different groups and are committed to promoting employment opportunities that celebrate diversity.

We are committed to attracting, recruiting, and retaining the most talented candidates and the club intends to ensure that everyone who wishes to engage with the club, whether as matchday fans, staff, players, board members, participants in Foundation programmes and any other person engaged with the club's activities, has a real and equal opportunity to do so.

Reasonable Adjustment

We are proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. We guarantee an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role, ensuring equitable opportunities for everyone.

If you require disability-related adjustments during the recruitment process, please contact [e-mail] (DLO inbox is for disability-related queries only, if you wish to gain further information regarding this vacancy, please contact [e-mail]). We are here to help you through the whole recruitment process including trying to apply for a vacancy, getting in touch with us through the process, and/or helping with access in case you are required to come in for an interview.

Safeguarding

Crystal Palace Football Club is committed to safeguarding and ensuring the welfare and protection of children and vulnerable people and expects all staff to share this commitment. As such, the post holder will be required to undergo any relevant security checks, including a comprehensive background check, Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) to ensure the safety and protection of children and vulnerable individuals.