Assistant Athletics Director for Sports Nutrition

Iowa State University; United States; On-site; USD 95,000 - 135,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Retirement benefits

Generous vacation and leave plans

Onsite childcare (Ames, Iowa)

Life insurance and long‑term disabled

Flexible Spending Accounts

Employee Assistance Program

Wellbeing program

Job summary

Iowa State University Athletics Department seeks an experienced Assistant Athletics Director for Sports Nutrition to lead our nutrition program for Cyclone student‑athletes. You will drive strategic nutrition initiatives, oversee a skilled team, manage a multi‑million‑dollar budget, and ensure evidence‑based practices that support athletic performance and student wellness.

The role requires an RD with CDR, Iowa licensure, and eligibility to work in the U.S.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and 5 years of related experience.
• Registered dietitian with the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR).
• Licensed Dietitian in the State of Iowa.
• Authorized to work in the U.S. without sponsorship.

Responsibilities

• Lead business operations for Performance Nutrition with a $4M budget, including strategic planning, forecasting, education, annual reports, and fiscal oversight.
• Ensure strong financial controls and compliance with guidelines.
• Serve on the Sports Medicine, Performance, and Welfare leadership team.
• Collaborate with internal and external partners to maximize student‑athlete potential through evidence‑based nutrition.
• Direct meal planning and scheduling for Stark Performance Center Nutrition Center and fueling stations.
• Liaise between ISU and the nutrition center vendor.
• Supervise full‑time staff and student interns, fostering a collaborative team culture.
• Provide confidential dietetic assessments and counseling to student‑athletes and teams.
• Oversee sports nutrition education and recruit presentations.
• Foster academic collaboration with Iowa State's Food Science and Nutrition department for clinical supervision of future sport dietitians.

Skills

Registered dietitian (CDR)

Iowa licensure

Budget oversight

Leadership

Stakeholder collaboration

Disordered eating counseling

Nutritional supplements for athletes

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Master’s degree (preferred)

Job description

Position Title: Assistant Athletics Director for Sports Nutrition

Job Group: Professional & Scientific

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s and 5 years of related experience.
• Registered dietitian with the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR).
• Must have and maintain licensure as a Licensed Dietitian in the State of Iowa.
• Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. on an on-going basis without sponsorship.
• Immigration sponsorship is not available for this position.

Job Description

The Iowa State University Athletics Department invites applications for a dynamic and experienced Assistant Athletics Director for Sports Nutrition. This position will serve as a key leader, shaping departmental operations and nutritional strategies that fuel Cyclone student-athletes. This role offers the opportunity to continue building and enhancing a high‑performing nutrition program supported by industry-leading facilities and infrastructure, lead a dedicated staff, and directly impact competitive success through evidence‑based performance nutrition.

What you’ll do

• Lead business operations for Performance Nutrition, including strategic planning, forecasting, education, annual reports, and fiscal oversight of an annual budget of approximately $4 million.
• Ensure strong financial controls and compliance with guidelines.
• Serve on the Sports Medicine, Performance, and Welfare leadership team.
• Work closely with internal and external partners and stakeholders to maximize student-athlete potential through nutrition fostering positive, collegial, and collaborative relationships.
• Direct meal planning and scheduling for the Stark Performance Center Nutrition Center, catered meals, post-competition recovery strategies, and fueling stations.
• Serve as the liaison between ISU and the nutrition center vendor.
• Supervise full‑time staff members and student interns, fostering a collaborative, service‑oriented team culture that builds a culture of trust, confidence, and confidentiality with the student-athletes.
• Maintain comprehensive nutrition programs tailored by sport and individuals including disordered eating planning that enhance athletic performance and support student-athlete wellness.
• Provide confidential, individualized dietetic assessments and counseling to student-athletes and teams.
• Oversee sports nutrition education.
• Play an integral role in recruiting presentations.
• Establish and foster a working relationship with Iowa State's nationally recognized Department of Food Science and Nutrition to provide clinical experience and supervision for future sport dietitians.
• Ensure all duties are performed in accordance with NCAA, Big 12 Conference, and university policies.

Preferred Qualifications

• Board Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics (CSSD).
• Related master’s degree.
• Documented experience in administrative oversight of sports nutrition department, or equivalent.
• Experience managing the budget for a large collegiate sports nutrition department and dining center.
• Experience providing sports nutrition counseling, educational programming, and meal planning for athletes and teams.
• Experience counseling disordered eating/eating disorders.
• Expertise working with nutritional supplement programs for athletes.

About ISU Athletics

As an NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision athletics program and a founding member of the Big 12 Conference, Iowa State University sponsors 18 intercollegiate athletics teams and supports 450 student-athletes in their pursuit of academic and athletic excellence. ISU Athletics employs over 250 talented and dedicated full‑time staff members, more than 500 temporary and student employees, and multiple auxiliary partners who collaboratively work within a culture to support and enhance the experiences of Cyclone student-athletes and their loyal fan base. Iowa State student-athletes have produced 10‑consecutive years of record‑setting Graduation Success Rate scores in the classroom, while athletically, the Cyclones have captured 19 national team championships, 140 national individual titles and 162 conference team championships in its rich history.

Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. on an on‑going basis without sponsorship. Immigration sponsorship is not available for this position.

Employment Type

Appointment Type: Regular Number of Months Employed Per Year: 12 Month Work Period Time Type: Full time Pay Grade: PS810 Original Posting Date: October 30, 2026 Posting Close Date: November 12, 2026

Benefits

• Retirement benefits including defined benefit and defined contribution plans
• Generous vacation, holiday, and sick time and leave plans
• Onsite childcare (Ames, Iowa)
• Life insurance and long‑term disability
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Various voluntary benefits and discounts
• Employee Assistance Program
• Wellbeing program

Equal Opportunity

Iowa State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, ethnicity, religion, national origin, pregnancy, sexual orientation, genetic information, sex, marital status, disability, or status as a U.S. Veteran. Inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies may be directed to Office of Equal Opportunity, 2680 Beardshear Hall, 515 Morrill Road, Ames, Iowa 50011, Tel. [phone], email [e-mail].

All offers of employment, oral and written, are contingent upon the university’s verification of credentials and other information required by federal and state law, ISU policies/procedures, and may include the completion of a background check and/or a consumer credit check.