Performance Dietitian

D.C. United; Leesburg (VA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

D.C. United is seeking a registered sports dietitian to lead performance nutrition for the first team, developing evidence-informed strategies to optimize health, adaptation, recovery and on-field performance across training, travel, and home games.

This role requires strong coordination with operations, medical, coaching, culinary staff, and requires ability to work flexible hours, travel, and pass a background check.

Qualifications

• Professional, collegiate, or club-level team sports nutrition experience.
• Experience in professional sports food service, program development, leadership, and the clinical management of professional athletes.

Responsibilities

• Lead the organization’s performance dietetics, culinary, food-purchasing, and supplement programs.
• Collaborate closely with team operations, sports medicine, performance, strength and conditioning, and coaching staff.
• Assess dietary practices, energy balance, hydration, and body composition, and establish testing protocols for each.
• Create individualized nutrition and hydration strategies based on training load, energy system demands, and performance and recovery needs.
• Establish individualized player goals and measure progress across the season.
• Coordinate blood testing, interpret results, and prescribe appropriate nutrition interventions.
• Implement injury-specific nutrition protocols throughout the rehabilitation and return-to-play process.
• Lead individual and team counseling and education sessions, including nutrition prescriptions and educational materials for players.
• Purchase and distribute NSF Certified for Sport and Informed Sport supplements.
• Develop systems for supplement education, safety, monitoring, and utilization.
• Provide ongoing education and monitoring to ensure compliance with MLS rules, regulations, and nutrition-related bylaws, and to minimize inadvertent doping risk.
• Oversee culinary staff, menu development, scheduling, food quality, presentation, and service standards.
• Coordinate menus and meal operations with hotels, airlines, arenas, travel staff, caterers, and executive chefs.
• Manage quantity food production, inventory, and distribution of meals, supplements, and beverages.
• Manage ordering, procurement, vendor relationships, and purchase payments.

Skills

Sports nutrition

Clinical Nutrition

Communication

Collaboration

Microsoft Office

Education

Registered Dietitian (RD)

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Position Overview

The Performance Dietitian leads the delivery of comprehensive, evidence-informed nutrition services for the first team, providing individualized and team-based support that optimizes player health, adaptation, recovery, and performance. The role develops nutrition and hydration strategies, supports injury rehabilitation and return-to-play, oversees supplementation practices, and coordinates food service operations across the training facility, home games, and travel.

Success in this role requires strong organization, clear communication, and close collaboration with team operations, high performance, medical, coaching, and culinary staff.

Are you a registered dietitian passionate about sports nutrition and helping athletes reach their full potential?

Responsibilities

Program Leadership

• Lead the organization’s performance dietetics, culinary, food-purchasing, and supplement programs.
• Collaborate closely with team operations, sports medicine, performance, strength and conditioning, and coaching staff.

Player Assessment and Individual Nutrition

• Assess dietary practices, energy balance, hydration, and body composition, and establish testing protocols for each.
• Create individualized nutrition and hydration strategies based on training load, energy system demands, and performance and recovery needs.
• Establish individualized player goals and measure progress across the season.
• Coordinate blood testing, interpret results, and prescribe appropriate nutrition interventions.
• Implement injury-specific nutrition protocols throughout the rehabilitation and return-to-play process.
• Lead individual and team counseling and education sessions, including nutrition prescriptions and educational materials for players.

Supplementation and Compliance

• Purchase and distribute NSF Certified for Sport and Informed Sport supplements.
• Develop systems for supplement education, safety, monitoring, and utilization.
• Provide ongoing education and monitoring to ensure compliance with MLS rules, regulations, and nutrition-related bylaws, and to minimize inadvertent doping risk.

Food Service and Operations

• Oversee culinary staff, menu development, scheduling, food quality, presentation, and service standards.
• Coordinate menus and meal operations with hotels, airlines, arenas, travel staff, caterers, and executive chefs.
• Manage quantity food production, inventory, and distribution of meals, supplements, and beverages.
• Manage ordering, procurement, vendor relationships, and purchase payments.

The selected candidate must be able to successfully pass a background check.

Experience

• Professional, collegiate, or club-level team sports nutrition experience.
• Experience in professional sports food service, program development, leadership, and the clinical management of professional athletes.

Skills And Attributes

• Expertise in clinical and performance nutrition.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills in a multidisciplinary sports environment.
• Excellent multi-tasking and prioritization skills.
• Strong computer proficiency, including Microsoft Office and other relevant software.

Schedule and Availability

• Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends, with possible travel.

D.C. United is committed to uplifting our community, staff, and club. We are seeking candidates to be a part of our journey in our quest for continued organizational growth and another MLS Cup.

D.C. United will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform critical job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

D.C. United is an equal opportunity employer (EOE). D.C. United reaffirms its commitment to the principles of equal opportunity and diversity. D.C. United is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and an affirmative action employer. D.C. United is committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ethnicity, ancestry, pregnancy, religion, creed, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship status, marital status, disability, gender identity, gender expression, veteran status, or any other protected status in accordance with the requirements of all federal, state, and local laws. Employment decisions can include hiring, termination, compensation, benefits, promotion, training selection, or other statuses or conditions of employment. All employment decisions are made on the basis of individual skills, knowledge, abilities, job performance, and other appropriate qualifications.