Performance Nutrition Fellowship (Football)

University of Illinois
Champaign, IL

Description

This professional fellowship opportunity is designed for highly motivated individuals seeking hands-on experience in collegiate football performance nutrition. As an integral member of the football performance team, the Performance Nutrition Fellow will play an active role in daily operations, work directly with football student-athletes, and support the Director and Associate Director of Football Performance Nutrition in executing various responsibilities and initiatives.

This position provides an excellent opportunity for an aspiring sports dietitian to gain practical experience in a high-performance collegiate athletics environment while accumulating supervised practice hours toward eligibility for the Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics (CSSD) credential.

Please note: This position is dedicated exclusively to the football program.

Qualifications

•  Possess Bachelors in Dietetics, or related field

•  RD or RD eligible, preferred

Benefits and Pay

• Team issued gear and daily meals will be provided  

• $15/hour, 40 hours/week

Commitment

•  The fellowship will run from January 2027 to December 2027

• Must be willing to work unconventional hours, including weekends and holidays


Primary Responsibilities

Performance Nutrition Support

  • Assist in the implementation of team nutrition protocols and performance nutrition strategies under the supervision of the Director of Football Performance Nutrition.

  • Provide individual nutrition counseling, meal planning, and ongoing monitoring of student-athletes.

  • Conduct body composition assessments and analysis using iDXA technology.

  • Collaborate with members of the football performance team to support student-athlete health, safety, and performance.

Daily Fueling Operations

  • Assist with menu planning, food selection, and athlete plate coaching.

  • Support pre-, during-, and post-practice and game fueling, both at home and during team travel.

  • Oversee daily operations of football fueling stations, including product inventory, receiving, storage, organization, and tracking.

  • Coordinate with football operations staff to support team travel and competition fueling needs.

Nutrition Education

  • Assist in developing and distributing evidence-based nutrition education materials.

  • Support and deliver team nutrition education presentations and individual athlete education.

Administrative & Team Support

  • Assist in the supervision, training, and coordination of student volunteers.

  • Support the Director and Associate Director of Football Performance Nutrition with daily operations and departmental initiatives.

  • Perform additional duties and responsibilities as assigned by the football performance nutrition staff.


Required Expectations & Skills

Professionalism & Compliance

  • Maintain strict confidentiality of student-athlete information in accordance with HIPAA and applicable university policies.

  • Adhere to all departmental and university policies and procedures, as well as applicable Big Ten Conference and NCAA rules, regulations, and bylaws.

  • Demonstrate professionalism, integrity, and sound judgment while building and maintaining trust with student-athletes, clinicians, coaches, and athletic department staff.

  • Consistently demonstrate reliability, accountability, and a positive, team-oriented attitude.

Communication & Collaboration

  • Possess strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively in both individual and group settings.

  • Work independently while also contributing as a collaborative member of the football performance team.

  • Build and maintain positive professional relationships with student-athletes, staff, and other departmental personnel.

Organization & Time Management

  • Thrive in a fast-paced, high-performance athletics environment while maintaining strong attention to detail.

  • Demonstrate effective time management, organization, and prioritization skills.

  • Take initiative, manage competing responsibilities, and consistently follow through on assigned tasks and projects.

Food Safety & Physical Requirements

  • Demonstrate knowledge of and adherence to safe food handling, sanitation, and storage practices.

  • Be physically capable of lifting, pushing, and pulling objects weighing up to 30 pounds, with or without reasonable accommodation.

Interested candidates please send cover letter and resume to Jake Anthony: janthony@illinois.edu