Salary: Please state your expectations within your application
Contract: Full Time, 42 hours a week
Location: The Nigel Doughty Academy, Nottingham, NG2 7SR
Department: Academy Sports Science and Medicine
Reporting to: Head of Academy Performance & Medical
Closing Date For Applications: 25th August 2026
About the Role:
Nottingham Forest Academy has a clear aim of building on its excellent history and strong back story with the following vision ‘develop a world-class Academy which develops players of Premier League and International Standard. Recognised as a genuine EPPP Category One Academy differentiated by ‘emotion’ and ‘innovation’, this post will be held by an exceptional leader to continue our journey and further develop the excellent young players, people, strategy and methodology we have in place.
To enhance and deliver our performance nutrition strategy at the Academy, providing high level, evidence based nutritional support that optimises the performance of our Academy players, ensuring an appropriate support and education programme is provided at each phase.
The Perks of the Job:
Opportunity to access tickets for events at The City Ground.
Employee Assistance Programme.
Access to high street and gym discounts.
Discount within our Club shop.
Free on-site parking.
Key Tasks and Responsibilities:
Design and deliver an individual diet and nutrition programme for players that aligns to the requirements of the Academy Strategy and the Elite Player Performance Programme.
Develop and deliver player-centered nutrition programmes and provide individualised 1-1 nutrition support to young players in the academy, including loan players.
Provide insights based nutritional support for injury and rehabilitation programmes for youth players, in conjunction with the Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT).
Develop and implement innovative and evidence-based nutrition curriculum and education sessions and resources to increase nutrition knowledge throughout the Academy levels for players, parents, host families and colleagues.
In conjunction with the MDT, assist with player fitness and strength development, and body composition through nutritional interventions.
Measuring and monitoring of players body composition data.
Work collaboratively with the MDT on the development of each player as part of the 6-12 weekly multidisciplinary review process.
Support match days as directed to assist/implement nutritional provision and provide post game recovery support where appropriate.
Maintain records of all nutrition interventions and track measurable outcomes linked to nutritional practices (body composition, nutritional knowledge, anti-doping awareness, hydration etc.). Provide regular reports to the Head of Academy and the Academy Management Team.
Working with the MDT and first team practitioners, create individual plans to bridge the gap from academy performance requirements to senior football performance levels, ensuring loan players are provided nutritional support whilst away from the club.
Work collaboratively with kitchen and catering staff to ensure adequate food service and provision aligning with nutritional requirements on training and match days.
Complete relevant stock checks for supplements, track consumption in line with anti-doping regulations and provide updates for relevant orders.
Provide appropriate support and direction to the Performance Team work placement students.
To provide performance support where appropriate at home/away matches.
Produce monthly, quarterly, and annual reports, as required, demonstrating progress and outcomes against the Academy strategy.
Engage in CPD relevant to sports nutrition and be willing to participate in research if the opportunity arises.
Any other appropriate duties as required by the Academy management team.
Responsible for both individual health & safety and that of those who you are responsible for.
Ensure the relationship with children and adults at risk is appropriate and language, behaviour and demeanour is suitable. The Company will expect you to undertake training to ensure an understanding of best practice in relation to children and/or adults at risk.
You will be responsible for the welfare of children in your care.
What are we looking for:
MSC in sports nutrition, sports science or a related discipline (or working towards)
ISAK level 1
Practitioner Registrant on UK Sport & Exercise Nutrition Register (Graduate or Practitioner registration).
Previous professional experience in the Sports Science field (Sports Nutrition)
Experience in the provision of nutritional support to professional athletes and coaches to support performance.
Experience in designing and delivering nutritional education and appropriate resource.
Naturally collaborative with a strong set of inter-personal coaching skills.
Ability to work flexible hours and travel when required.
Worked as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
Knowledge of the Elite Player Performance Plan (EPPP) and associated audit process.
Ambitious and driven with a hunger to own and develop an exciting project.
Excellent knowledge of development processes and modern nutrition services.
Given the nature of role the individual must be able to deal with sensitive information in a very private and confidential way and must be a team member that people can trust.
Creative presentation and delivery skills.
Excellent interpersonal skills with an adaptability to work with members of staff across departments.
Ability to work under pressure and willing to work unsociable hours.
Dedicated to self-improvement and personal development in a very creative way.
Organised, methodical and logical approach to work but with a creative spark.
High level I.T. and presentation skills.
Positive and high energy outlook with an ability to influence and motivate.
Ability to accurately measure and monitor essential physical components with elite youth athletes using a range of applied technologies.
Provide accurate and informative written and verbal reports to a range of key stakeholders.
Managing and developing databases to inform the above.
Excellent problem solving and decision-making skills.
Ability to navigate through courageous and challenging conversations.
Innovative and creative with the ability to think outside the box.
Valid Basic First Aid for Sport Qualification.
Valid FA Safeguarding Certificate.
Desirable:
Previous experience working within the support staff of a professional sports club.
Knowledge of the overall Elite Player Performance Plan (EPPP) and specifically the sports science elements of the EPPP.
Experience in health and safety duties and responsibilities appropriate to the post
Flair for building internal and external networks, productive relationships to share information and ideas, improving working practices
Forest For Everyone
We aim to create a culture which embraces and celebrates our differences, enables individuals to feel comfortable, maximise their potential and eliminate discrimination.
Nottingham Forest Football Club is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified persons, regardless of age, disability, gender, gender reassignment, marital / civil partnership status, pregnancy / maternity leave, race, religion/belief, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected characteristic.
Nottingham Forest Football Club is a signatory of the FA’s Football Leadership Diversity Code. We are committed to developing policies to promote equal opportunities and diversity within our workforce. To monitor our progress against these commitments, we Invite all applicants to provide diversity data during the application process.
Disability Confident Committed Employer
We are a Disability Confident Committed employer. We encourage applications from people with disabilities and long-term health conditions. If you need disability-related adjustments to the recruitment process, please indicate this in your application.
If you are likely to meet the definition of being a "disabled person" according to the Equality Act 2010, you may be eligible to apply for an interview via the Disability Confident Scheme - please indicate this in your application form below. The information you share with us about your health or disability will not be used in recruitment selections.
Our Commitment to Safeguarding
As part of the Club’s commitment to safeguarding, the successful applicant may be required to undergo a Disclosure Barring Service (“DBS”) check or an enhanced DBS check. The results of a DBS check will be considered on an individual basis, and the Club will act in a proportionate manner when deciding whether or not to proceed with the appointment.
An FA Enhanced DBS disclosure is required for all relevant new appointments to the Club. Individuals will be asked to declare any convictions, cautions or reprimands, warnings or bind-overs that may have been incurred. The Club reserves the right to carry out risk assessments where content has been disclosed on a DBS disclosure if it feels that it is relevant to the job requirements. Failure to satisfy the Club and the PL's safeguarding requirements may lead to the job offer being withdrawn or, if they have already started employment, summary termination of the employment.
