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Performance Nutritionist, Women’s National XV’s Team
Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU)
The Irish Rugby Football Union is the governing body for rugby union on the Island of Ireland (both Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland). The IRFU is responsible for all aspects of the game from schools and clubs to the professional, high performance and international teams
Job Posted- 24 Sep 2025
Status- Contract - Fixed Term
Location- Ireland
Closing date- 6 Oct 2025
ROLE SUMMARY
- Develop, implement and manage the performance nutrition service delivery to the Women’s XV programme.
- Facilitate and ensure the continuity of nutrition support for players of national interest
REPORTING:
- Operational: IRFU Head of Nutrition, IRFU Head of Women’s Performance and Pathways
- Functional: IRFU Head of Nutrition
WORKING RELATIONSHIPS:
- IRFU Head of Nutrition
- IRFU Head of Women’s Performance and Pathways
- IRFU Women’s XV Head Coach
- IRFU Women’s Pathway Nutritionist
- Head of Athletic Development, Women’s Pathways & National Team
- IRFU High Performance Projects & Women’s Performance Pathway Manager
- IRFU National Women’s 7’s Nutritionist
- Programme Support team e.g. Team Manager, Physios, Medical
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Service Delivery
- Develop and deliver nutrition programmes to players within the Women’s XV National programme.
- Facilitate and ensure the continuity of nutrition support for players of national interest
- Implement strategies to support players’ training and competitive programmes whilst demonstrating a comprehensive knowledge of the science that supports sports nutrition e.g. nutrition to support strength development, recovery, hydration, supplementation, recovery from surgery etc.
Programme co-ordination
- Work closely with the Pathway nutritionist and Women’s 7’s Nutritionist to ensure alignment between the entire women’s programme (7’s and XV’s) and women’s pathway.
- Actively promote the role of food to enhance performance, working closely with catering providers, HPC Performance Chef, HPC Operations Manager and Team Managers, to ensure the food provision whilst training and touring is optimal for the team.
Education support
- Develop and implement innovative and evidence-based nutrition education sessions and resources to increase nutrition knowledge and behaviours throughout all identified player levels.
- Contribute to the existing IRFU e-learning nutrition programme developed for the WNTS pathway programme.
General areas of responsibility
- Be professionally responsible for all aspects of service delivery.
- Work within the rules of professional confidentiality and maintain records of all nutrition interventions and track measurable outcomes in areas of responsibility.
- Maintain a comprehensive indexed record of all supplements provided to all individual players and teams.
- Engage in continuing professional development (CPD) relevant to sports nutrition and be willing to participate in research if the opportunity arises and publish findings where possible.
- Adhere to IRFU policies in relation to best practice and ethical behaviour (to include Policy on Sports Supplement provision to IRFU players and Sports Supplement use in Young Player guidelines).
- Assist with the management of existing and future arrangements with IRFU nutrition partners and suppliers.
- Assist with other developments in the nutrition department as they arise.
- Work within the science and medicine team aligning with other disciplines to support identified players, screening and monitoring, injury and illness, and travel strategies.
- Maintain effective working relationships with staff in the Provinces and IRFU.
KEY Qualities
Essential
- An undergraduate degree in nutrition or dietetics with a recognised post-graduate qualification in a Sport and Exercise related subject (eg sports nutrition, exercise physiology, sports science) OR an undergraduate degree in a Sport Science related subject with a recognised post-graduate qualification in nutrition or sports nutrition.
- A minimum of 3 years post-graduate experience in the provision of nutritional support to athletes and coaches to improve performance, which includes working in the areas of power, strength and speed team sports.
- Registration with the Sport & Exercise Nutrition Register (SENr) - A minimum of graduate registration or working towards full practitioner registration*
- ISAK Level 1 (or higher) accreditation.
- Evidence of developing and delivering practical nutrition education programmes for athletes, which use a food-focused approach to health and performance.
- Experience of developing and implementing evidence-based innovative ideas and putting them into practice, including working in an applied and integrated multi-disciplinary manner.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills; a creative thinker and an effective and confident presenter to a range of target audiences including young people.
- Good IT (including dietary analysis), problem-solving and organisational skills.
- Full driving licence.
*Please state if an application to SENR has been submitted.
Desirable
- Experience in the co-ordination of nutrition service provision.
- Experience of working with rugby or other collision sports.
- Experience of working with female athletes.
- Experience of working in a professional team or Sports Institute setting.
- Experience in academic and/or applied research in the field of sports nutrition.
KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS (KPI's)
- KPIs will be agreed with the IRFU Head of Nutrition and Head of Women’s Performance and Pathways.
- Participate in Performance Development Review on an annual basis.
The successful candidate must be eligible to live and work in Ireland.
Salary for this role is depending on experience.
Our benefits include:
- 22 days basic annual leave entitlement
- Family friendly policies
- Health insurance from 1st day
- Birthday leave
- Education assistance Programme
- IRFU Group Scheme – discounts from brands and retailers
- Wellness initiatives, including self care leave
- Bike to work scheme
How to Apply
Please click APPLY NOW to begin the application process.
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