First Team PHD Nutritionist Student
Salary: Please state your expectations within your application
Contract: Full Time, Fixed Term until 2029, 42 hours a week
Location: The Nigel Doughty Academy, Nottingham, NG2 7SR
Department: First Team Performance
Reporting to: Lead Nutritionist
Closing Date For Applications: 3rd June 2026
About the Role:
To support the delivery of a world-class, evidence-based performance nutrition programme for Nottingham Forest Football Club while completing an applied research programme. Working closely with the Lead Nutritionist and wider Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT), the role will focus on generating and translating applied research to optimising player health, performance, recovery and development across the Men’s First Team, while also supporting alignment across the wider club pathway.
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:
Assist in the implementation of the performance nutrition strategy for Nottingham Forest football club. This should align to the overall performance objectives of NFFC and support the individual requirements of our players.
Work in close collaboration with the head chef and catering team to devise periodised menu’s driven by performance requirements of the team.
Work alongside the catering team to ensure that travel provisions for the team are fully provided. This includes food provision at hotels for away travel and for post-match food which must be flexible to the mode of travel.
Assist in the design and delivery of individual diet and nutrition programmes that aligns to the requirements of the NFFC men’s first team players.
Provide an insights-based nutritional support for injury and rehabilitation programmes for first team players, in conjunction with the Multi Disciplinary Team (MDT).
Assist in the development and implementation of the innovative and evidence-based nutrition curriculum and education sessions and resources to increase nutrition knowledge among players throughout the club.
Support the assessment and monitoring of body composition in men’s first team players.
In conjunction with the MDT, assist with player fitness and strength development, and body composition through nutritional interventions.
Support match days and away travel as directed to implement nutritional provision and provide post-game recovery support for all men’s first team fixtures.
Maintain records of all nutrition interventions and track measurable outcomes linked to nutritional practices (body composition, nutritional knowledge, anti-doping awareness, hydration etc.).
Assist in providing nutrition support for loan players where required.
Complete relevant stock checks for supplements, track consumption in line with antidoping regulations and provide updates for relevant orders.
Contribute to applied research activity within the club, ensuring alignment between PhD objectives and performance department priorities.
What are we looking for:
Essential
Experience in the provision of nutritional support to professional athletes and coaches at academy or first team level of sports performance.
Experience working effectively within a MDT in an elite sport setting
Experience contributing to applied research or data collection within high performance environments
Naturally collaborative with a strong set of inter-personal coaching skills.
Ability to work flexible hours and travel.
MSC in sports nutrition, sports science or a related discipline
ISAK level 1
Graduate Registrant on UK Sport & Exercise Nutriton Register
Previous professional experience in the Sports Science field (Sports Nutrition)
UKAD certification
Desirable
Evidence of enhancing the area of sport nutrition. Demonstrated by publication of research, presentation in public or creation of literature related to sport nutrition.
Previous publications in sports science or nutrition field
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 require all applicants to provide accurate 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 Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
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 are committed to developing policies to promote equal opportunities and diversity within our workforce. To monitor our progress against these commitments, we require all applicants to provide accurate diversity data during the application process.
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.
- Department
- First Team
- Locations
- The Academy and Training Ground