Football Nutrition Intern

Job Summary

Position Summary:

Work as a member of the Sports Nutrition Team to further enhance our sports nutrition program. This position will work directly with the Football Team Dietitian in collaboration with the strength staff and athletic medicine on all aspects of the student-athletes’ nutrition and recovery. This is an integral role in developing the football nutrition program, and the individual’s responsibilities may grow depending on skill set, work ethic, and demonstrated abilities.

At Minnesota, we are fortunate to have a well-developed undergraduate volunteer program. This allows our nutrition team to focus on tangible work-related responsibilities that support the enhanced performance of our student-athletes.

Approximate Start Date: February 2026

Term Length: February 2026 - December 31, 2026

*Possible travel with Football team

Position Responsibilities:

● Assist the Football Team Dietitian in all areas of the student-athletes’ nutrition and health

● Assist in management and oversight of fuel station operations, including product inventory, ordering, receiving, and managing student volunteers

● Uphold high standards of food safety and cleanliness

● Assist the Football Team Dietitian with the implementation of all-team education utilizing a variety of platforms, including social media initiatives, cooking classes/food demonstrations, grocery store tours, and the development of print materials

● Assist in the creation of performance nutrition protocols as directed

● Attend team activities such as practices, conditioning/training, competitions, meetings, and other program events where nutrition support is needed or as directed by Football RD

● Execute pre-training and post-training fueling and hydration

● Assist in the analysis and documentation of body composition measures

● Prepare for team travel for hotel and gameday

● Stay up to date with current research and best practices

● Other duties as assigned

Required Qualifications

● Bachelor of Science in Nutrition or health related field

● Equivalent combination of education and experience may substitute

● Must be able to work non-standard work week, including early mornings, nights, weekends, and holidays

● Experience with food handling

● Ability to stand for extended periods and lift over 50lbs

● Intended for entry level individuals working towards the CSSD pathway

Preferred Qualifications

● Registered Dietitian or RD-eligible through the Commission on Dietetic Registrations with expected completion of RD exam within 3 months of employment

Program/Unit Description:

The Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, will have an

Internship program for 2025-2026 in various areas throughout Gopher Athletics. Gopher Athletics maintains a broad-based athletics program and participates in the Big Ten and WCHA conferences.

The Intercollegiate Athletic Department is committed to hiring a diverse staff and actively encourages candidates from diverse backgrounds to apply.

All interns will participate in an ongoing ICA intern professional development program where they will tour Twin Cities sports facilities and have Q&A sessions with organizational and industry leaders. Each intern will also be assigned a senior member of the Gopher Athletics staff as a mentor for the year.

Supervisor: Madison Spence, Football Team Dietitian, Larson Football Performance Center

Stipend: $833.33 bi-weekly

Application Instructions:

To submit an application, please email a current resume and cover letter to Madison Spence at [email protected].

Any offer is contingent upon successful completion of a criminal background check and degree verification.

Review of applications will begin on: January 12, 2026

Applications will be accepted until the internship is filled. The expected start date for this position is February 2026. Offers of internship or contingent upon the successful completion of a background verification.