Primary Purpose: The Cleveland Guardians are seeking a highly collaborative Registered Dietitian to work as part of a multi-disciplinary performance team, in support of our mission of winning the World Series. The ML Dietitian will be responsible for implementing the Guardians nutritional philosophy within the Guardians ML team environment. Primary responsibilities will include translating the latest scientific research into practical Sports Nutrition & Hydration recommendations and processes. In conjunction with Nutrition leadership, the ML Dietitian will also lead the day-to-day coordination of meals/catering, snacks & supplementation, to enhance the performance of the Cleveland Guardians players. Additionally, they will lead the delivery of individual and group/team nutrition counseling and education, track and document outcomes of nutrition services, collaborate with kitchen staff, and maintain professional competency and skills required for professional practice. The role will be based in Cleveland, OH, with travel responsibilities associated with Major League team competitive season & Spring Training.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Food / Hydration Services:

• In conjunction with Assistant Director, chefs, and kitchen staff, coordinate and provide nutritional and hydration guidance for all meals and menus at ‘home’ (both in Major League clubhouse and AZ Spring training facility), to support high performance of major league players.
• Coordinate food/beverage orders and other miscellaneous tasks, required for the Major League team travel including visiting clubhouse, team hotels, and team charter planes while adhering to the Organization’s Nutrition philosophy.
• Adequately track catering, and hydration spending in-season.
• Develop strong relationships with clubhouse managers, stadium catering team/chefs, hotel catering team, and catering companies to provide optimal food and hydration services that align with the Organization’s Nutrition Philosophy.

Individual Athlete Consultation:

• Contribute to multidisciplinary performance team’s holistic approach in supporting player performance and recovery, and individual goals, with focus on high-performance fueling and hydration practices.
• Develop personalized meal plans based on athlete’s individual needs/goals.
• Counsel athletes on how to achieve nutritional goals, based on evidence-based approach.
• Assess and analyze individual player dietary practices and needs, including but not limited to:
  • Optimal nutritional support for athletic training, performance & recovery from exercise.
  • Macro- and micro- nutrient needs or deficiencies.
  • Maintenance of optimal body composition for health & athletic performance.
  • Optimal nutritional support for rehabilitation of injured or ill athletes.
  • Medical nutrition therapy as required. Such as food allergies, micronutrient deficiency, GI disturbances etc.
  • Cultural, religious, or ethical nutritional choices.
• Facilitate individual players’ off-season meal services including alignment of personal chefs/caterers.

Education:

• Develop and deliver nutrition and hydration educational sessions to players in 1-on-1, small group and team settings.
• Collaborate with Nutrition Team to develop education materials.
• Assist in the professional development of the staff (including kitchen/clubhouse staff, medical, S&C, fundamental coaches etc.) as it relates to nutrition, hydration, and performance.
• Facilitate cooking classes and shopping education to players to improve nutrition away from ballpark.

Athlete monitoring:

• Support objective athlete monitoring systems as they pertain to nutrition and body composition, including but not limited to:
  • Measure, track and analyze body composition of Major League players.
  • Record and manage hydration status.
  • Perform sweat testing analysis.
• In conjunction with multi-disciplinary performance team, set individual player guidelines and goals based on objective data.
• Develop effective communication strategies, including reports and visualizations, to present information on player needs and progress to players, performance staff, coaches, and front office personnel.

Supplements:

• Research nutritional supplements for legality, safety, quality, and efficacy and recommend those which can support major league player performance and recovery/rehabilitation.
• Order all supplements for Major League team, and adequately track catering, and hydration spending in-season.
• Monitor and track major league athlete’s use of appropriate supplementation based on NSF Certified for Sport guidelines.
• Proficient understanding of MLB policies for supplements, hydration, and sports foods.

Education & Experience Requirements and Preference:

• Bachelor's Degree in clinical nutrition, food and nutrition, food science, sports nutrition or related expertise required.
• Registered Dietitian (RD) required.
• Master's degree in nutrition, food science, or exercise physiology preferred.
• Minimum 2 years of experience as a Sports Dietitian within a professional, private, or collegiate program.
• Board Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics preferred (CSSD).
• Knowledge of food service quality and safety practices.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and counseling skills.
• Bilingual (Spanish) desirable

Travel Requirements:

• All travel associated with Major League club’s competition schedule.
• Attendance to Spring training in Goodyear, AZ.
• Any off-season travel to training camps and/or player visits (as required).

Organizational Requirements

• Demonstrates the ability to read, speak, comprehend, and communicate effectively in order to perform job duties and interact with coworkers.
• Represents the Cleveland Guardians in a positive fashion to all business partners, teammates, and the general public.
• Ability to build robust, professional relationships with teammates by demonstrating interpersonal skills, approachability, and a collaborative spirit contributing to a positive, respectful work environment.
• Ability to perform the essential physical requirements of the role as outlined in the job description, which may include extended periods of sitting, standing, lifting, or navigating a multilevel ballpark.
• Adapts quickly and effectively to a fast-paced, dynamic, and diverse work environment.
• Ability to act according to the organizational values and service excellence at all times.
• Willingness to work extended days and hours, including holidays and weekends.
• Willingness to adhere to all Major League Baseball and Club policies.

About Us

As a proud pillar of the Cleveland community, the Cleveland Guardians are dedicated to building a team that embodies the heart and spirit of our city. We offer compensation and benefits that attract, engage, and retain top talent. We are looking for the best person for the job. If you're interested in this role, we encourage you to apply, even if the salary range below does not meet your expectations. 

The expected annual salary range for this position is $60,000–$100,000. This range serves as a general guideline. Actual compensation will be determined based on a candidate’s skills, experience, and qualifications, as well as market and business considerations. 

At the Cleveland Guardians, we are all about creating an environment that brings out the best in everyone. It is a big part of who we are, how we compete, and how we make an impact in our community. We want every employee to feel like they truly belong here.  

We also know that people sometimes hesitate to apply for jobs unless they check every single box on the qualifications list. We are looking for the best person for the job, and we know that you might bring skills and experiences that are not exactly listed but could be a huge asset to our team. So, if this role excites you, we encourage you to apply, even if you do not meet every single qualification.