Sport Performance Psychology Professional (SPP)
Background: This position is in support of Air Force Special Warfare (AFSPECWAR) operators. These athletes must always be ready to perform at their peak in order to accomplish their challenging mission set. Attaining and maintaining this level of peak human performance requires the implementation of a top-notch physical conditioning and maintenance program comparable to those seen in Olympic-level and professional sports organizations. The HPO program focuses on the whole operator concept not only to assist AFSPECWAR operators in accomplishing their military missions in the short term, but also to emphasize the maintenance of peak performance over the long term to lengthen the service life of the "human weapon system" while ensuring high quality production.
Location: 304th Rescue Squadron (RQS) at Portland Air National Guard Base (PANG), Oregon
Overview:
The SPP is responsible for the implementation of mental health and performance psychology programs /including education and awareness to improve operator mission capabilities, psychological health, and performance. The SPP shall develop, plan, and initiate individualized and group-oriented programs for development and support of peak performance of individual operators and unit teams via various strategies/programs to include, but not limited to interviewing, behavioral assessment, problem solving, Psychoeducation, and goal driven behavior plans. The contractor shall be available for on-call service hours to advise the commander on support for their squadron members.
Candidates must have:
· Master’s degree (doctorate degree preferred) in Sport/Performance Psychology from an accredited educational institution. Alternative degrees considered: master’s degree in psychology/counseling, master’s degree in social work, master’s degree industrial/organizational psychology.
· Minimum of three years of working experience with individuals/groups of elite athletes at NCAA Division I Collegiate, Olympic, professional sports, and/or Special Operations/AFSPECWAR military members. Prior experience working with multidisciplinary teams providing human performance and healthcare services required.
· Possess and maintain license and/or certification in accordance with education and training.
· Preferred certification: Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC) from Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP).
· Preferred licenses include Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), Licensed Psychologist, Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW).
· Shall maintain organizational memberships in accordance with scope of practice. Must be a member in good standing with AASP, American Psychological Association (APA) Division 47 and/or Division 19, and/or other Professional organization.
· Demonstrate a working knowledge of professional standards and ethics regarding the delivery of psychological services to include performance psychology.
· Education and training in clinical/counseling psychology to include knowledge of assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of alcohol and substance abuse conditions, post-traumatic stress, suicide intervention, mood and anxiety conditions, and family/marital issues.
· Current Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) certification
Duties, Tasks, and Responsibilities:
· Develop, plan, and initiate programs to support all aspects of operator readiness and resilience, to include working with operators and their families.
· Provide Professional expertise, consultation, and ensure increased awareness the in areas of operational performance, interpersonal enhancement strategies, psychological health optimization, and enhanced coordination of clinical and nonclinical services.
· Develop, plan, and initiate individualized and unit-oriented programs targeting developing increased psychological capacity to enhance total performance. Programs include goal driven measures to ensure individual and unit readiness.
· Provide brief, targeted plans to meet training goals, utilizing Cognitive and behavior strategies to improve operator mission capabilities.
· Provide short education and skill building on accepted exposure strategies to minimize impact or mitigate negative impact of occupational exposures to maximize psychological growth.
· Provide consultation with individual squadron members that allows for private engagement on goal setting, performance plan development to increase capacity, and strategies to maximize unit communication and unit cohesion. Activities are not associated with healthcare assessment or treatment and hence will not be part of a healthcare record.
· Documentation of performance plans and service utilization will be kept according to professional ethical standards. Knowledge of conditions / circumstance that rise above the level of the Privacy Act of 1974 will be reported to unit commander, Reserve medical Unit, and/or emergency support services. This includes, but is not limited to, eminent harm to self, eminent harm to others and/or eminent harm to mission.
· Perform regular and as needed consultations with operators to guide the development of their performance plans and evaluate efficacy of optimization strategies. The frequency of these sessions will be dependent on the individual operator needs and life circumstances. This shall be determined in conjunction with the operator and mutually agreed upon.
· Provide unit command consultation. Meet regularly with unit leadership as part of the human performance team to provide consultation on unit performance, resilience, well-being, and overall organizational effectiveness.
· Conduct, administer, and interpret results using psychological assessment tools. Conduct baseline and post-event screening and collect/analyze data and monitor trends in psychological health. This will be accomplished in coordination with the existing monthly reported unit-specific Human Performance Program requirements and long-term objectives based on the unit’s specific mission requirements.
· Conduct and document analysis of assessment results both individually and collectively for the squadron. Results will be presented to the command as part of quarterly and annual reports.
· Manage relevant process improvement, program validation, and related research. This will be accomplished in coordination with the monthly reported unit-specific Human Performance Program requirements and long-term objectives based on the unit’s specific mission requirements.
· Provide enhanced coordination and increased access to medical supports.in the healthcare to be accomplished within 2 business days of squadron member’s request.
· Function as liaison and coordinate with base and other military psychological professionals. Function as liaison and coordinate with other Psychological Healthcare supporters across AFRC including other Healthcare Optimization Teams.
· Have a documented plan for suicidal ideation/intent/attempt, significant life event, serious incidents, and casualties, and/or mental health crisis. Assist unit leadership in responding to squadron. members in crisis and enhance coordination of referrals and coordination of appropriate levels of support and/or healthcare. Provide support and awareness of Pre-MEDCON, MEDCON, and LOD processes to service members as necessary. Assist with navigating support and care at the appropriate level including nonclinical, spiritual, and medical levels of care from sources in the civilian economy, military community and/or within the Veterans Administration. Provide follow-up awareness and support in above listed situations or other circumstances as appropriate.
· Consult with medical personnel, legal authorities, and military commands as appropriate.
· Shall be capable of meeting physical demands of training with SOF including the ability to hike. Over rough terrain and function in austere environments to observe SOF training evolutions, the ability to assist with strength and conditioning testing and training protocols, and the ability to lift and manipulate loads or weights up to 20 kilograms.
· Occasional travel (<30 days per year) may be required
· Typical work hours are 7:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Services may be required outside the stated periods above to support training objectives and Unit Training Assemblies (S/UTAs), which will sometimes occur on night/weekends.
This position is contingent upon contract award.
Threat Management Group is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to providing equal opportunity to all applicants and employees in full compliance with all applicable state and federal laws prohibiting discrimination based on race, color, age, gender, religion, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other class protected by applicable state or federal law.
Job Types: Full-time, Contract
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Schedule:
- Monday to Friday
- Weekends as needed
Work setting:
Education:
Experience:
- elite athlete psychology: 3 years (Required)
License/Certification:
- Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC) (Preferred)
Work Location: In person