Cognitive Enhancement Advisor (CEA)

Maximus; Fort Walton Beach (FL); On-site; USD 59,000 - 124,000; Full time

Job summary

MaxHP is seeking a Cognitive Enhancement Advisor (CEA) to design and manage cognitive performance programs for Special Operations Forces, applying evidence-based psychology, neurocognition, and psychophysiology. The role includes neurofeedback and qEEG assessments to improve focus, stress management, and decision-making in high-stress environments.

Candidates must be a U.S. citizen with an active security clearance or eligibility, and be prepared to support multiple locations, including Fort

Qualifications

• Doctoral degree in psychology, human performance, or related field.
• Experience with performance psychology in military, athletes, or tactical settings is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Serves as the unit’s senior cognitive performance technical expert and advises leadership on cognitive training priorities.
• Develops training materials and techniques, embedding cognitive initiatives into unit training.
• Advises leadership on cognitive performance and performance psychology matters.
• Leads training sessions and provides biofeedback/neurofeedback as directed to enhance cognitive performance.

Education

Doctoral degree in Psychology/related field with performance psychology specialization

Job description

Description & Requirements
MaxHP is hiring a

General information
Date
Thursday, November 5, 2026
City
Fort Walton Beach
State
FL
Country
United States
Working time
Full-time
Description & Requirements
MaxHP is hiring a Cognitive Enhancement Advisor (CEA), an interdisciplinary field that uses evidence‑based psychological, neurocognitive, and psychophysiological concepts to develop and manage a cognitive performance program that meets mission, unit, and occupation‑specific requirements and to assess and train Special Operations Forces (SOF) personnel to develop and utilize the cognitive skills necessary for optimal performance in high‑stress training and operational environments. This includes providing evidence‑based instruction on skills like adaptive thinking, executive function, sleep, emotional control, and goal setting to enhance mental and behavioral performance. Through techniques such as neurofeedback and brain mapping, these specialists design interventions to improve focus, reaction time in real‑life scenarios, decrease stress, and increase the overall cognitive potential of the service members. This involves administering and interpreting psychophysiological tests and assessments, such as neurofeedback and quantitative electroencephalography (qEEG), to enhance cognitive skills, manage stress, and optimize performance in high‑stakes environments.
U.S. citizenship is required. Candidates must possess an active U.S. Government security clearance or be eligible to obtain and maintain a security clearance as required for contract performance.
This position is pending upon contract award.
Candidates must be able to support operations at one or more of the following locations: Tucson, AZ; Coronado, CA; Washington, DC; Fort Walton Beach, FL; Tampa, FL; Honolulu, HI; Fayetteville, NC; Jacksonville, NC; Clarksville, TN; Virginia Beach, VA; Stuttgart, Germany.
At MaxHP, your expertise supports a mission that matters. As a joint venture between Maximus and Endurion, MaxHP brings together specialized capabilities and resources to support the POTFF Program, strengthening human performance, resilience, and mission readiness across the Special Operations community. Our professionals play an essential role in supporting the people behind the mission, helping Service members and their families remain strong, ready, and resilient. Here, your experience becomes part of something bigger: directly supporting those who serve at the highest levels of our Nation’s defense.
About the POTFF Program:The Preservation of the Force and Family (POTFF) program supports U.S. Special Operations Forces (SOF) personnel and their families through an integrated, holistic approach to human performance, health, and readiness. The program brings together specialized professionals across physical, psychological, cognitive, social, and spiritual performance to strengthen resilience, optimize performance, and support long‑term mission readiness and career longevity
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Serves as the unit’s senior cognitive performance technical expert, advises leadership and stakeholders on all aspects of the cognitive performance program, recommends cognitive performance training priorities, and works with unit personnel to expand and embed cognitive performance initiatives into unit training.
• Serve as a unit’s cognitive program manager with duties including but not limited to:
• Identify and recommend mission specific cognitive priorities
• Develop appropriate training materials and techniques, which may be individual, group‑based, or embedded within unit training events
• Establish and maintain relationships with unit leadership and training personnel to ensure continued utilization of Cognitive personnel and training
• Advise unit leadership on matters relating to cognitive performance and performance psychology
• Identify, track, and monitor unit specific metrics to ensure program effectiveness
• Train and educate active‑duty personnel in specific cognitive and behavioral skills to enhance cognitive/psychological performance to include attention/concentration training, problem solving training, emotional regulation, energy management, memory enhancement, interpersonal skills, goal‑setting, and related cognitive deficits, or compensatory mechanisms. Training shall utilize evidence‑based practices and occur in both individual and group settings.
• Lead individual, group, and/or embedded training sessions as desired by unit. Provide educational briefings to units and commands on the cognitive performance program, biofeedback, psychophysiology, sleep, self‑regulation, attention, and other cognitive functions as needed. If qualified, provide executive coaching as directed by the POTFF Program Manager/Coordinator or Government Lead. Provide biofeedback and/or neurofeedback training as directed by POTFF Program Manager/Coordinator or Government Lead with active‑duty service members to enhance cognitive/psychological performance and / or psychophysiology. Advise unit leadership on matters relating to cognitive performance and performance psychology. Support appropriate and approved research conducted under supervision psychophysiological, cognitive, and/or psychological performance research conducted under supervision of the POTFF Program Manager/Coordinator or Government Lead. Provide educational briefings to units and commands on a range of cognitive/psychological performance domains.
• As a subject matter expert for this labor category, the primary role is for the purpose of enhancement and preservation of the cognitive, physical, psychological, social, and spiritual well‑being of Service Members, which includes the documentation of those services offered in the HP Enterprise‑wide platforms (i.e., HPDMS, etc.) as directed by the USSOCOM Directive 10-12. Adjustments to the productivity level for this labor category may vary due to client population, local mission set, or additional administrative taskings. Additional duties as assigned through local leadership must be documented and approved through local POTFF leadership.
  

Required Minimum Experience and Skills:

• Must possess a doctoral degree in the field of Psychology, Human Performance, Kinesiology, Exercise Science, Cognitive Science, Cognitive Neuroscience, Sport Sciences with a specialization in Sport Psychology, or related degree with performance psychology specialization.
• Must hold at least one of the following: Biofeedback certification (BCIA), neurofeedback certification (BCIA), or International QEEG Certification Board (IQCB) certification. The Government may grant an exception to this requirement under SOW 4.1.8 for a specific billet at the gaining unit’s request. The Government does not commit to any number of exceptions; an Offeror that prices on the expectation of exceptions does so at its own risk. The contractor shall have experience, or willingness to receive training, in the interpretation of computerized neurocognitive testing.
• Minimum of three (3) years or more post‑doctorate degree within the past five (5) years of demonstrable accumulated experience practicing performance psychology, or a related field with military members, athletes, groups of athletes at the levels of NCAA Collegiate Division I, II, or III, Olympic, or professional sports, or tactical setting, or with individuals or groups requiring high levels of mental and physical performance (experience with Special Operations personnel preferred).
  

EEO StatementMaximus is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, genetic information and other legally protected characteristics.Pay TransparencyMaximus compensation is based on various factors including but not limited to job location, a candidate's education, training, experience, expected quality and quantity of work, required travel (if any), external market and internal value analysis including seniority and merit systems, as well as internal pay alignment. Annual salary is just one component of Maximus's total compensation package. Other rewards may include short‑and long‑term incentives as well as program‑specific awards. Additionally, Maximus provides a variety of benefits to employees, including health insurance coverage, life and disability insurance, a retirement savings plan, paid holidays and paid time off. Compensation ranges may differ based on contract value but will be commensurate with job duties and relevant work experience. An applicant's salary history will not be used in determining compensation. Maximus will comply with regulatory minimum wage rates and exempt salary thresholds in all instances.AccommodationsMaximus provides reasonable accommodations to individuals requiring assistance during any phase of the employment process due to a disability, medical condition, or physical or mental impairment. If you require assistance at any stage of the employment process—including accessing job postings, completing assessments, or participating in interviews,—please contact People Operations at [e-mail] Salary$ 59,100.00Maximum Salary$ 124,100.00