Cognitive Performance Specialist –

Loyal Source; Fayetteville (NC); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Loyal Source is seeking a Mental Performance Coach/Sport Psychologist to train SOF personnel in cognitive, behavioral, and emotional skills, enhancing performance in training and operations. The role involves evidence-based education, goal-setting, visualization, and performance planning, with collaboration across Human Performance staff and ongoing literature reviews.

The position requires a Master’s in a relevant field (Doctoral preferred) and certification (CC‑AASP desired).

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Human Performance, Kinesiology, Exercise Science, or Sport Sciences.
• Certification as a CC‑AASP is desired but not required.
• Able to lift up to 25 kg and meet physical demands of SOF training.

Responsibilities

• Train SOF personnel to develop cognitive skills for optimal performance.
• Educate on cognitive, mental, behavioral, and emotional skills with evidence-based methods.
• Advise HP program staff on mental performance and sports psychology matters.
• Provide information on factors influencing mental performance in sport and activity.
• Develop goals, performance profiling, visualization, and planning.
• Participate in reviews to improve human performance training.
• Collaborate with HP staff to enhance training quality.
• Conduct literature reviews to keep HP current.
• Support research under HP leadership.
• Assist in creating practice guidelines for HP centers.
• Develop and share training materials; participate in in-service training.
• Perform other tasks within MPS scope; document work in SPEAR.

Skills

Mental performance

Sport psychology

Athlete coaching

Education

Master’s degree in Human Performance

Doctoral degree preferred

Job description

Responsibilities

• Train SOF personnel, with priority on SOF Operators and Direct Combat Support personnel, to develop and use cognitive skills necessary for optimal performance in training and operations.


• Train and educate SOF personnel in cognitive, mental, behavioral, psychosocial, perceptual, learning, adaptive thinking, human engagements, and emotional control skills, based on evidence‑based peer‑reviewed literature.


• Assist and advise the HP program Manager and/or Coordinator in matters relating to mental performance, exercise, and sports psychology.


• Provide information about mental performance, exercise, and sports psychology factors in sports, exercise, and physical activity.


• Train and educate on goal‑setting, performance profiling, visualization, performance development, and planning.


• Participate in meetings to review human performance training and identify opportunities for improvement.


• Collaborate with HP staff to enhance quality and effectiveness of mental and human performance development and expertise.


• Conduct periodic literature reviews to ensure HP stays current with the provision of care.


• Support research under supervision of the HP program Manager and/or Coordinator.


• Assist in developing and maintaining practice guidelines for consistency of service across Human Performance Training Centers (HPTCs).


• Develop and promulgate training materials as requested.


• Participate in in‑service training for HP Staff.


• Perform other tasks within the scope of the MPS position description as assigned.


• Collect and report data as requested and document work performed in the HP Enterprise‑wide database (SPEAR).


• Utilize computers, software, and technologies as required.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree (Doctoral degree preferred) in Human Performance, Kinesiology, Exercise Science, and/or Sport Sciences with a specialization in Sport Psychology.


• Certification as a Certified Consultant through the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (CC‑AASP) is desired but not required.


• Capable of lifting and manipulating loads or weights up to 25 kilograms.


• Capable of meeting physical demands of training with SOF, including hiking over rough terrain, functioning in austere environments, and operating on various transports to observe SOF training evolutions and conduct training and education.

Experience

• Minimum of 5 years of demonstrable accumulated experience (continuous and sustained experience preferred) as a mental performance coach or Sport Psychologist.


• Experience working with individual athletes and groups of athletes at NCAA Collegiate, Olympic, professional sports, and/or SOF Operators levels.

About Loyal Source

Loyal Source provides healthcare and technology solutions designed to improve outcomes and support mission‑critical operations. Guided by innovation and purpose, we help organizations achieve success across complex challenges worldwide. Loyal Source is a military friendly employer and proud partner of the Military Spouse Employment Partnership program.

We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants. If you have a disability or medical condition and need a reasonable accommodation to participate in this step of the hiring process, you may request an alternative method or accommodation at any time by contacting Human Resources at [e-mail].

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This contractor and subcontractor abides by the requirements of 41 CFR 60‑300.5(a) and 41 CFR 60‑741.5(a).
These regulations prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals on the basis of protected veteran status or disability, and require affirmative action by covered prime contractors.