Cognitive Performance Specialist (CPS)

Maximus; Fayetteville (NC); On-site; USD 69,000 - 132,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Life insurance

Retirement savings plan

Paid holidays and PTO

Job summary

MaxHP is hiring a Cognitive Performance Specialist to support the Preservation of the Force and Family by delivering evidence-based instruction in adaptive thinking, sleep, emotional control, and goal setting for SOF personnel.

The role collaborates with other human performance experts to monitor brain health and readiness, with duties spanning education, documentation, and program coordination.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in a relevant field with specialization in Performance Psychology.
• BCIA HRV certification or equivalent with at least 1 year of HRV training in a high-performance setting.
• BCIA biofeedback certification required; government may grant exceptions under SOW 4.1.8.
• Minimum of three years post‑graduate experience as a cognitive performance practitioner or sport psychologist with military or high-performance populations.

Responsibilities

• Train and educate SOF personnel in cognitive, mental, behavioral, psychosocial, perceptual, learning, adaptive thinking, and emotional control skills with documentation.
• Advise the POTFF Program Manager/Coordinator or Government Lead on mental performance matters.
• Provide education on cognitive performance related to exercise and sports psychology factors.
• Document services offered in HP Enterprise‑wide platforms per USSOCOM directives.

Skills

HRV training

Cognitive performance

Executive function coaching

Education

Master's degree in human performance / related field

Doctoral degree preferred

Tools

BCIA HRV certification

BCIA biofeedback certification

Job description

General information

Date: Thursday, November 5, 2026

City: Fayetteville

State: NC

Country: United States

Working time: Full-time

Description & Requirements

MaxHP is hiring a Cognitive Performance Specialist. The Cognitive Performance Specialist supports the Preservation of the Force and Family. Cognitive Performance is an interdisciplinary field spanning kinesiology, psychology, and motor learning and control. A CPS is a trained professional who develops and applies interventions to enhance SOF cognitive skills needed to perform optimally in high-stress training and operational environments. This includes evidence-based instruction in areas such as adaptive thinking, executive function, sleep, emotional control, goal setting, and visualization to enhance mental and behavioral performance. They collaborate with other human performance experts to monitor and protect SOF brain health and improve cognitive function and readiness.

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 should be able to support operations at one or more of the following locations: Coronado, CA; Colorado Springs, CO; Washington, DC; Tampa, FL; Valparaiso, FL; Columbus, GA; Savannah, GA; Stennis Space Center, MS; Fayetteville, NC; Jacksonville, NC; Clovis, NM; Clarksville, TN; Virginia Beach, VA; Tacoma, WA; 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

• Utilize on evidence-based and/or peer-reviewed literature to train and educate SOF personnel, in individual and group settings, in specific cognitive, mental, behavioral, psychosocial, perceptual, learning, adaptive thinking, human engagements, and emotional control skills, and strategies - including understanding, acquisition, and retention - performance improvement and maintenance with documentation of work performed, implemented, and provided to SOF personnel.
• Assist and advise the POTFF Program Manager/Coordinator or Government Lead in matters relating to mental performance, and sport psychology.
• Provide information, education, and training about cognitive performance related to exercise and sports psychology factors in sports and physical activity.
• Provide education and training on executive function, sleep, self‑regulation, attention, and other cognitive functions as needed. This could include areas such as memory, skill acquisition, goal setting, performance profiling, visualization, performance development, and planning.
• 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

• Possess a master’s degree in human performance, Kinesiology, Exercise Science, Cognitive Science, Cognitive Neuroscience, Sport Sciences, Performance Psychology, Psychology, or mental health discipline with a specialization in Performance Psychology. Doctoral degree preferred.
• Certification of training for heart rate variability (HRV) through the Biofeedback Certification International Alliance (BCIA) or a relevant certification through BCIA or at least one (1) year of demonstrable experience delivering HRV training in a high-performance setting and obtain the BCIA HRV certificate of completion within one (1) year of hire.
• Must hold a certification relevant to cognitive enhancement, such as BCIA biofeedback 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, and an Offeror that prices on the expectation of exceptions does so at its own risk.
• Minimum of three (3) years or more post‑graduate degree of demonstrable accumulated experience (continuous and sustained experience preferred) as a cognitive performance practitioner or Sport Psychologist with military members, athletes, groups of athletes at the levels of NCAA Collegiate Division I, II, or III, Olympic, professional sports, tactical setting, or with individuals or groups requiring high levels of mental and physical performance (experience with Special Operations personnel preferred).

EEO Statement

Maximus 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 Transparency

Maximus 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.

Accommodations

Maximus 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].

Minimum Salary

$ 68,500.00

Maximum Salary

$ 132,000.00