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Job overview

Area of Responsibility
Student-Athlete Development & Well-Being
Type
Full-Time
Location
Colorado Springs, Colorado

Assistant Sports Psychologist

United States Air Force AcademyFull-TimeColorado Springs, CO

Major Duties of the Position:
Serves as the Assistant Sport Psychologist under the direction of the Director of Sports Psychology to render mental performance services and operate as a mental health advisor for the USAFA Athletic Department (AD). Serves as a member of the Sports Psychology team as a subject matter expert and consultant on Sport Psychology matters for AD leadership, athletic coaches, and cadet-athletes in accordance with American Psychological Association, and the Association of Applied Sport Psychology standards and ethics. Works with the Director of Sport Psychology as a liaison and advisor on athlete-specific Sport Psychology and mental health issues to relevant AD staff and may interact with Cadet Wing and 10th Medical Group as appropriate. Works autonomously to integrate skillsets and knowledge as a consultant and resource to all staff members supporting the AD mission with the goal of building resiliency, enhancing human performance, and improving unit mission effectiveness.


Sport consultation, teaching, and education. Acts as a core member of the mental performance team in providing individual and group education, training, consultation, and psychotherapy for cadet athletes and coaching staff, particularly focusing on mental performance, and managing mild/transient psychological problems and adjustment difficulties. Assists the Director of Sport Psychology in advising senior leadership on the assessment and execution of institutional and occupational competencies related to sports psychology. Conducts individual and team assessments, delivering evidenced-based services to optimize cadet-athlete and team performance while ensuring privacy in compliance with Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act and institutional requirements. Delivers crisis intervention to individuals with complex behavioral health conditions and refers individuals with complex and severe mental health issues to the installation Mental Health Clinic or other appropriate Medical Facility. Partners with stakeholders and Director of Sport Psychology to implement psychological skills training programs for enhancing awareness of mental performance and psychological aid strategies across the AD. Applies Psychology, Research Methods, Statistics, and Psychometric expertise in the development, assessment, and execution of institutional and occupational competencies. Utilizes information gathered by direct observations, patient interactions, and treatment, as well as interviews with teams and AD staff to select or develop evidence-based initiatives to mitigate identified hazards and barriers to optimal health and performance and to enhance resiliency. Develops research and analysis plans and advises Director of Sport Psychology on resources to support the execution of relevant projects.


Sport psychology program management. Works collaboratively with the Director of Sport Psychology as the recognized experts in mental performance for USAFA/AD. Interacts as a representative of the Sport Psychology program at USAFA with DoD, NCAA, other services, academia, professional organizations, private sector, and military entities to identify current and developing force needs and psychometric methodologies, leverage resources, and facilitate synergistic discussions and plans. Assists in programmatic assessment and implementation of programs or policies in service to various organizational authorities, including DoD, USAFA, and NCAA. Applies psychology, research methods, statistics, and psychometrics expertise when advising on the development, assessment, and execution of institutional and occupational competencies. Assists in analyzing data to improve methodologies and contribute to programmatic development for embedded mental performance operations. Develops goals and objectives that integrate organizational, training, educational and experiential objectives. Prepares written evaluation reports with clinical impressions and recommendations.


Service and administration. Serves as a mental performance expert at USAFA in roles that necessitate collaboration throughout the institution - including but not limited to multidisciplinary coordination within Human Performance Laboratory, Physical Education Department missions, 10th MDG athlete wellness initiatives (e.g., Cadet Healthy Eating Working Group), sport and performance psychology intern program, and AD mental wellness initiatives. Partners with stakeholders in the oversight, clinical direction, and management of sport psychology internship program. Collaborates with Director of Sport Psychology to consistently appraise implementation of mental performance efforts through evaluation and assessment. Prepares high quality written evaluation reports to further the impact and success of the Sport Psychology mission within the AD. Upholds highest standards of personal integrity as a mentor to cadet athletes, promoting an environment conducive to effective mission accomplishment.

Conditions of Employment

  • U.S. Citizenship is required
  • The selected candidate will be subject to a security investigation leading to successful completion of a background investigation with a favorable adjudication. The selectee's failure to meet this requirement will be grounds for termination.
  • Essential qualities expected of every faculty member include the personal attributes of integrity, industry, cooperation, initiative, and breadth of intellectual interests.
  • Masters degree (see Qualifications for required academic disciplines)
  • The salary shown is the minimum (Annual) amount to be paid and may be set higher commensurate with individual's qualifications and experience.
  • You will be required to serve a 1-year trial period
  • If authorized, PCS will be paid IAW JTR and AF Regulations. If receiving an authorized PCS, you may be subject to completing/signing a CONUS agreement. More information on PCS requirements, may be found at: https://afciviliancareers.com/regulatory/
  • As a condition of employment, male applicants born after December 31, 1959 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service. For additional information go to: http://www.sss.gov
  • This is NOT a designated drug testing position
  • Direct Deposit: All federal employees are required by PL 104-134 to have federal payments made by Direct Deposit.

Qualifications

QUALIFICATIONS
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS: For Clinical Psychologist, a PhD or PsyD from an American Psychological Association (APA) accredited program and APA accredited residency is required. For Licensed Clinical Social Worker a minimum of Master's Degree and post-graduate education focus in Sports Psychology is required.


ACADEMIC DISCIPLINES:
N/A

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
Doctor of Psychology and Certified Mental Performance Consultant preferred. Relevant experience with sports populations, military populations, or similar required. Three or more years of experience with these populations preferred.

Candidates will have a strong commitment to undergraduate teaching.

Leadership experience in curriculum development and academic assessment is desired.

Applicants will be assessed based on education, evidence of teaching effectiveness, quality of scholarship, and demonstrated service to educational institutions and the discipline commensurate with years in the discipline.

Education

EDUCATION:
If selected, you will be requested to provide original copies of ALL OFFICIAL transcripts for degrees being pursued or obtained (or letter of degree completion if an OFFICIAL transcript is not available due to recent graduation) to support your educational claims as stated in your curriculum vitae. Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a transcript to be considered OFFICIAL, it should be printed on university letterhead and the registrar's official seal/signature must appear on the transcript. Your transcripts must also reflect the degree awarded/conferred date. Transcripts labeled UNOFFICIAL will not be accepted.

Upon request, ensure you include ALL transcripts to support your educational claims as stated in your curriculum vitae (resume) even if not required for this position.

FOREIGN EDUCATION:
Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the educational requirements. However, you must show proof that the education credentials have been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. education program. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying in the form of an "official" statement of U.S. equivalency from a Department of Education approved (non-federal) agency (i.e. AICENACES), who will complete a U.S. Standard of Education Conversion.

The following documents are required and must be received by the closing date of the announcement.

  • Letter of application (cover letter)
  • Curriculum vitae (resume)
  • Veterans' preference documents, if applicable (i.e. DD-214 or Proof of Service letter (if active duty military), SF-15, Veterans Affairs letter for federal employment)

It is highly desired that your cover letter and/or curriculum vitae address the following areas, as appropriate:

  • Teaching Accomplishments: Include teaching experience and teaching awards.
  • Professional Accomplishments: Include research, consultations, publications, and awards.
  • Service Accomplishments: Include memberships, leadership roles, nature of service and contribution in collegial and/or professional organizations, societies, etc.
  • Diversity Statement: Include teaching, life experience and/or research interests that contribute to a climate that values and promotes diversity in all its forms.

Please also reference the "Required Qualifications" section for other documents desired by the hiring committee. Any supplemental documents intended for the hiring committee should be attached to the cover letter as a single file. Supplemental documents with large file sizes can be substituted with a link to comply with the 5MB maximum size of files submitted through this platform.

An incomplete package will result in non-consideration of your application.