Certified Performance Specialist (CPS)

Position Summary

The Certified Performance Specialist (CPS) provides advanced mental performance and sport psychology support to enhance cognitive, emotional, and performance readiness of personnel. The CPS applies evidence-based mental training, performance psychology techniques, resilience strategies, and stress-management skills to help individuals perform at their highest potential. This role requires professionalism, discretion, and the ability to collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary performance and wellness teams.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Deliver one-on-one and group mental performance training focused on confidence, focus, motivation, emotional regulation, resilience, and stress management.
• Conduct cognitive, psychological, and performance-readiness assessments.
• Develop and deliver evidence-based mental skills training curricula tailored to operational and performance demands.
• Consult with coaches, leaders, command staff, and other performance team members to integrate mental performance strategies into overall training plans.
• Provide instruction on key performance psychology concepts such as visualization, goal setting, arousal regulation, attention control, and coping strategies.
• Support performance optimization in competitive, tactical, and high-pressure environments.
• Maintain complete confidentiality and adhere to all ethical standards of practice.
• Prepare reports, maintain documentation, and participate in multidisciplinary team meetings.
• Educate personnel on resilience, recovery, and strategies to maintain mental wellness and high performance in demanding environments.

Minimum Required Qualifications

Education

• Master’s degree in any field from an accredited college or university.

Certification

One of the following is required:

• Licensed Sports Psychologist affiliated with the American Psychological Association (APA),
  OR
• AASP Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC) certification,
  OR
• Ability to earn CMPC certification within 2 years of hire.

Experience

• Minimum of 3 years of professional experience in mental performance or sport psychology coaching with one or more of the following populations:

• • NCAA collegiate athletes
  • Olympic-level athletes
  • Professional sports organizations
  • U.S. military or tactical populations

Experience requirement may be waived for candidates with documented CPS experience with:

• NCAA athletes
• Olympic or elite athletes
• Professional or semi-professional athletes
• Equivalent sports organizations or Service Members

Additional Requirements

• U.S. Citizenship is required.

Key Competencies

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to build rapport and maintain the highest level of confidentiality.
• Ethical decision-making and professional judgment.
• Strong instructional abilities and ability to tailor mental skills to diverse individuals.
• Collaboration skills for working within multidisciplinary performance teams.
• Strong organizational and documentation skills.