Operational Psychologist (Sportand Clinical Focus) Overseas, Tactical Setting

Operational Psychologist - OVERSEAS

Location: Aviano Air Base, Italy

Employer: DURO Health

Clearance: Ability to obtain and maintain Secret Clearance required

Position Summary

DURO Health is seeking a highly skilled Operational Psychologist with expertise in sports and clinical psychology to support the Guardian Angel Human Performance Optimization (HPO) Program with the 57th Rescue Squadron. This role is designed for a clinician who thrives in high-performance environments, applying principles of sport psychology, clinical care, and human performance optimization to elite special operators.

The psychologist will serve as an embedded performance specialist, integrating mental skills training, psychological resilience, and clinical intervention strategies to enhance performance under pressure, accelerate recovery, and sustain long-term readiness. This position bridges clinical psychology and sport performance, supporting operators across the full continuum of training, mission execution, and reintegration.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary expert in sport and performance psychology, integrating mental skills training (e.g., arousal regulation, focus, confidence, stress inoculation) into daily operations.
• Deliver evidence-informed clinical care alongside performance optimization strategies to address both psychological health and elite performance demands.
• Conduct comprehensive psychological and performance assessments, including readiness profiling and return-to-duty recommendations.
• Design and implement mental performance and resilience programs aligned with high-risk, high-reliability environments.
• Provide individual consultation and short-term clinical interventions, incorporating cognitive-behavioral, trauma-informed, and performance-based approaches.
• Lead return-to-performance and reintegration programming, emphasizing both psychological recovery and operational readiness.
• Analyze and report performance and behavioral health data to inform leadership decisions and optimize human performance systems.
• Collaborate within an interdisciplinary human performance team (medical, strength and conditioning, rehabilitation) to deliver integrated care models similar to elite sport environments.
• Educate operators and leadership on mental performance strategies, injury psychology, burnout prevention, and stress management.
• Maintain accurate documentation within DoD systems (AHLTA/Genesis) and ensure compliance with all regulatory standards.
• Participate in ongoing professional development with emphasis on advances in sport and performance psychology.

Required Qualifications

• US Citizenship
• Doctorate (PhD or PsyD) in Clinical, Counseling, or Sport Psychology from an APA-accredited program and internship
• Active, unrestricted license to practice psychology in a U.S. state or territory
• Minimum of 2 years of independent post-doctoral clinical experience within the past 5 years
• Demonstrated expertise in both:
• Clinical care: PTSD, anxiety, mood disorders, trauma, crisis intervention
• Performance psychology: mental skills training, stress regulation, performance under pressure
• Experience working with high-performance populations (e.g., Special Operations Forces, elite military, NCAA, or professional athletes)
• Training in trauma-informed care and critical incident response
• Ability to deploy OCONUS/TDY for up to 30 days annually

Additional Requirements

• Ability to pass background investigations and maintain security clearance
• Demonstrated ability to operate effectively in high-tempo, team-based performance environments
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build trust and rapport with elite tactical athletes

Travel Obligations

• Approximately 3 weeks of travel annually
• Local travel integrated into routine duties
• Continuing education support provided to maintain licensure and specialty expertise

What We Offer

• Competitive salary starting at $120,000–$130,000
• Comprehensive benefits package including medical insurance, 401(k), life insurance, and PTO
• Relocation assistance available
• Opportunity to work within an elite human performance model comparable to professional sport organizations
• Direct operational impact supporting national defense and tactical athlete readiness
• Ongoing support from DURO Health leadership and interdisciplinary performance teams

Job Type

Full-time - IN ITALY

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $120,000.00 - $130,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Relocation assistance
• Retirement plan

Work Location: In person

Salary : $120,000 - $130,000