Operational Psychologist

Description

Operational Psychologist

Fort Bragg, NC

Position Summary 

The Operational Psychologist provides comprehensive psychological and human performance support to Special Operations Forces (SOF) personnel to enhance mission readiness, resilience, and overall performance in high-stress operational environments. Responsibilities include conducting psychological assessments and personnel selection evaluations, providing behavioral health support and crisis intervention, consulting with military leadership, and delivering evidence-based training in mental skills, stress management, leadership development, cognitive performance, and resilience. The position also supports neuropsychological screening, research, program development, and performance enhancement initiatives to improve individual and team effectiveness.

About Valor Healthcare 

Valor Healthcare is a veteran- and physician-led provider of healthcare services for deserving, resilient patriots – including those who serve or have served in the military as well as those who devote their careers to government service. We aim to deliver high-quality care in a way that upholds the health of our nation’s greatest asset: its people. Valor works hard to earn the trust of those who have faith in us to care for them with respect and through methods that lead to superior clinical outcomes. 

Valor is different because of our people. 

· Our leadership team is comprised of veterans, clinicians, and business leaders dedicated to providing exceptional care and world-class patient experience. 

· Many of our colleagues have patriots in their families or are patriots themselves, building a company culture and commitment to customer service that is second to none. 

Responsibilities  

· Provide technical expertise, consultation, and direct support in the areas of assessment and selection of personnel, operational support, individual/team/organizational assessment and performance enhancement, executive coaching and leadership development, research, conduct advanced training designed to maximize performance and resilience of SOF personnel to accomplish mission objectives in potentially time constrained, high-stakes, ambiguous and hostile operating environments, and the provision of psychological services to unit members. Conduct, administer, and interpret a full spectrum of psychological assessment measures and consult with command personnel; manage relevant process improvement, program validation, and related research; develop and manage appropriate personnel selection records and filing systems.

· Conduct baseline and post-event neuropsychological screening and will collect/analyze data and monitor trends in psychological health as directed.

· Responsible for management of referrals and disposition of referrals for behavioral health care.

· Provide professional development and awareness education to leadership and SOF personnel as requested.

· Provide crisis response and follow-up care in the event of unit casualties or other serious incidents.

· Primary supporter of the assessment and selection of incoming personnel and provide feedback to unit leadership on suitability of personnel to serve within certain military organizations or positions.

· Ability to manage relevant process improvements, program validations, and related research.

· Mastery of psychological assessment, behavioral health, behavioral research, and familiarity with organizational effectiveness literature, operational psychology, performance enhancement and training, industrial/organizational psychology, and social and operational psychology.

· Proficiently utilize computers, software, and technologies as required and requested by the HP program Manager and/or Coordinator and required by AFSPECWAR and staff.

· Document care in the Military’s Electronic Health Record (i.e., AHLTA, GENESIS, etc.) and/or the HP Enterprise-wide database (i.e., SMARTABASE), as directed by HP program Manager and/or Coordinator and required by AFSPECWAR and squadron staff.

· Based on evidence-based peer-reviewed literature train and educate AFSPECWAR personnel, in individual and group settings, in specific cognitive, mental, behavioral, psychosocial, perceptual, learning, adaptive thinking, human engagements, and emotional control skills, strategies – including understanding, acquisition, and retention – performance improvement and maintenance with documentation of work performed, implemented, and provided to AFSPECWAR personnel.

· 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.

· Provide instruction based on principles of performance and sports psychology to enhance the cognitive skills required for AFSPECWAR operators to physically and mentally excel while operating under high stress in ambiguous, high-risk, chaotic, and physically demanding environments. Instruction focusses on learning and performance which includes: mental skills foundations, energy management, attention control, effective thinking, memory enhancement, goal setting, planning and prioritization, leveraging learning styles, peer learning, study strategies, effective reading, and sleep for performance.

· Provide expertise and instruction in, but not limited to: Mental Skills Foundations, Energy Management, Attention Control, Effective Thinking, Goal Setting, Imagery, Enhanced Memory, Sleep and Biorhythms, Team Building, Accelerated Learning, Planning and Prioritization, Motivation, and Leader Philosophy.