Cognitive Performance Specialist (CPS)
About The Position
The Cognitive Performance Specialist (CPS) provides expert-level cognitive skills training, mental performance coaching, and applied human performance psychology to mobility aircrew. The objective is to improve decision-making, situational awareness, emotional resilience, information processing, and sustained cognitive performance in complex, high-stress operational environments. The CPS serves as a subject matter expert in sports/performance psychology, delivering individual and group cognitive training, developing performance programs, supporting applied research, and integrating cognitive performance with physical training to optimize aircrew readiness.
Requirements
- Master’s degree in Psychology, Counseling, Human Performance, Kinesiology, Exercise Science, Sport Sciences, or a closely related field
- Specialization in Sport Psychology or similar required
- Minimum 5+ years providing cognitive performance services
- Experience in one or more of the following: Collegiate (or higher) athletics, Professional athletics, Tactical athletics, Aerospace industry, Test pilot / astronaut / man-machine high-performance environments
- Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC) – Association for Applied Sport Psychology
- Current CPR/AED certification
- Favorable Tier 3 (T3) investigation required for access to Secret information via briefings
- May begin unclassified duties with initiated T3 and written COR approval
Nice To Haves
- Mission-focused performance psychology expert with experience supporting elite performers
- Excels at teaching cognitive skills
- Thrives in dynamic military environments
- Communicates effectively with aircrew and leadership
- Delivers measurable improvements in mental readiness and operational performance
Responsibilities
- Provide cognitive skills training to optimize aircrew mental performance
- Enhance decision-making, situational awareness, emotional resilience, and information processing
- Support applied research in cognitive enhancement, accelerated learning, instructor development, and man-machine interface
- Analyze aircrew cognitive performance needs
- Develop individualized programs (IPs) for each aircrew member
- Emphasize warfighting cognitive skills in complex, demanding environments
- Deliver individual and group cognitive performance training
- Integrate cognitive performance with physical fitness training
- Use simulation technology and biofeedback to enhance performance under pressure
- Assist in developing research procedures
- Support applied research across cognitive enhancement, accelerated learning, instructor development, and tactical training
- Apply best practices from military, aviation, and professional sports psychology
- Develop and deliver cognitive performance content for HP syllabi
- Provide briefings, seminars, and educational sessions
- Attend staff meetings with unit commanders
- Identify opportunities for program improvement
- Document all aircrew assessments, encounters, and contacts within 3 business days
- Prepare and submit data for the Human Performance Measures of Effectiveness Report (HP-MER)
- Provide monthly data reports to mobility aircrew
- Maintain all professional credentials and certifications
- Collaborate with interdisciplinary HPT members
- Provide data and support to government entities (e.g., AFRL) with written COR approval
- Complete all in-processing requirements
- Participate in job-specific training, simulations, and hands-on learning activities
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
