Description

Position Summary:

The United States Performance Center is seeking an innovative and collaborative Sport Psychologist and Mental Performance Provider to lead holistic mental performance and well-being initiatives for elite athletes training for Olympic and professional competition. This position is required to be on site at the United States Performance Center offices in Charlotte, NC. The Sport Psychologist and Mental Performance Provider will oversee all psychological and mental performance services at USPC, assisting a multidisciplinary team to enhance athlete well-being and competitive readiness. This position requires strong clinical expertise, evidence-based performance coaching, and a commitment to ethical and competent care. This role requires a high level of organization and communication to facilitate collaboration with team operations, coaching staff, strength and conditioning, athletic training, sports medicine, and nutrition. The provider will also need to work with coaches and team managers to assist with mental performance for domestic and international travel. The ideal candidate will maintain a high level of professionalism, express punctuality at all times, and be eager to help athletes achieve their specific training goals. 

About Us:
USPC is an elite training facility located in Charlotte, NC that specializes in research based athletic development, injury prevention, and overall health and wellness for Team USA athletes. Staff work closely together to create individualized programs for athletes to help them perform to the best of their ability. The United States Performance Center is currently home to a number of National Governing Bodies with both team and individual sports. 

Role Overview:
The Sport Psychologist and Mental Performance Provider will lead our mental performance efforts across all programs, working directly with professional and Olympic athletes. This role balances advanced mental performance coaching with oversight, program development, staff supervision, and integration with the broader high-performance team.

Key Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with a multidisciplinary high-performance staff to integrate psychological principles into training and recovery strategies.
• Design and perform baseline assessments with all resident athletes and determine individualized sport specific goals.
• Design, implement, and lead a comprehensive mental performance program to assist in athlete development and performance.
• Develop and deliver workshops, team sessions, and educational content for resident teams, remote athletes, and camps as needed.
• Provide one-on-one performance coaching and mentoring to athletes in a clinical and sport specific setting.
• Provide education and training for partnered National Governing Body (NGB) staff and coaches.
• Serve as a clinical resource and liaison for mental health issues (triaging / referral).
• Provide consistent communication to the coaching staff, director of operations, strength and conditioning staff, sports medicine staff, team physicians, and nutrition regarding sports psychology and performance related issues.
• Document psychology services provided and evaluate the effectiveness of strategies towards meeting desired outcomes.
• Develop and revise specific policies related to sport psychology and mental health emergencies and keep USPC staff updated on protocols for assisting with mental health emergencies.
• Oversee and supervise junior sport psychology staff and interns
• Manage departmental budget, staffing, and partnerships.
• Assist with and develop research initiatives specific to sport psychology or mental performance.
• Maintain ethical standards, confidentiality, and compliance with relevant governing body and state regulations.

Requirements

Minimum Requirements: 

• Doctorate Degree (PhD or Psy D.) in Sport Psychology, Clinical Psychology, Performance Psychology, or a closely related field.
• Current NC license or eligible for NC licensure
• A minimum of (5) years of experience providing sport psychology services at the collegiate or professional level
• Strong clinical/ counseling skills

Highly Preferred Qualifications:

• IOC Certificate in Sport Psychology
• Currently hold a CMPC (Certified Mental Performance Consultant) credential
• Training or certification in relevant methods such as biofeedback / neurofeedback, psychophysiological measurement (heart-rate variability, EEG, etc.), mindfulness / acceptance-based performance interventions, CBT-based performance psychology, resilience training, etc.
• Publications, presentations, or research in sport psychology
• Experience managing budgets, staff, program evaluation
• Memberships in professional associations (AASP, APA, etc.)
• Experience working with Olympic, National Governing Body programs, or military populations. 

Other Requirements:

• Highly organized and able to adapt and execute in a dynamic environment.
• Adept with technology and data management.
• When necessary, the ability to work non-traditional hours including weeknights/ weekends and overnight travel (as reasonably needed)
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal
• Strong interpersonal skills to establish productive working relationships with multidisciplinary team and support services
• Commitment to continuous professional development and staying current with sport psychology research and ethical standards of care.
• Ability to support both in-person and remote athlete consultations.