Operational Psychologist

Psychologist For Special Operations Forces

Responsibilities

Provide technical expertise, guidance, and direct services in clinical and operational psychology to SOF.

Develop, plan, and initiate unit-level resiliency programs for preventing and treating behavioral health issues.

Provide technical expertise, consultation, and direct support in assessment and selection of personnel, operational support, individual/team/organizational assessment, performance enhancement, executive coaching, and leadership development.

Conduct advanced training to maximize performance and resilience of SOF personnel in high-stakes environments.

Provide psychological services to unit members, including administering and interpreting psychological assessment measures.

Consult with command personnel and manage process improvement, program validation, and related research.

Develop and manage appropriate personnel selection records and filing systems.

Manage referrals and disposition of referrals for behavioral health care.

Provide professional development and awareness education to leadership and SOF personnel.

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

Function as liaison between unit personnel and base/community helping professionals/agencies.

Support assessment and selection of incoming personnel and provide feedback on personnel suitability.

Conduct baseline and post-event neuropsychological screening and analyze psychological health trends.

Maintain credentialing requirements at a local MTF.

Qualifications

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) or Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) from an APA-accredited college or university.

Successfully completed an APA-accredited Internship/Residency in psychology.

Demonstrated knowledge of professional standards and ethics regarding the delivery of clinical psychology programs.

Computer literacy sufficient to operate personal computers, utilizing psychological test, word processing, database/spread sheet programs.

Experience

Minimum of two (2) years' post-doctoral experience within the past five (5) years in the independent practice of psychology in the area of operational psychology, preferably in a Government setting such as the Department of Defense (DOD) or Intelligence Community (IC).

Experience working with physicians providing medical psychological services is desired.

Expertise in psychological assessment, behavioral health, behavioral research, and organizational effectiveness literature.

Experience and training in the assessment and treatment of conditions such as alcohol and substance abuse, domestic violence, child abuse, post-traumatic stress, mood and anxiety conditions, and family/marital issues.

Training in personnel assessment and selection, with two years of experience.

One-year experience in performance enhancement or executive coaching, and organizational assessment and consultation, or completion of relevant courses.

Training in critical incident/stress trauma interventions.

Licensure

Current, full, active, and unrestricted license to practice as a psychologist in any U.S. State, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, or U.S. Virgin Islands.

Current certification in Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) as certified by the American Heart Association, with documentation provided annually.

SERE orientation and/or certification through the Joint Personnel Recovery Agency (JPRA), or willingness to obtain it (requirement for some roles).

Post-doctoral training, or willingness to obtain training, qualifying as an Aerospace Psychologist (requirement for AFSOC and other aviation-capable organizations).