Vice President of Performance Psychology

Position: Vice President of Performance PsychologyLocation: United StatesIndustry: SportsPosition Type: Full-TimeSalary: $250,000 - $300,000 + Bonus + BenefitsContact: james.gershfield@forsythbarnes.comRole OverviewThe Vice President of Performance Psychology is responsible for defining and leading a world-class, evidence-based psychological performance strategy across the entirety of a professional sport team based in the USA. This role will drive the mental performance, wellbeing, resilience, and behavioural excellence of athletes, coaches, and high-performance staff globally.The VP will integrate cutting-edge research from performance psychology, neuroscience, and behavioural science into practical, scalable systems that enhance competitive success and sustain long-term human performance.Key Responsibilities1. Strategic LeadershipDevelop and implement a global performance psychology strategy aligned with organisational performance goals. Serve as the senior authority on mental performance, resilience, and psychological wellbeing. Embed a high-performance mindset culture across all teams and disciplines. Advise executive leadership on psychological factors influencing performance, leadership, and team dynamics. 2. Athlete & Coach PerformanceDesign and oversee mental performance programs that optimize focus, confidence, decision-making, and pressure management. Partner with coaches to integrate psychological principles into daily training and competition environments. Support elite athletes throughout season and off-season. Establish frameworks for individualised psychological profiling and development plans. 3. System & Program DevelopmentBuild scalable systems, tools, and frameworks for performance psychology delivery across teams. Lead the creation of playbooks, protocols, and digital solutions supporting mental performance. Ensure consistent standards and best practices across regions and disciplines. 4. Research & InnovationTranslate latest research in psychology, neuroscience, and human performance into applied practice. Partner with academic institutions and research bodies to drive innovation. Establish the organisation as a global leader in performance psychology thought leadership. 5. Wellbeing & SafeguardingOversee athlete and staff mental health and wellbeing strategies. Ensure alignment with safeguarding, duty of care, and ethical standards. Develop crisis response frameworks and support systems. 6. Leadership & Capability BuildingBuild, lead, and develop a team of performance psychologists and specialists. Educate and upskill coaches, leaders, and support staff in psychological principles. Create leadership development programs grounded in behavioural science. 7. Measurement & ImpactDefine KPIs and success metrics for psychological performance interventions. Use data and insights to continuously improve programs and demonstrate impact. Integrate psychological metrics into broader performance analytics systems.Key Qualifications & ExperienceAdvanced degree (PhD or equivalent preferred) in Sport Psychology, Clinical Psychology, or related field. Extensive experience (8–10+ years) in elite sport or high-performance environments. Proven track record working with world-class athletes, teams, or global sporting organisations. Demonstrated experience building and leading high-performing, multidisciplinary teams. Strong understanding of applied performance science, behavioural change, and leadership dynamics. Experience operating in complex, global, and culturally diverse environments.