Cognitive Performance Specialist

Public Trust: None

Requisition Type: Pipeline

Your Impact

Own your opportunity to be on the frontlines of health innovation. Deliver for America’s health agency missions and enhance lives for hundreds of millions every day.

Job Description

We are GDIT. The people supporting and securing some of the most complex government, defense, and intelligence projects across the country. We ensure today is safe and tomorrow is smarter. Our work has meaning and impact on the world around us, but also on us, and that’s important.

GDIT is your place. You make it your own by embracing autonomy, seizing opportunity, and being rusted to deliver your best every day.

We think. We act. We deliver. There is no challenge we can’t turn into opportunity. And our work depends on a Cognitive Performance Specialist joining our team to support customer activities.

At GDIT, people are our differentiator. As a Cognitive Performance Specialist supporting our customer, you will be trusted to provide mental performance and readiness support.

The Cognitive Performance Specialist provides evidence‑based cognitive, psychological, and behavioral skills training to enhance mental performance and readiness. The CPS develops, implements, and evaluates cognitive performance programs that strengthen attention, adaptability, learning, emotional regulation, and decision‑making under pressure. This role collaborates across the Human Performance team to improve overall performance, readiness, and resilience.

HOW A COGNITIVE PERFORMANCE SPECIALIST WILL MAKE AN IMPACT:

• Utilize on evidence-based and/or peer-reviewed literature to train and educate SOF personnel, in individual and group settings, in specific cognitive, mental, behavioral, psychosocial, perceptual, learning, adaptive thinking, human engagements, and emotional control skills, and strategies – including understanding, acquisition, and retention – performance improvement and maintenance with documentation of work performed, implemented, and provided to SOF personnel.
• Assist and advise the POTFF Program Manager/Coordinator or Government Lead in matters relating to mental performance, and sport psychology.
• Provide information, education, and training about cognitive performance related to exercise and sports psychology factors in sports and physical activity.
• Provide education and training on executive function, sleep, self-regulation, attention, and other cognitive functions as needed. This could include areas such as memory, skill acquisition, goal setting, performance profiling, visualization, performance development, and planning.
• As a subject matter expert for this labor category, the primary role is for the purpose of enhance and preservation of the cognitive, physical, psychological, social, and spiritual well-being of Service Members, which includes the documentation of those services offered in the HP Enterprise-wide platforms (i.e., HPDMS, etc.) as directed by the USSOCOM Directive 10-12. Adjustments to the productivity level for this labor category may vary due to client population, local mission set, or additional administrative taskings. Additional duties as assigned through local leadership must be documented and approved through local POTFF leadership.

WHAT YOU'LL NEED TO SUCCEED:

EDUCATION:

• Master’s degree in human performance, Kinesiology, Exercise Science, Cognitive Science, Cognitive Neuroscience, Sport Sciences, Performance Psychology, Psychology, or mental health discipline with a specialization in Performance Psychology. Doctoral degree preferred.
• Minimum of three (3) years or more post-graduate degree of demonstrable accumulated experience (continuous and sustained experience preferred) as a cognitive performance practitioner or Sport Psychologist with military members, athletes, groups of athletes at the levels of NCAA Collegiate, Olympic, professional sports, tactical setting, or with individuals or groups requiring high levels of mental and physical performance (experience with Special Operations personnel preferred).
• Certification of training for heart rate variability (HRV) through the Biofeedback Certification International Alliance (BCIA) or a relevant certification through BCIA or at least one (1) year of demonstrable experience delivering HRV training in a high- performance setting and be willing to obtain the BCIA HRV certificate of completion for HRV within one (1) year of hire.
• May be required to receive and maintain certifications relevant to cognitive enhancement as required by hiring Unit, such as BCIA biofeedback certification.

CLEARANCE: Secret or Top-Secret Clearance, or the ability to obtain clearance.

LOCATION: Various OCONUS & CONUS SITES

This is a contingent posting, expected to start in 2027.

GDIT IS YOUR PLACE:

• 401K with company match
• Comprehensive health and wellness packages
• Internal mobility team dedicated to helping you own your career
• Professional growth opportunities including paid education and certifications
• Cutting-edge technology you can learn from
• Rest and recharge with paid vacation and holidays

#MilitaryHealthGDITJobs

Work Requirements

Years of Experience

3 + years of related experience

* may vary based on technical training, certification(s), or degree

Certification

Travel Required

Less than 10%

Citizenship

U.S. Citizenship Required