Description
APPLY Here ONLY (cover letter / resume: applications.reviewed@proton.me
Mental Performance Specialist
Organization: Dallas Mavericks (NBA)
Department: Medical / Performance
Dotted-Line Reporting: Player Development
Status: Full-Time, Year-Round (Defined Off-Season Flexibility)
Travel: Full Team Travel (Regular Season, Playoffs, Draft Preparation)
Application Status: Open until filled
Position Overview
The Mental Performance Specialist serves as a core member of the Medical and Performance team, working collaboratively with Player Development, Physical Therapy, Athletic Training, Strength & Conditioning, and Coaching staff to support player performance, development, resilience, and readiness within a high-performance professional environment.
This role is player-centered, highly visible, and fully embedded in daily basketball operations, including practices, travel, rehabilitation days, and player development meetings. The position is responsible for designing, evolving, and owning the Mental Performance Program for players, while meeting high expectations for mental skills integration and mental health awareness.
The ideal candidate is comfortable operating in a fast-paced, high-profile NBA environment and demonstrates clinical and performance flexibility while seamlessly integrating mental performance into training, competition, recovery, and player development systems.
Requirements
Key Responsibilities
Mental Performance & Player Support
Deliver individual and team-based mental skills training focused on performance, confidence, focus, emotional regulation, routines, resilience, and recovery.
Integrate mental skills into practice, pre-competition routines, competition, rehabilitation, and recovery processes.
Provide ongoing performance consultation during practices, travel, games, and rehabilitation days.
Maintain consistent visibility and availability during all team activities.
Program Development & Ownership
Design, build, evolve, and own the organization’s Mental Performance Program for players.
Align mental performance strategies with Player Development plans and organizational performance objectives.
Create structured mental performance frameworks, tools, and interventions that scale across the roster and development pipeline.
Collaborate closely with Medical, Strength & Conditioning, and Performance staff to ensure a unified, integrated approach.
Research, Innovation & Evidence-Based Practice
Engage in collaborative research initiatives with the Director of Medical, Performance, and Wellness to advance evidence-based practice and organizational learning.
Contribute to data collection, analysis, and evaluation of mental performance interventions and outcomes.
Participate in research projects exploring the intersection of mental performance, physical health, and player development.
Support organizational knowledge development through case studies, program evaluations, and outcome tracking.
Remain current with emerging research in sport psychology, mental performance, and elite athlete care.
Player Development & Organizational Integration
Attend and actively contribute to Player Development meetings.
Work closely with Player Development staff to support long-term growth, role clarity, and competitive readiness.
Provide mental performance insights that inform individualized development plans.
Maintain regular communication with the Director of Medical / Head Athletic Trainer regarding player availability, stress load, and readiness indicators.
Player Evaluation & Acquisition
Serve as an active and embedded participant in:
Draft preparation
Player interviews (drafted players, free agents)
Provide insights related to psychological readiness, adaptability, organizational fit, and developmental considerations.
Support draft onboarding and transition processes for incoming players.
Education & Culture
Deliver educational sessions and workshops aligned with professional standards, including:
Mental skills integration
Team dynamics
Leadership, communication, and culture
Educate coaches and staff on incorporating mental skills into daily training environments.
KPIs & Reporting
Utilize a hybrid KPI model combining quantitative and qualitative measures to monitor engagement, readiness, and behavioral change.
Responsibilities include:
Weekly structured check-ins
Monthly summary reporting aligned with Medical and Player Development leadership
Tracking program utilization, observed behavioral change, and readiness indicators
Maintaining player-specific updates within the Athlete Management System (AMS)
Contributing concise narrative insights during multidisciplinary discussions
Providing periodic summary statistics related to engagement trends and identified areas of need
Supervision & Program Growth (As Applicable)
May mentor or supervise interns, fellows, or consultants if an intern or fellowship program is developed.
Contribute to the long-term vision, sustainability, and evolution of the Mental Performance function.
Qualifications (Minimum Requirements)
Master’s degree in Sport Psychology or a closely related field.
Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC). (preferred)
Minimum of 5 years of experience working at the highest level of professional sports.
Experience within NBA, MLB, NFL, NHL, or equivalent elite professional sport environments strongly preferred.
Eligible for independent licensure as a mental health professional; fully licensed clinicians (e.g., LPC) preferred.
Demonstrated cultural competence and awareness of sociocultural identity in performance and mental health settings.
Proven ability to function effectively within a multidisciplinary, high-performance team environment.
Comfort providing services in nontraditional, high-visibility, and travel-intensive environments.
Strong communication, collaboration, and professional judgment skills.
Submission Instructions
Please submit a resume and cover letter to:
applications.reviewed@proton.me
(Please specify the role you are applying for in the subject line.)
This position will remain open until filled, and applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Applicants will receive an automated confirmation upon receipt. Due to the volume of submissions, individual follow-up or status inquiries will not be responded to.
Candidates who meet role requirements and advance to the initial selection phase will be contacted directly with information regarding next steps.
