Athletics Mental Health and Performance Counselor

Department Contact: Joseph Almaguer, 575-646-5448, jalma5@nmsu.edu

Internal or External Search: External - Open to all applicants

Advertising Summary: New Mexico State Athletics is home to 16 intercollegiate teams – and to some of the most dynamic sports squads in the nation. We look forward to you joining our team!

Position Details

Position Title: Athletics Mental Health and Performance Counselor

College/Division: Athletics

Department: 108000-ATHLETICS

Location: Las Cruces

Offsite Location (If Applicable)

Target Hourly/Salary Rate: Commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Appointment Full-time Equivalency: 1.0

FLSA Status: Exempt

Bargaining Unit Announcement: This is NOT a bargaining unit position with American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees (AFSCME).

Contingent Upon Funding: Contingent upon funding

Standard Work Schedule: Shift: Other Shift

If Not a Standard Work Schedule: Mornings, Nights, Weekends, Holidays

Job Duties and Responsibilities: The New Mexico State Department of Intercollegiate Athletics is seeking applications for the Director of Psychological Health and Performance.

This role involves coordinating psychological services (evaluation, treatment, and education) for student-athletes in Division I athletics programs. The successful candidate will be a licensed mental health clinician dedicated to cultivating psychological wellness within the Athletics Department.

Candidates should possess a strong understanding of the psychological demands of elite sport and display the ability to support both performance enhancement and mental health needs within intercollegiate athletics.

This role will oversee mental performance evaluations, provide consultation and training to coaches, athletic trainers, academic staff, and other athletic department staff, and enhance participation and performance by teaching psychological principles and strategies for optimal mental health and improved sports performance. This role reports to the Senior Associate Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Services.

Qualifications

Required Education and Experience

Master’s or doctoral degree in Counseling, Clinical Psychology, Social Work, or a related mental health field from an accredited institution. Licensure in New Mexico (e. g., LPCC, LCSW, LMFT, or licensed Psychologist) or eligibility for licensure within six months of hire.

Equivalent Qualifications

• Master's degree in counseling, psychology, social work, or a related field.
• Prior experience working with high-performance athletes, preferably within NCAA Division I athletics, professional sports, Olympic sport programs, or elite training environments.

• Experience in planning, developing, implementing, and evaluation of effective programs for assisting student-athletes at the NCAA Division I level or equivalent.

• Familiarity with student-athlete mental health concerns, performance anxiety, injury recovery, and leadership development.

• Experience collaborating with coaches, sports medicine staff, athletic trainers, strength and conditioning personnel, and athletics administration.

• Certification as a Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC) through the Association for Applied Sport Psychology preferred.

• Experience working with developing populations (late adolescence/early adulthood).

• Multicultural competence and interest/expertise in trauma-informed therapeutic approaches.

Special Certification/Licensure

Licensure in New Mexico (e. g., LPCC, LCSW, LMFT, or licensed Psychologist) or eligibility for licensure within six months of hire.

Working Conditions and Physical Effort

Environment: Work is normally performed in a typical interior/office work environment.

Physical Effort: Light physical effort. Effort applies to no more than two (2) hours per day.

Lifting Requirements: Requires handling of average-weight objects up to 10 pounds or some standing or walking.

Risk: No or very limited exposure to physical risk.