Title:
Operational Psychologist (Supporting NASA at Johnson Space Center)
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The purpose of this position is to provide a wide range of applied psychological services for NASA JSC's Space Medicine Operations Division. This position is to support the Artemis and Mars missions going forward, and is a general operational psychology position within Behavioral Health and Performance (Operations) group. Services are provided to astronauts (including former astronauts), astronaut candidates, their families and to key mission personnel. The incumbent will perform job responsibilities in coordination with NASA's Civil Service Operational Psychologists. The incumbent will provide International Space Station mission support, including pre-flight evaluation, training and preparation, in-flight monitoring and support and post-flight reintegration. Services are also provided for astronaut candidates, astronaut and ASCAN family members, and screening and support for spaceflight analog particpants. This position also will provide services to key mission personnel and other ground-based personnel, such as Flight Surgeons and managers, and facilitate collaborations with internal, external and international partner operations and research personnel.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
• Implement behavioral health and performance countermeasures (e.g., selection, training, support) to psychological and environmental factors which challenge the attainment of health, performance, or mission goals in both spaceflight and spaceflight analog environments.
• Provide pre-flight psychological training and preparation of ISS and Artemis crewmembers and families; in-flight monitoring and support of crewmembers' behavioral health, well-being and performance; implementation of in-flight monitoring and countermeasures and post-flight repatriation and reintegration.
• Provide behavioral health consultations to flight surgeons, managers and key mission and analogue personnel.
• Provide training to astronauts and ground personnel in the psychological aspects of long-duration spaceflight.
• Participate with astronauts or astronaut candidates in field trainings as an embedded operational psychologist to train behavioral competencies for short and long-duration missions. Some field events occur in isolated, remote environments and require carrying loads (up to 50lbs), traversing rugged terrain, and living in austere environments (up to 2 weeks).
• Support developing and implementing the psychological screening tools and activities for astronaut applicants, and on an ongoing basis, assess best practices for improving screening and selection methods.
• Contribute to developing operational concepts for NASA's future spaceflight exploration missions, such Moon to Mars strategies.
• Maintain a learning liaison with other operational psychologists within government and private sectors that support mission analogues to spaceflight.
• Collaborate with and advise internal NASA and external (including ISS and Artemis international partners) research and operations groups and professionals
• Responsible for compliance with Safety, Health and Environmental plan; must be committed to a high standard of safety and be willing and able to comply with all safety laws and all of the Company’s safety policies and rules and must be willing to report safety violations and potential safety violations to appropriate supervisory or management personnel.
• Responsible for compliance with the Quality Assurance Plan, policies and procedures.
• Must maintain regular and acceptable attendance level as determined by the Company
• Responsible for completing all assigned training.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES
EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE
REQUIRED:
• PhD in Clinical Psychology from an APA accredited program and completion of an APA accredited internship. Other areas of Applied Psychology may be considered depending upon qualifications.
• Experience as an operational or military psychologist OR 3-5 years of experience as a clinical psychologist
• Licensed, or license eligible, in psychology in Texas.
• Experience in identifying, addressing and intervening in personal, family, environmental, and organizational issues
DESIRED:
The following are desired experience, but not required:
(a) Experience in selecting, training, and providing support of high-performing personnel.
(b) Experience in evaluating and supporting high-performing individuals in high-risk jobs, as well as assessing applicants for such positions through tests, interviews and behavioral scenarios.
(c) Experience in analyzing and interpreting data (both qualitative & quantitative) and the use of statistical methods for the development of data-driven solutions to operational problems.
(d) Experience backpacking, camping and hiking in rugged environments
(e) Prior experience in high tempo, high risk operational environments (e.g. military, aviation, spaceflight or other mission-critical organizations or settings).
(f) Experience selecting the most appropriate assessment tools for identifying psychosocial, behavioral, and personality factors in candidates based on available psychometrics and research.
SKILLS/TRAINING
REQUIRED:
• Proficiency with software tools including MS Office, SPSS or R.
• Possess intermediate to advanced clinical and cognitive assessment, scoring and report writing skills
• Possess intermediate to advanced clinical interviewing and psychodiagnostics skills
• Demonstrated ability to integrate/collaborate across multiple scientific or operational disciplines.
• Skilled at diplomacy/relationship building and communication
• Demonstrated interpersonal effectiveness and professionalism in working with others in a collaborative, multidisciplinary, team-oriented environment.
• Ability to be flexible and adapt quickly to changing requirements.
• Ability to complete tasks independently or as part of a team to the meet the NASA customer's standards with minimal direction
DESIRED:
• The following are desired skills, but not required:
a. Possess a broad understanding of behavioral health and performance outcomes for individuals to function effectively in extreme or dynamic operational environments.
b. Proven ability to communicate effectively with varied audiences, including operational personnel, their families, and various levels of management, internationals, scientists, medical professionals and engineers.
KBR Benefits
KBR offers a selection of competitive lifestyle benefits which could include 401K plan with company match, medical, dental, vision, life insurance, AD&D, flexible spending account, disability, paid time off, or flexible work schedule. We support career advancement through professional training and development.
Click here to learn more: KBR Benefits | KBR
Inclusion and Diversity at KBR
At KBR, we are passionate about our people, sustainability, and our Zero Harm culture. These inform all that we do and are at the heart of our commitment to, and ongoing journey toward being a more inclusive and diverse company. That commitment is central to our team of team’s philosophy and fosters an environment of real collaboration across cultures and locations. Our individual differences and perspectives bring enhanced value to our teams and help us develop solutions for the most challenging problems. We understand that by embracing those differences and working together, we are more innovative, more resilient, and safer. We Deliver – Together.
Click here to learn more: Inclusion and Diversity at KBR
At KBR, we are passionate about our people, sustainability, and our Zero Harm culture.
These inform all that we do and are at the heart of our commitment to, and ongoing journey toward being a more inclusive and diverse company. That commitment is central to our team of team’s philosophy and fosters an environment of real collaboration across cultures and locations. Our individual differences and perspectives bring enhanced value to our teams and help us develop solutions for the most challenging problems. We understand that by embracing those differences and working together, we are more innovative, more resilient, and safer.
KBR is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, veteran status, genetic information, union status and/or beliefs, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.
