Closing date: 20th November 2015

0.8FTE to Full-time – Based from Loughborough and with the England Men’s Team
 
£Competitive + excellent benefits

The vision of England Cricket is to create a game for everyone. Through successful England teams, we aim to inspire through on-field performance and off-field behaviour. The ECB is seeking applications from experienced and excellent Performance Psychologists. Reporting directly to the Head of Science and Medicine, the post holder will be part of the ECB Science and Medicine team (at the National Cricket Performance Centre, Loughborough) and also support the England Men’s team (traveling role).
 
    The post holder will have responsibility for three main areas. Firstly, to facilitate the performance of the England Men’s team; working with and  
    through the coaches and  support staff. Secondly, to support the development of the most talented Men’s players in England, to enable them to 
    bridge the gap from county to international cricket. Finally, to lead the ECB performance psychology team, to ensure the best Cricket specific offering
    to all Men’s and Women’s players and programmes.
 
 
The England Men’s Lead Psychologist will be expected to travel with the England Men’s Team both at home and abroad. In addition to working within the team environment, they should be prepared to work independently and have irregular hours.
 
  To apply, you will need experience in delivering performance psychology support to international level athletes and/or team sports, an ability to work
  with & through coaches, and excellent communication and relationship building skills. You will have a post graduate qualification in Sports
  Psychology or related discipline and be HCPC registered (or in the process of obtaining HCPC).
 
    Open recruitment.  Interviews are planned for late November / early December.
 
   Role Summary
 
 The post-holder will facilitate successful performance of the England Men’s team; helping coaches and support staff work with and support players 
 more effectively through a better understanding of how players tick, as a person and as a player. This may include: understanding and profiling the
 England men’s players, offering solutions to coaches to enhance team dynamics and match preparation, developing players’ ability under pressure,
 exploring player’s strengths and how to exploit opposition weakness. When needed, the post-holder will be responsible (along with the medical staff)
 for ensuring England players' wellbeing assessment, referral and support is effective and appropriate. This aspect of the role will require spending
 time in the England camp, at training and some match days, both in England and abroad.
 
 
   The post-holder will also be responsible for leading Performance Psychology, working within the Science and Medicine team at Loughborough.
   Specifically, to oversee psychology support to England programmes, including some delivery to players and support to ECB coaches, to profile and
   monitor England’s most talented players in the Lions and U19s to help inform their performance development, to work with and through County
   coaches to support them in the development of identified, talented players. Finally, lead and manage the ECB Psychology team and integrate the
   support with the Personal Development Welfare (PDW) coaches. This aspect of the role may involve travel to work with targeted County coaches and
   players

 Key Working Relationships:

•     England Men’s Head Coach and Assistant Coach
•     Head of Science and Medicine
•     England Men’s Coaches and Support staff
•     England Men’s Team Players
•     ECB Science and Medicine Lead Staff
•     ECB Consultant Clinical Psychologist
•     ECB Chief Medical Officer
•     England Performance Programme Lead Staff
•     Director of Cricket, England Men
•     Performance Director
•     National Cricket Performance Centre Staff
•     County Coaches and Psychologists

Principal Responsibilities and Accountabilities

•     Support England Team coaches and support staff to optimise the team environment and preparation of players
•     Support England Performance Programme coaches and support staff to enable County players to bridge the gap to international cricket
•     Deliver psychological support to England team and Performance Programme players
•     Deliver psychological support – with their County coaches - to England Performance Squad players
•     Provide line-management and support to all employed and contracted England Men’s and Women’s performance psychologists (3-4 people)
•     Lead Psychological Profiling and Monitoring of the England Performance Squad
•     Chair the psycho-social resilience group to ensure a proactive approach to player wellbeing
•     Oversee the technical development of Cricket specific performance psychology tools, methods and resources for all England Men’s and Women’s team and County clubs
•     Ensure there is a joined up approach to the delivery of performance psychology across ECB squads and programmes, including the link with PDW coaching team
•     Provide strategic and technical direction guidance to the County clubs and academies regarding the provision of performance psychology
•     Oversee the support to County psychology practitioners, to ensure the best support is given to our best players
•     Co-ordinate, in partnership with the CMO, the proactive integration of clinical psychology support to England Men’s and Women’s players
•     Contribute to the strategic planning and leadership of performance support to England teams and programmes as part of the Science and Medicine Management Team

Person Specification Essential

•     Proven track record of enhancing performance of International teams, preferably Men’s team sports
•     Proven ability to work through coaches, in order to promote player performance
•     Cricket specific experience and know-how
•     Post graduate qualification in Sports Psychology or related discipline
•     HCPC registered (or in the process of obtaining HCPC)
•     Line management and/or mentoring experience
•     Excellent communication skills, including ability to lead workshops, deliver presentations and facilitate meetings
•     Excellent relationship building skills, with coaches and support staff as well as athletes
•  

 
This job description is only a summary of the role as it currently exists and is not exhaustive or comprehensive. The responsibilities and accountabilities might differ from those outlined and other duties, as assigned, might be part of the job.

Click here to apply