performance Psychologist in Southampton

Performance Psychologist

Contract: Consultant (80-100 flexible days/year)

Department / Area: Science and Medicine

Reports to: Head of Science and Medicine

Location: Utilita Bowl & Hilton Southampton

Utilita Bowl, Botley Road, West End, Southampton,

SO30 3XH

The Role

Hampshire Cricket is seeking an experienced and proactive Sports Performance Psychologist to support the Professional Men's Programme. The successful candidate will play a key role in enhancing individual and team performance, supporting the development of a high-performance culture, and contributing to the sustained success of Hampshire Cricket across all formats of the professional game.

Working within an integrated multidisciplinary performance environment, the Sports Performance Psychologist will collaborate closely with players, coaches and support staff to optimise performance, wellbeing and resilience. The successful candidate will establish a consistent and visible presence within the programme, building trusted relationships through regular involvement in training, agreed match attendance and positively influence the culture and behaviours that underpin long-term success.

The position is contracted for 80-100 days per year, with flexibility around the scheduling of days to ensure the greatest impact on player and team performance. Given the seasonal nature of professional cricket, most support days are anticipated to be delivered during the summer playing season. Hampshire Cricket will seek to agree deployment of days in a manner that aligns with team priorities whilst remaining sensitive, where reasonably possible, to the demands of the successful candidate's wider professional commitments and portfolio.

Key Responsibilities

• Deliver individual and group-based performance psychology support to professional men's players and coaching staff.
• Support players in developing performance skills including confidence, concentration, emotional regulation, resilience, self-awareness, leadership and decision-making.
• Provide support around performance preparation, competition readiness, recovery from setbacks and transitions within professional sport.
• Work collaboratively with coaches to embed psychological principles into coaching practice and player development processes.
• Support players through key performance challenges including selection pressures, injury rehabilitation, return-to-play processes and career transitions.
• Contribute to the development of a high-performance environment characterised by accountability, trust, ownership and continuous improvement.
• Design and deliver workshops, group interventions and educational sessions aligned to team performance objectives.
• Assist in establishing and reinforcing behaviours that support sustainable success both on and off the field.
• Support leadership development initiatives across the playing group.
• Work collaboratively with the Women’s Programme practitioner, Academy Psychologist and designated Clinical Psychologist to coordinate support, clarify responsibilities and support continuity across programmes
• Work as a highly integrated member of Hampshire Cricket's Science & Medicine and Performance Support departments
• Maintain accurate and appropriate professional records in accordance with relevant ethical and professional standards.
• Provide periodic reporting and feedback to relevant programme leaders regarding service delivery and impact.
• Contribute to the club’s Wellbeing Groups and Mental Health Referral Pathway, recognising concerns, facilitating appropriate referrals and supporting agreed follow-up within the scope of the role. Clinical assessment and treatment will remain with appropriately qualified professionals. Arrangements for urgent concerns and support outside contracted availability will be agreed with the Head of Science and Medicine.
• Maintain adherence to ECB medical governance standards

Experience and Qualifications

Qualification:

• Accredited Sport and Exercise Psychologist or Registered Practitioner Psychologist with an appropriate professional body.
• Demonstrable experience working within an elite or professional sporting environment.
• Strong understanding of the demands of high-performance sport and the psychological challenges faced by professional athletes.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to establish credibility and trust with players, coaches and support staff.
• Experience working effectively within multidisciplinary performance teams.
• Flexible, proactive and adaptable approach to service delivery.
• Commitment to evidence-based practice and continuous professional development

  Experience:

• Experience working within professional cricket or other elite team sports.
• Experience supporting athletes through injury, rehabilitation and return-to-performance processes.
• Knowledge of talent development environments and athlete pathways.
• Experience delivering leadership and culture-development initiatives.
• Understanding of the interaction between performance psychology, mental health and clinical referral pathways within elite sport.

Considerations

All applicants must provide evidence to demonstrate that they have the Right to Work in the UK. Due to the temporary nature of this role, sponsorship for overseas nationals cannot be provided.

Utilita Bowl is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to employment practices and behaviours that encourage diversity, promote equality of treatment and eliminate unlawful and or unfair discrimination. If you would like to request any accommodations from application through to interview, please email

We ensure that we have a range of policies and procedures in place which promote safeguarding and safer working practice across our organisation.