LUNTA Sports Psychologist

Job Title: LUNTA Sports PsychologistJob Reference: REQ240909Date Posted: Thu, 3 Oct 2024 00:00:00 GMTApplication Closing Date: Thu, 24 Oct 2024 00:00:00 GMTLocation: LoughboroughPackage: Operational Services Monthly grade 5 from £28879 to £33882 per annum. Subject to annual pay award.Loughborough University National Tennis AcademyPart time and open ended (subject to funding)Loughborough University National Tennis Academy (LUNTA) is looking for an experienced, enthusiastic, and dynamic Sports Psychologist to support the performance of developing elite junior tennis players as part of the LTA’s Player Pathway. The successful candidate will be responsible for developing and delivering a comprehensive Sports Psychology strategy to meet the needs of LUNTA players and coaches to enhance performance in collaboration with the IDT, coaches, and players.This role is offered part time at 0.6 FTE. However, we will accept applications from applicants who can offer a minimum of 0.5 FTE.About the programmeLUNTA is a transformational environment for elite junior international tennis players, targeted at developing a greater number of British professional players inside the senior top 100 in both the Men’s and Women’s game. The individualised, pro-style, interdisciplinary training environment tailored specifically to prepare players for the demands of professional tennis supports players between the ages of 14-18 years old (as young as 11 in exceptional circumstances). From August 2024, LUNTA became Great Britain’s only National Tennis Academy for elite junior British tennis players, supporting up to 24 players in pursuit of tennis and academic excellence.Our philosophy is centred around providing accelerated progress and where whole chapters of development can be turned, as well as pages. Our mission is to develop Great People, Great Performers and Great Tennis Players, through high player-care and valuing the pursuit of excellence. We are a National Tennis Academy aimed at taking players on their journey to the top of U18 International Tennis and supporting their progress beyond through a quality academic experience, coaching excellence, leading performance support and unrivalled training and competition programmes.More information about our programme can be found on our website.Roles and responsibilities of this exciting position are as follows:With the support of the Sport and Performance Psychology Lead and Head of Performance Support / Strength and Conditioning Lead, deliver Sports Psychology provision as part of a world-class and transformational player development programme, to produce players who upon departing LUNTA meet the Pro Scholarship Programme (PSP) selection criteria and have the potential to be inside the world’s top 100 ranked players.To deliver psychology education in both an individual and group setting. This will include delivery of workshops, one-on-one consultations and group sessions to athletes as part of both the Academy Performance Plan and Individual Development Plans for players.There will be opportunity with this role to travel to both domestic and international junior and senior tennis tournaments with other members of the LUNTA staff team and our junior tennis players.Loughborough University is committed to developing staff. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to learn within the Academy, but also utilise skills and experiences of other Loughborough Sport performance and development practitioners to grow and develop.Skills and experience – what are we looking for?Proven track record and experience in the provision of psychology services to athletes and coaches to improve performance. This should include experience working with developing elite junior/senior level athletes.Experience of working in a high performance or Academy level squad.Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.Excellent presentation and communication skills that can motivate behavioural change to have a positive impact on performance.Ability to multi-task in an open-plan office environment and on the road, and work within a fast-paced, driven environment.Growth-mindset – a candidate that is looking to develop a career in performance sport/performance operations, and willing to learn.A great team player – a candidate who enjoys and is comfortable in working with multiple stakeholders.More detail is provided in the Job Description and Person Specification, and on request. Informal enquiries should be made to Kamlesh Sodha - Head of Performance Support & Strength & Conditioning Lead at [email protected] date: Thursday 24th OctoberInterview date: w/c 28th October/4th NovemberLoughborough University is committed to achieving equity and valuing diversity in all aspects of employment and welcomes applications from all sections of the community.