Psychologist (Snow Sports) - High Performance Sport New Zealand
- Positively impact and lead the wellbeing and performance of New Zealand’s elite snow sport athletes
- Work alongside a multidisciplinary team
- Based in Wanaka, Otago (and travel with the team)
High Performance Sport New Zealand (HPSNZ) leads the high performance sport system, working together with National Sporting Organisations (NSOs) to support and empower athletes and coaches to deliver performances on the world stage that inspire the nation and communities, helping to build national identity and promote New Zealand internationally.
Reporting to the Head of Psychology, the Psychologist will work as part of the HPSNZ multidisciplinary Performance Support team based in Wanaka and work collaboratively within the established Sport Psychology team across New Zealand. The role will provide mental health assessment and support to Snow Sport athletes, as well as supporting the broader HPSNZ mental health strategy, and providing performance enhancement support.
Delivering technical leadership in alignment with Snow Sports New Zealand (SSNZ), the role will positively impact and lead the wellbeing and performance of athletes through psychological services (i.e., policy/program development, system wide assessment, prevention work, consultation, individual/group psychotherapy, and crisis triage).
Providing oversight and guidance in a collaborative fashion with SSNZ, athletes, coaches and support staff, there is a focus on integrating the psychology programme into the holistic High Performance culture of the sport with a balance of wellbeing and performance to achieve ambitions in sport and life. The Psychologist will use evidence-driven solutions related to the prevention of states of ill-health and underperformance, while fostering enhanced health, learning, development, motivation, emotional/cognitive abilities, and overall resilience.
To be considered for this role, you will be a registered or licenced clinical/counseling psychologist, ideally with a sport speciality. A strong background providing psychological services in settings such as community mental health, tertiary education health, hospital settings, and/or private practice is required. Experience supporting elite or professional athletes is preferred.
You are someone who is approachable, genuine, adaptable, with strong communication skills. You are passionate about athlete wellbeing and performance, and you are able to build trust, and apply psychological strategies that enhance both mental health and on-slope outcomes.
Confident working interdependently and within dynamic multidisciplinary team environments across health and human performance, you will possess both clinical skills (including assessment, triage, treatment in disposition) and an understanding of how to enhance human performance.
This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in supporting elite snow sport athletes, enhancing their performance and overall wellbeing as they strive for success on the world stage.
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How to Apply
Please note Sportspeople Recruitment will commence screening and interviewing for this role immediately. If you are intending to apply, please do so now.
Applications Close: 5pm Monday 27 October, 2025 - we reserve the right to close the role early if sufficient merit applications are received.
Application Format: Candidates must complete and submit the COMPULSORY Sportspeople Recruitment Application Form (attached to this advertisement) at the time of applying. The Form contains questions against which we require your specific response prior to considering your application. Sportspeople Recruitment recommends a letter of introduction and a CV merged into the Application Form as one MS Word file where possible.
The Psychologist, High Performance Sport New Zealand search and recruitment process is being managed exclusively by Sportspeople Recruitment.
In the first instance general enquiries should be directed to Scott Oakhill on +61 408 258 337, FREECALL NZ 0800 634 388 or +61 2 9555 5000.
