Please note that this position is contingent upon the successful award of a contract currently under bid.

Summary:

Goldbelt Apex is seeking an experienced Research Psychologist (Evidence Synthesis) to support the Defense Health Agency's Psychological Health Center of Excellence (PHCoE). This position provides scientific expertise in the evaluation, synthesis, and translation of behavioral health research to support evidence-informed clinical practice, policy development, and strategic decision-making across the Military Health System.

The successful candidate will conduct systematic reviews, critically evaluate scientific literature, develop evidence-based recommendations, and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to ensure psychological health initiatives are informed by the highest quality available evidence.

Essential Job Functions:

• Conduct systematic reviews and evidence syntheses supporting psychological health initiatives across the Defense Health Agency.
• Review, evaluate, and synthesize peer-reviewed scientific literature related to behavioral health, resilience, suicide prevention, traumatic brain injury (TBI), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), sleep health, substance misuse, and other psychological health priorities.
• Assess the quality, strength, and applicability of scientific evidence using established evidence review methodologies.
• Develop evidence reports, technical summaries, clinical recommendations, and briefing materials for Government leadership and stakeholders.
• Translate complex scientific findings into practical recommendations supporting healthcare providers, military leadership, policymakers, and other decision-makers.
• Collaborate with clinicians, implementation scientists, epidemiologists, statisticians, and researchers to develop evidence-informed products and guidance.
• Support development and revision of clinical practice recommendations, knowledge products, and educational materials.
• Monitor emerging scientific research and identify trends relevant to military psychological health.
• Participate in technical working groups, scientific advisory panels, and multidisciplinary project teams.
• Prepare white papers, scientific manuscripts, executive briefings, presentations, and technical reports.
• Support quality assurance activities to ensure scientific accuracy and methodological rigor across all work products.
• Assist in identifying research gaps and opportunities for future behavioral health research initiatives.
• Ensure all work products comply with accepted scientific standards and contract requirements.        

Necessary Skills and Knowledge:

• Extensive knowledge of research psychology principles and behavioral health research methodologies.
• Expertise in systematic reviews, evidence synthesis, and literature evaluation.
• Knowledge of evidence grading methodologies and critical appraisal techniques.
• Familiarity with behavioral health, psychological health, and military healthcare research.
• Strong scientific writing and technical communication skills.
• Experience developing evidence-based recommendations for clinical or policy decision-making.
• Ability to analyze and interpret complex scientific findings.
• Ability to collaborate effectively within multidisciplinary research and healthcare teams.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Doctoral degree (Ph.D.) in Psychology or a closely related behavioral science from an accredited institution.
• Meet all education and experience requirements identified in the solicitation for the Research Psychologist labor category.
• U.S. Citizenship.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Public Trust background investigation and Common Access Card (CAC).
• Demonstrated experience conducting systematic reviews and evidence synthesis projects.
• Experience evaluating behavioral health, psychological health, or healthcare research.
• Experience preparing technical reports, scientific manuscripts, literature reviews, and evidence summaries.
• Experience translating scientific evidence into recommendations supporting healthcare, policy, or operational decision-making.
• Experience collaborating with multidisciplinary research teams and Government stakeholders.
• Experience supporting healthcare organizations, federal agencies, academic institutions, or comparable research environments.
• Occasional travel may be required in support of contract performance.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Preference may be given to candidates with experience supporting:
  • Defense Health Agency (DHA)
  • Psychological Health Center of Excellence (PHCoE)
  • Military Health System (MHS)
  • Department of Defense (DoD)
  • Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
  • National Institutes of Health (NIH)
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
  • Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
• Experience conducting systematic reviews using recognized methodologies (e.g., PRISMA, GRADE, Cochrane).
• Experience supporting clinical practice guideline development.
• Experience publishing peer-reviewed scientific research.
• Experience supporting behavioral health, military medicine, or healthcare research programs.
• Knowledge of implementation science, health services research, or population health.
• Experience presenting scientific findings to senior leaders and multidisciplinary audiences.

Pay and Benefits

The annual salary range for this position is $155,000 to $175,000. This is a proposal-contingent position. The salary range provided represents the anticipated compensation for this role; however, final compensation will be based on the successful contract award and the selected candidate's qualifications and experience.

At Goldbelt, we value and reward our team's dedication and hard work. We provide a competitive base salary commensurate with your qualifications and experience. As an employee, you'll enjoy a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, and vision insurance, a 401(k) plan with company matching, tax-deferred savings options, supplementary benefits, paid time off, and professional development opportunities.