Bilingual Peer and Harm Reduction Specialist

Important: How to Apply

Please note that applications submitted through Indeed will not be reviewed.

To be considered for this position, you must complete the application through the Sea Change website using our official application form.

Apply here: https://seachangerco.org/job-openings/

Sea Change Recovery Community Organization is seeking a Bilingual Peer and Harm Reduction Specialist to provide person-centered, low-barrier support to people who use drugs and individuals in all stages of recovery.

The Specialist will provide direct peer support, harm reduction services, health education, referrals, care coordination, and community outreach, with a focus on reaching Latinx communities and individuals at risk of opioid overdose who may face barriers to traditional healthcare and social-service systems.

This position requires regular travel throughout Ocean County and flexibility to work evenings and weekends.

Grant-Funded Position

This is a grant-funded position. Responsibilities may change based on participant needs, program requirements, funding, and organizational priorities. Continuation beyond the initial contract depends on available funding.

Key Responsibilities

Participant Support & Care Coordination

• Provide person-centered, trauma-informed, healing-centered, and harm reduction-based peer support.
• Build trusting, respectful, and nonjudgmental relationships with participants.
• Support participant-defined goals related to health, recovery, housing, wellness, and other needs.
• Provide support during transitions such as treatment entry, hospitalization, incarceration, and re-entry.
• Provide referrals, service navigation, warm handoffs, and follow-up.
• Offer accompaniment and, when permitted by organizational policy, transportation to help participants access services.
• Respond to participant phone and text inquiries in a timely and respectful manner.
• Maintain appropriate professional boundaries and confidentiality.
• Document participant support and care coordination in the Recovery Data Platform (RDP) and other required systems.

Harm Reduction Services

• Conduct mobile, street, fixed-site, and community-based outreach.
• Distribute naloxone, safer-use supplies, drug-checking supplies, wound-care and hygiene supplies, safer-sex supplies, and other harm reduction resources.
• Provide education on overdose prevention and response, naloxone, safer drug use, drug supply contamination, HIV, hepatitis B and C, STIs, wound care, and general wellness.
• Provide overdose prevention education and naloxone training to participants, community members, businesses, and partner organizations.
• Promote access to HIV and hepatitis C testing, STI screening, PrEP, hepatitis vaccination, medical care, and treatment.
• Connect participants with substance use treatment, medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD), behavioral health, housing, food assistance, transportation, and other support services.

Outreach & Community Engagement

• Conduct targeted outreach in high-need areas and engage individuals who are not connected to services.
• Develop relationships with Latinx communities and other populations experiencing barriers to care.
• Represent Sea Change at community events, health fairs, coalition meetings, trainings, and outreach activities.
• Build relationships with healthcare providers, treatment programs, community organizations, and public health partners.
• Support advocacy and community education efforts related to harm reduction, public health, and the rights and dignity of people who use drugs.
• Support organizational events, including 100 Waves for Recovery.

Documentation & Program Support

• Accurately document outreach, participant interactions, referrals, education, supply distribution, and program outcomes.
• Maintain accurate records and inventory in RDP and other required systems.
• Support grant reporting, data collection, quality improvement, and program evaluation.
• Follow applicable NJDOH requirements, grant requirements, Sea Change policies, and federal, state, and local laws and regulations.
• Participate in staff meetings, supervision, trainings, and team collaboration.
• Complete other administrative and program responsibilities as assigned.

Location & Residency Requirements

• Must reside in Ocean County, New Jersey.
• Must be able to travel throughout Ocean County for outreach, participant support, events, trainings, and meetings.
• This is not a fully remote position.
• Valid, unrestricted New Jersey driver's license or ability to obtain one within 30 days of hire is required.
• Must be able to walk and stand for extended periods, including up to approximately 75% of a shift during outreach and events.

Required Qualifications

• Fluency in Spanish and English.
• Experience conducting outreach or providing direct services to people who use drugs, people in recovery, or underserved communities.
• Strong commitment to harm reduction, participant autonomy, dignity, and person-centered care.
• Excellent communication, active listening, and interpersonal skills.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to maintain professional boundaries and confidentiality.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Flexibility to work in community-based and changing environments.
• Availability for some evening and weekend work.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in harm reduction, peer recovery support, drug user health, public health, or substance use services.
• Experience working with Latinx and/or Spanish-speaking communities.
• Knowledge of HIV, HCV, STI prevention, overdose prevention, and MOUD.
• Familiarity with housing, treatment, Medicaid, healthcare, re-entry, and public health systems.
• Experience with street outreach, mobile outreach, community organizing, or grant-funded programs.

What We're Looking For

We are looking for someone who is compassionate, dependable, flexible, and comfortable meeting people where they are. The ideal candidate builds trust, communicates without judgment, respects participant autonomy, and is passionate about reducing overdose deaths and improving access to health, recovery, and harm reduction services.

Application Process

Due to the high volume of applications, please do not call or email regarding the position or application status. We cannot respond to individual application-status inquiries.

We will review applications on a rolling basis. If selected for an interview, a member of the Sea Change team will contact you directly in mid-September.

Thank you for your interest in joining Sea Change.

Pay: $60,000.00 per year

People with a criminal record are encouraged to apply

Language:

• Spanish (Required)

Ability to Commute:

• West Creek, NJ 08092 (Required)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $60,000