Recovery Peer Specialist - Substance Abuse Recovery

Job Title: Recovery Peer Specialist – Substance Use Recovery

Reports To: Program Manager
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt
Classification: Full-Time (32 hours per week)
Hourly Wage: $25.00 per hour

Location: Santa Rosa, California

Summary

The Peer Support Specialist provides recovery-oriented peer support to members in recovery from substance use and co-occurring mental health challenges. Using lived experience appropriately and ethically, the Specialist promotes hope, wellness, and self-directed recovery through individual peer support, group facilitation, education, and community engagement. The Specialist helps maintain a safe, welcoming, and inclusive peer environment.

Essential Functions

• Welcome prospective members, conduct orientations, and complete intake sessions

• Provide one-on-one peer support utilizing lived experience in accordance with Peer Support ethical standards

• Develop and facilitate peer support groups, SMART Recovery meetings, educational classes, wellness activities, and community events

• Encourage self-advocacy, wellness, and self-directed recovery

• Provide information, referrals, and linkage to community resources as appropriate

• Help maintain a safe, respectful, and recovery-oriented environment for members, volunteers, and staff

• Maintain appropriate professional boundaries and member confidentiality in accordance with agency policies

• Complete required documentation, outcome measures, and program data accurately and on time

• Assist with program evaluation and grant reporting requirements

• Work collaboratively with staff, volunteers, leadership, and community partners

• Maintain regular attendance and report to all scheduled in-person shifts; this is not a remote position

• Submit requested data, information, and documents in a timely manner

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Excellent Customer Service skills

• Understanding of peer support principles and recovery-oriented practice

• Knowledge of substance use recovery and co-occurring mental health challenges

• Ability to build trusting relationships while maintaining professional boundaries

• Strong communication, group facilitation, and interpersonal skills

• Ability to work effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds.

• Strong organizational skills and attention to documentation

• Basic computer proficiency, including Microsoft Office and electronic documentation

• Reliable, punctual, and able to work collaboratively as part of a team

• Ability to satisfactorily complete CPR/FIRST AID/AED training

Required Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent

• Personal lived experience in recovery from substance use and experience or knowledge in co-occurring mental health challenges

• Be sufficiently stable in maintaining their own recovery in order to support others and be a model of self-help

• California Peer Support Specialist Certification, approved Peer Support training, or ability to obtain certification within three (3) months of hire

• Training in Drug and Alcohol counseling; certification highly desired

• Successful completion of DOJ fingerprint clearance and background check

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience providing peer support and recovery services

• Experience facilitating SMART Recovery or other peer-recovery groups

• Training in motivational interviewing, trauma-informed care, and harm reduction

• Bilingual English/Spanish

Physical Requirements

• Traverse – Regularly moves about the Center to oversee activities, collect office supplies and documents, meet with members in designated areas, kneeling and bending

• Communicate and Interact - Exchange information and provide peer conversation for members in person and via virtual group meetings (Zoom)

• Detect, identify – Frequently reviews hard copy documents, emails

• Stationary position – Must be able to remain in a stationary position up to 50% of the time

• Operate, Draft, Write, Compile – Consistently uses a computer to research, document, communicate

• Transport - Lifts up to 20 lbs. carrying office supplies and environment support as needed

Americans with Disabilities Act

WCCS has pledged to ensure that employees and applicants have equal access to job opportunities, will not be discriminated against based on having an actual or perceived disability, and will have the same opportunity for employment, promotions, and transfers as those individuals who do not have disabilities. WCCS complies with requests for accommodations under the Americans with Disability Act, including the Amendments Act.

Pay: $25.00 per hour

Benefits:

• 403(b)
• 403(b) matching
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person

Salary : $25