About the position Community Medical Services (CMS) is hiring a substance abuse Peer Support Specialist to assist patients recovering from addictions to opioids and other illicit substances. You will use your personal recovery experience to provide ongoing guidance, coaching, and support to individuals seeking—or in active—recovery with us. As part of our mission to help individuals recover from substance use disorders, you’ll thrive in a supportive, engaging, and fulfilling work environment where your contributions are valued.

Responsibilities

• Assist clients in identifying effective coping techniques, self-help strategies, and increasing social support networks.
• Maintain confidentiality and adhere to professional standards.
• Draw from prior behavioral health experience, either as a recipient of services, a family member of someone receiving services, or a primary caregiver of a service recipient.
• Provide clinical support, including assessments, to special populations and projects.
• Promote harm reduction and recovery in group settings.
• Travel (with reimbursement) up to 25% of the time to various CMS clinic locations and community events.
• Communicate CMS program and assessment information to community-based service providers.

Requirements

• Has lived experience with a substance use disorder and is living in recovery.
• Is comfortable working in a wide range of settings, including any CMS clinic location, community-based outpatient setting, or correctional health facility.
• High School Diploma or GED (required)
• Peer Support or RSS training certificate required
• Experience with substance abuse, serious mental illness, and/or general mental health (required)
• Valid Driver License and Motor Vehicle Clearance (clean driving record for 39 months).
• Knowledge of behavioral management, de-escalation methods, crisis intervention, and defusing techniques to prevent harmful behavior to self or others with the ability to apply these techniques to a client population in various levels of crisis.

Nice-to-haves

• Associate Degree with an emphasis in Human Services, Counseling and Psychology (preferred)
• May consider candidates without a Peer Support or RSS training certificate, if they can obtain a certificate within 90 days of hire and have an equivalent combination of education and experience directly related to behavioral health.

Benefits

• Subsidized medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Health savings account
• Short and long-term disability insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid sick, vacation, and holiday time
• 401K retirement plan with match
• Tuition and CME reimbursement up to 100%
• Employee assistance program to support your mental health and wellness
• Ongoing professional development