Unity Recovery Lead Peer Recovery Support Specialist Pittsburgh, PA · Full time Company website

Apply for Lead Peer Recovery Support Specialist

Recovery is a reality for over 22 million Americans with past substance use concerns, over 40 million in mental health recovery, and countless more millions across the globe. We truly believe that recovery is individual, dynamic, and ultimately, best directed by the individual with support from their community. With this philosophy in mind, Unity Recovery was founded to be an inclusive recovery community organization and community center for everyone. We offer non-clinical, peer-based recovery support services in our communities to support individuals and family members on their paths of recovery. Vision: We envision a world where recovery is no longer hidden in the shadows and the millions of Americans with mental health and substance use disorders are celebrated and supported. Mission: To provide inclusive community-based recovery support services and education for all individuals in or seeking recovery.

JOB DESCRIPTION

TITLE: Lead Peer Support Specialist

REPORTS TO: Program Director; Local Recovery Support Services Director

CLASSIFICATION: Exempt, Full Time

SUMMARY: The Lead Peer Support Specialist (LPSS) must train, mentor and support fellow peer support specialists (including CRS, CFRS, CPS, and others as applicable) to serve as a role model, mentor, advocate, navigator, and motivator while providing recovery and/or re-entry planning that follows diverse recovery, harm reduction and wellness pathways, sharing of personal recovery experiences as appropriate, developing authentic peer-to-peer relationships in partnership with participants, and proper documentation as well as providing orientation to and mentorship in organizational procedures and workflow. The LPSS must possess experience in a peer specialist role and familiarity with peer concepts and best practices. The LPSS must demonstrate an ability to facilitate care coordination that follows diverse recovery, harm reduction and wellness pathways, (including but not limited to substance use treatment, physical and mental health services, harm reduction services, and other social services) whether a community center, through technological means, or in the community and serve as a liaison to referral partners in the community that provide wrap around services to individuals engaged in recovery support services. The LPSS also assumes certain leadership duties as assigned, which may include some aspects of peer supervision and administrative duties.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS/QUALIFICATIONS:

• Certified Recovery Specialist, Certified Peer Specialist, or Certified Family Recovery Specialist with at least two years of experience working in community-based recovery settings.
• At least 1-year experience facilitating care coordination for participants with a history of substance use and/or mental health concerns.
• High degree of technological literacy, or willingness to acquire these skills as part of employment
• Background check may be required for staff that will work with youth, inside criminal justice settings, or other settings as determined by Executive Leadership
• Reliable and insured personal transportation.

*Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women, people of color, and those who identify as LGBTQ+, are less likely to apply to jobs if they don’t meet every single qualification. At Unity Recovery, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive and authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

• Work a minimum of 5 in person days per week as scheduled and have availability of at least one weekend day each week.
• Provide peer-based support services and care coordination to individuals contemplating or actively seeking help with behavioral health recovery.
• Mentorship and training of less experienced peer specialists, to include onboarding, shadowing, direct instruction and ad hoc problem-solving.
• Modeling of peer support specialist core competencies and best practices when working with peer colleagues.
• Facilitation of instructional groups with participants and colleagues.
• Assistance in designing procedures for service provision.
• Participate in daily shift debriefs, as well as weekly individual supervision, and monthly group supervision.
• Facilitate consistent engagement and connection with all program community and service referral partners.
• Administrative duties include care coordination plans, recovery plan creation, re-entry plan creation if applicable, data tracking and entry, and regular digital communication via email, group messaging, etc.
• Conduct self in an ethical manner by adhering to the PCB codes of ethics.
• Follow and adhere to the recovery bill of rights.

DAILY JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Provide care coordination and peer support to individuals for every phase of the recovery journey from pre-recovery engagement, recovery initiation, recovery stabilization, and sustained recovery.
2. Actively identify and support linkages to community resources (communities of recovery, educational, vocational, social, cultural, spiritual resources, mutual aid groups, professional services, etc.) that support the individual’s goals and interests. This will involve a collaborative effort including the individual, staff, and other relevant stakeholders.
3. Collaborate with institutions to provide effective recovery support services, and re-entry services as applicable, to identified individuals.
4. Identify emergency or crisis situations and facilitate access to appropriate resources, negotiating and connecting individuals with resources and navigating systems.
5. Training, orientation and mentorship of new and existing peer recovery support specialists, including organizational policies, practices and procedures as well as workflow, documentation, and direct skills instruction.
6. Provide leadership in team activities and community events.
7. Maintain project logs, reports, and accurate records in appropriate files and database(s), adhering to program standards.
8. Maintain confidentiality regarding information received during the facilitation of recovery support services – maintain current understanding of federal, state and local confidentiality rules and regulations.
9. Engage in continuing professional development relative to recovery support services, applying practical and professional knowledge and experience. Maintain CRS, CPS, or CFRS credential if applicable.
10. Other duties as directed by Program Director or Local Recovery Support Services Director

COMPENSATION: $42,000– 48,000 salary range. Includes health, dental, and vision benefits; 401k with company match after 1 year of service; unlimited PTO; and other benefits as designated by the organization.

REVISED: April 23, 2025