Peer Recovery Specialist

Salary : $35,170.00 - $57,924.00 AnnuallyLocation : Petersburg, VAJob Type: Full-TimeJob Number: 01063Department: Gateway Justice ServicesOpening Date: 04/02/2026Closing Date: 5/8/2026 11:59 PM Eastern DescriptionGeneral Description:The purpose of this position is to provide mobile community outreach in response to the opioid epidemic and the OAA Regional Partnership Grant.The position reports to the Director of Community Corrections. Essential FunctionsDuties and Responsibilities:Engages in community outreach to people who use drugs and provides harm reduction, peer support, and connection to community and treatment resources.When applicable, assists community members in developing personal recovery and wellness goals, and models/mentors' recovery process, and demonstrates coping skills.Serves as a recovery agent by providing and advocating for effective recovery-based services; assists consumers in accessing services by educating them about community and natural supports and how to utilize these in the recovery process.Provides education to community members and other stakeholders in the areas of harm reduction.Functions as a part of a team to respond to overdose hotspots, collaborates with county and community resources.Builds and maintains relationships with community organizations such as churches, treatment groups and recovery organizations.Prepares and maintains documentation as required.Essential Functions:The preferred candidate will have experience proving outreach services in the community, knowledge of harm reduction principles, substance use treatment and resources and experience with social media. The candidate should be comfortable interacting with community members, working with and presenting to various stakeholders, and have experience building community partnerships. This position requires the ability to work both independently and with a team. The candidate should have lived experience related to substance use disorder. Additional Duties:This is a grant funded temporary position. Duration is one year with up to four one- year renewals are desired but not required. Additional skills such as trianing and development, social media management, and program development are desired but not required.Responsibilities, Requirements and ImpactsData Responsibility:Coordinates or determines time, place or sequence of operations or activities based on analysis of data or information and may implement and report on operations and activities.Data collection and documentation will be an essential part of this position.People Responsibility:General publicAsset Responsibility:Vehicle, opioid response assetsCommunications Requirements:Speaks informally to individuals with potential substance use disorder, colleagues, staff in other organizational agencies, general public, may provide training, composes reports and written materials using proper language, punctuation, grammar and style.Judgment Requirements:Decision making is essential to the position in the general public, works in a dynamic environment with a diverse population.Physical Demands:Performs sedentary work that involves walking or standing some of the time and exerting and/or lifting up to 10 pounds. Requires the ability to drive a motor vehicle and some keyboard operations. Equipment Usage:Motor vehicle, laptop, Naloxone or other supplies to be determined.Special Certifications and Licenses:Possess a valid driver's license; must be a self-identified current or former recipient of mental health services for a severe and persistent mental illness. Depending on the position, may require licensed or license eligible Peer Recovery Specialist with Virginia Board of Health Professionals through completion of a certified Peer Recovery Specialist Training Program. Complexity of Work:Involves people and work- related problem-solving skills; requires accurate results and exposure to unusual events. Impact of Errors:The impact of errors is moderately serious- affects work unit and may affect other units or citizens. Unavoidable Hazards:Assists individuals with substance use disorders and/or mental health issues or co-occurring disorders in the community, may have exposure to other extreme hazards not identified. Safety of Others:Standards of public health and safety. QualificationsMinimum Education and Experience Requirements:High school diploma or GED; bachelor's degree or training as a peer advocate preferred; one year of experience in providing peer/recovery support services or in related behavioral health work; or an equivalent combination of training and experience.For a summary of Benefits currently being offered by the City of Petersburg for Full-Time Employees Only, please click the following link: 01 10-point compensable veteran. You must have an existing compensable service-connected disability of 10 percent or more. Other 10-point veteran include disabled veteran or a veteran who was awarded the Purple Heart for wound or injuries received in action, veteran's widow or widower who has not remarried, wife or husband of a veteran who has a service-connected disability, widowed, divorced or separated mother of an ex-service son or daughter who died in action, or who is totally and permanently disabled. Do any of these apply? Yes No 02 5-point veteran's must have been discharged under honorable conditions and had one of the following: Active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States, in a war, or during the period 4/28/52 - 7/1/55 or active duty for more than 180 consecutive days other than for training, any part of which occurred during the period beginning 2/1/55 and 10/14/76 or active duty during the Gulf War sometime between 8/2/90 - 1/2/92 or active duty in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized or active duty for which more than 180 consecutive days other than for training, any part of which occurred during the period beginning 9/11/2001 and ending on the date prescribed by the Presidential proclamation or by the law as the last date of operation Iraqi Freedom. Do any of these apply? Yes No 03 Do you possess a valid Driver's License issued by the Commonwealth of Virginia, or another state with reciprocity? Yes No 04 What is your highest level of education? High School diploma or GED Some college Associate degree Bachelor degree Graduate degree or higher No degree 05 Are you a City of Petersburg employee (full-time or part-time/temporary)? Yes, I am a City of Petersburg employee. No, I am not a City of Petersburg employee 06 Do you have working knowledge of the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) and its applications? Yes, I do have the ability to perform the physical requirements of the position. No, I am unable to perform the physical requirements of the position. 07 Were you referred by US Army PaYS or Virginia Values Veterans V3? If so, please specify which program. 08 Have you previously worked for the City of Petersburg? If so, what department? Required Question

Created: 2026-04-15