Full-Time

Peer Specialist

Updated on 8/1/2026

Deadline 4/6/27
S:US

S:US

1,001-5,000 employees

Provides services for homelessness, mental health

Compensation Overview

$45k - $50k/yr

New York, NY, USA

Hybrid

Hybrid schedule opportunity; significant travel to engage clients is required, approximately 75%.

Category
Customer Experience & Support (1)

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Requirements
  • Certified Recovery Peer Advocate or Provisional certification is required.
  • Two years of active participation in substance use or mental health self-help activities, peer support or peer advocacy programs, participant-run organizations, or similar experiences or programs are required.
  • The candidate must understand the community in which the team is based and be aware of available community resources.
  • The candidate should have made positive and productive progress toward their own recovery.
  • The candidate must demonstrate interpersonal communication skills and the ability to empathize with, relate to, and effectively work with participants of mental health services.
  • The candidate must be able and willing to disclose their recovery story, where appropriate, for empowerment purposes.
  • The candidate must demonstrate good judgment and understand boundaries when working with participants of substance use or mental health services.
  • The candidate must adhere to the on-call cell phone system to facilitate crisis intervention, emergencies, and other situations requiring immediate action.
  • Significant travel to engage clients at shelters, in their community, and other settings is required, approximately 75%.
Responsibilities
  • Facilitate engagement by forging strong connections with participants and families residing in Harlem, the Bronx, and surrounding communities.
  • Undertake outreach activities to promote community awareness of S:US services, encourage help-seeking, and sometimes bridge treatment team members and participants experiencing ambivalence about substance use treatment, including Medication-Assisted Treatment and outpatient Substance Use Disorder treatment.
  • Train and distribute Naloxone kits to individuals and their family members after obtaining certification.
  • Develop authentic, meaningful relationships with individuals and families through empathy, sharing experiences, listening, and collaboration.
  • Understand, share, and discuss multiple frameworks for understanding life experiences such as substance use and psychosis with participants and the S:US team.
  • Use language to listen for understanding and make space for complex personal stories of recovery and resilience.
  • Advocate with and for program participants in the larger community and on the team.
  • Collaborate with participants to clarify their personal visions and develop their wellness toolkit.
  • Support participants, along with other team members, in strengthening self-awareness, building life skills, and connecting to resources and community outside the S:US team.
  • Influence team culture by advocating for clients, promoting a youth-friendly approach, and encouraging recovery-oriented language.
  • Work within the team to help build an environment based on human potential for growth and an understanding of human diversity.
  • Maintain open and frequent communication with the team, including reporting safety and other concerns.
  • Keep notes on visits with program participants as required by the provider agency and, where encouraged, co-collaborate on reporting with the program participant.
Desired Qualifications
  • Being a young adult or relating well to young people is ideal.

S:US provides services and advocacy for New Yorkers facing homelessness, intellectual/developmental disabilities, behavioral health and addiction challenges, poverty, criminal justice involvement, and trauma. It supports tens of thousands of individuals and families in New York City and Long Island with about 1,800 staff. The organization offers tailored direct services such as housing assistance, health and behavioral supports, case management, and community programs to help clients achieve stability and long-term well-being. Its goal is to empower underserved New Yorkers to lead lives of purpose, improve neighborhoods, and break the cycle of poverty for current and future generations.

Company Size

1,001-5,000

Company Stage

N/A

Total Funding

N/A

Headquarters

New York City, New York

Founded

1978

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Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Perry Perlmutter's 2023 CEO appointment strengthens financial leadership from prior CFO role.
  • Margaret-Ann Cole's 2024 Chief People Officer hire enhances talent management capabilities.
  • NYC government partnerships ensure steady contract revenue for social services expansion.

What critics are saying

  • Nonprofit model limits scalability without massive grant funding increases.
  • Heavy reliance on NYC contracts exposes S:US to municipal budget cuts.
  • Perry Perlmutter's recent CEO transition disrupts strategic execution in 2026.

What makes S:US unique

  • S:US delivers $315 million in services annually to 35,000 New Yorkers facing homelessness.
  • Founded in 1978, S:US provides housing, employment, and recovery services across NYC.
  • 1,800 staff execute eviction prevention and food security programs for vulnerable populations.

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Benefits

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Life Insurance

401(k) Retirement Plan

Short-and-Long-Term Disability

Paid Vacation

Paid Holidays

Flexible Work Hours

Company News

NYC Health Department
Oct 19th, 2023
NYC Hep C Task Force Meeting Highlights | 09-27-2023

In partnership with Services for the Underserved, NYC Health Dept launched the city's first Public Health Vending Machine located at 1676 Broadway, Brooklyn (corner of Decatur and Broadway).