243 - Peer Support Specialist

LE_001 New Narrative; Beaverton (OR); On-site; USD 32,000 - 43,000; Full time

Job summary

New Narrative is seeking a Peer Support Specialist to engage with participants in the Polaris program and provide direct peer support across diverse settings in Oregon. The role emphasizes empathy, recovery principles, and collaboration with a multidisciplinary team to access housing, food, and medical resources.

Paid at $27/hour DOE, standard day shift, Monday through Friday, with responsibilities including crisis de-escalation, crisis intervention, and active participation in treatment

Qualifications

• Minimum two years of peer working experience required.
• Current Peer Support Certification required.
• Bilingual (Spanish/English) preferred.
• Must maintain current Oregon driver’s license as position requires the ability to drive.

Responsibilities

• Provide peer support to individuals in the Polaris program.
• Assist other program staff with implementation and facilitation of interventions.
• Coordinate with community resources to access food, housing, and medical care.
• Assist program participants in attending required court dates and filing legal paperwork.
• Maintain compliance with PHI and complete required documentation in a timely manner.

Skills

Peer support

De-escalation

Case management

Community resources

Documentation

Communication

Teamwork

Outlook

Microsoft Word

Tools

Outlook

Word

Job description

At New Narrative, we believe mental health care is community care. As a nonprofit organization, we partner with individuals to promote healing, housing stability, and long-term wellness through compassionate, equitable support. If you’re passionate about community impact, we invite you to join our team. Pay rate: $27/hr and can go up DOE

Shift: Standard Day, Monday - Friday

Accountabilities:

• Willing to meet and engage with people “where they are”
• Provide peer support to individuals in the Polaris program
• Assist other program staff with implementation and facilitation of interventions
• Must be able to assist in de-escalation and crisis as needed
• Coordinate with community resources to access food, housing, and medical care while providing assistance with navigating the judicial system, as well as case management
• Provide support to participants in a variety of settings including the Oregon State Hospital, Washington County Jail, motels, Community Mental Health clinics, the outdoors, and shared community spaces, among others
• Exemplify recovery principles in order to show by example that recovery is possible and attainable for everyone.
• The Peer Support Specialist shares their own recovery story, as appropriate, and walks the road of recovery alongside the service recipient
• Endorse multiple paths to recovery
• Assist program participants in attending all required court dates, filing legal paperwork on time, and communicating with all necessary agencies to support their recovery
• Attend and positively participate in required meetings
• Ensure timely completion of all required documentation
• Maintain a regular work schedule
• Complete all assignments in a timely manner
• Perform other duties as assigned

Supervision:

• Receive regular supervision from the Polaris Peer Supervisor, seeking additional supervision whenever necessary.
• Participate in interdisciplinary team meetings and group supervision as required.

Other General Expectations:

• Ability to work as a team member, remain flexible and establish priorities as a group.
• Ability to display a non-judgmental attitude.
• Creative, innovative and progressive problem-solver.
• Ability to remain calm in a busy and stressful environment.
• Ability to participate professionally and collaboratively in interdisciplinary meetings with outside agencies.
• Proficiency in Outlook, Word, and ability to navigate new computer systems as needed.
• Maintain Peer Support certification (20 CEUS over a three-year period)
• Follow all New Narrative policies, procedures, and protocols.
• Uphold the National Association of Peer Supporters Guidelines for Peer Specialists
• Maintain security of all PHI (Private Health Information).
• Maintain CPR and First Aid Certificate.
• Must be able to pass a criminal history check through the Department of Human Services, including participating in an appeals process if desired.

Core Competencies:

• Communication: Direct and concise. Keeps people informed. Listens effectively to others.
• Teamwork: Effective at working in team situations.
• Individual Responsiveness: Responds well to internal or external individual needs.
• Dependability: Counted on to follow through on commitments; at work each day and on time; work completed in a timely fashion.
• Utilizing available resources for personal wellness: Communicates with Supervisor or other designated New Narrative personnel to meet personal wellness and safety needs.
• Independence: Receives no instruction on routine work; with general instruction on new assignments.
• Feedback orientated: Demonstrates, engages and promotes regular forms of feedback from program participants, New Narrative staff, and colleagues
• Aptitude: Ability to comprehend and apply new ideas, processes, procedures, or training.
• Organizational Awareness: Understands the culture of the organization; interests and concerns of various groups.
• Demeanor: Remaining calm in a crisis situation, empathetic, unbiased and excellent interpretation skills.

Qualifications:

• A minimum of two years of peer working experience required.
• Current Peer Support Certification required
• Bilingual (Spanish/English) preferred
• Self-identifies as a current or former recipient of mental health services, preferably familiar with criminal justice, restrictive environments (inpatient, outpatient, etc.), and/or altered states
• Incumbents with a history of substance use challenges must be in recovery and free of problems relating to active substance use for 1 full year preceding date of hire and must maintain this recovery.
• All applicants must have completed peer support certification training and be registered with the state.
• Must maintain current Oregon driver’s license as position requires the ability to drive.
• Direct peer support experience in peer field preferred.

All of our job openings are located in Portland, Oregon, and the surrounding metro areas.

At New Narrative, we’re dedicated to empowering people on their mental health journeys. We provide compassionate, person-centered services that foster stability, connection, and independence — helping individuals build meaningful lives in their communities. Through supportive housing, community-based programs, and collaborative care, we walk alongside the people we serve as they build resilience, strengthen relationships, and create new possibilities for their futures.

Looking for work that has purpose? Join a compassionate team dedicated to empowering people in their mental health journeys while building a meaningful, rewarding career.