Anti-Homelessness Specialist

City of Auburn; Auburn (WA); On-site; USD 52,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Excellent medical, dental, and vision

Paid vacation

Retirement plan contributions

Paid holidays

Job summary

The City of Auburn is seeking a Peer Support Specialist to support individuals battling opioid use and recovery. The role focuses on removing barriers, providing holistic treatment, and encouraging personal responsibility for wellness.

The position involves field work with 80% in the community and 20% in a traditional office setting, requiring strong communication and collaborative skills with partners and city staff.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Two years of related experience or combination of education and training.
• Ability to complete essential elements of the job as listed.

Responsibilities

• Perform crisis stabilization and advocate for clients by identifying resources and partnerships for recovery and wellness; refer to external service providers.
• Act as liaison between individuals, caregivers, and service providers; follow-up with individuals and emergency contacts; consult with agency professionals on difficult cases.
• Use strong interpersonal and communication skills with City staff, the Mayor, Council, and diverse communities; follow standard office practices and etiquette.
• Provide information and assistance to the public and refer to other governmental agencies.

Skills

Experience with addiction

Communication skills

Conflict resolution

Teamwork

Independence

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Job description

To be considered for this recruitment, your application must be received by 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time Sunday, September 13 2026.

THIS RECRUITMENT IS FOR A FULL-TIME, LIMITED TERM FULLY BENEFITED ASSIGNMENT, FUNDED THROUGH DECEMBER 31 2026 with anticipated funding in subsequent years.

The City of Auburn is looking for a talented Peer Support Specialist to add to our team! In this position performs work to support those battling opioid use by removing barriers, providing a holistic approach to recovery, utilizing evidence-based treatment to restore healthy living, and assisting clients to identify and work toward wellness goals while encouraging individuals to take personal responsibility for their recovery and wellness.

WORKING CONDITIONS

The primary emphasis of this position is to serve those that are experiencing homelessness where they are at. It is estimated that 80% of the work will be conducted in the field, while 20% of the work completed will be in a traditional office setting.

IDEAL CANDIDATE

• Have experience working with people in addiction
• Have great communication and conflict resolution skills.
• Treat people respectfully and with dignity.
• Can work independently and with a team.

In this position you will...

• Perform crisis stabilization, and advocates for clients by identifying potential resources and partnerships that contribute to the individual’s recovery and wellness; makes referrals to appropriate external service providers.
• Act as a liaison between individuals, caregiver(s), and service providers; follows-up with identified individuals and/or emergency medical contacts and social providers; consults with other agency professionals on difficult cases.
• Effectively use strong interpersonal and communication skills in a tactful, patient, and respectful manner, both orally and in writing, with other City employees, the Mayor, Council, and citizens from various socioeconomic levels; effectively uses standard office practices, processes, procedures, and business etiquette.
• Provide information and assistance to the public and refers to other appropriate governmental agencies.

We are looking for candidates that have:

• Graduation from high school, or equivalent
• Two (2) years of equivalent work-related experience.
• A combination of education, experience, and training that indicates the ability to successfully complete the essential elements of the job listed above.

REQUIRED LICENSES/CERTIFICATES

• Possess and retain a valid state driver's license without impending risk of loss at time of appointment.
• Valid First Aid & CPR certifications (must be obtained within 6 months of hire).

We would love if you have:

• Experience working in a municipal setting
• Bilingual and/or multilingual
• Work experience in the social service field and or in the area of substance use disorder treatment

Why choose the City of Auburn?

• Competitive salary with scheduled step increases on an annual basis
• Excellent medical, dental, and vision plans with employee premiums paid by the City
• Employer contributions to the State Retirement System pension plans
• 11 days of paid vacation per year
• 2 paid floating holidays of your choice per year
• VEBA (tax-free health savings account)
• Optional Flexible Spending benefit plan
• Deferred Compensation plan options
• Employee Wellness Program
• Employee Assistance Program
• and more!

For more information about what benefits the City provides, please visit https://www.auburnwa.gov/city_hall/employment_human_resources/benefits

About the City of Auburn

The City of Auburn was incorporated in 1891, and has since bloomed into a perfect place to live, visit, explore, and play. With over 29.8 square miles of land, two rivers, and two counties, Auburn is home to over 80,000 residents, and hundreds of businesses - ranging from manufacturing to retail.

COMMITMENT TO INCLUSION

Team Auburn values diverse perspectives and life experiences, and welcomes applications from people who will help us consistently demonstrate the values of equity, respect, and partnership. The department encourages people of all backgrounds to apply, including Black, Indigenous, and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ, people with disabilities, and veterans. Individuals interested in joining our team must be committed to racial, social, and economic equality for ALL people in our community. The City of Auburn is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer. No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation, and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay, or other forms of compensation.

Communication from the City of Auburn

We primarily communicate via email during the recruitment process. Emails from auburnwa.gov and/or governmentjobs.com should be placed on your safe domain list to ensure you receive notifications in a timely manner. As a precaution, you may also want to check your junk email folders.

Contact information

If you have any questions, please contact Chardae Gillespie, HR Coordinator, by email at [e-mail].