Crisis Support Specialist

The Opportunity Alliance; South Portland (ME); Remote; USD 26,000 - 37,000; Full time

Job summary

The Opportunity Alliance in Maine is hiring a Crisis Support Specialist for the Maine Crisis Line. This remote role handles crisis calls, texts, and chats, offering emotional support and connection to resources.

A comprehensive six-week paid training is provided, with opportunities for growth and advancement within a supportive team. The position is full-time, 40 hours per week, remote within Maine, with orientation in South Portland.

Qualifications

• Associate’s degree required.
• One year or more of relevant experience preferred.
• Ability to obtain MHRT-CSP certification within 30 days of hire (training provided).
• Strong communication, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to remain calm and professional in challenging situations.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating within a team.

Responsibilities

• Build rapport and engage effectively with callers through active listening and empathy.
• Respond to crisis contacts by phone, text, and chat, providing emotional support and resource connection.
• Conduct suicide screenings and risk assessments to evaluate safety and interventions.
• Develop safety plans and help identify strengths and next steps.
• Utilize program systems and documentation tools to maintain records.
• Collaborate with Crisis Response Services and community providers across Maine.
• Meet established quality and service standards in a fast-paced team environment.

Skills

Communication skills

Active listening

Crisis intervention

Risk assessment

Empathy

Education

Associate’s degree

Tools

Documentation systems

Resource databases

Job description

Crisis Support Specialist Maine Crisis Line (Remote position, in Maine) Pay rate: $23 per hour +Additional overnight shift differential of $4/hour, for hours worked between 10p - 8a.

Make a Difference Every Day Are you passionate about helping people through difficult moments? The Maine Crisis Line is seeking compassionate, resilient, and motivated individuals to join our team as Crisis Support Specialists. In this role, you will provide crisis intervention and support to individuals experiencing emotional distress, suicidal thoughts, mental health challenges, substance use concerns, and other behavioral health crises through phone, text, and chat interactions. Whether you have experience in behavioral health, customer service, education, healthcare, or another helping profession, we provide the training and support needed to build a rewarding career in crisis intervention. This is a remote position for Maine residents with opportunities for professional growth, ongoing development, and advancement within a supportive team environment. The ideal candidate possesses strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build trust, engage callers effectively, and remain composed in a fast-paced crisis environment.

Are you passionate about helping people through difficult moments? Do you want to support people through some of their hardest moments? Are you looking for meaningful work that makes a difference every day? Would you like to gain new skills that will allow you to help others? Have you worked in a call center? We can help you transfer those skills to crisis intervention. Are you interested in expanding your knowledge of mental health, suicide prevention, and crisis support? Do you thrive in a fast-paced environment where compassion and problem-solving go hand in hand? Comprehensive Paid Training No previous crisis line experience is required. New Crisis Support Specialists participate in a comprehensive six-week paid training program designed to prepare you for success in the role. Training includes: Connection, Active listening, and collaborative problem-solving skills Crisis intervention skills Suicide prevention and suicide screening Risk assessment and safety planning Resource navigation and referral practices Crisis line documentation and technology systems Phone, text, and chat-based crisis support Upon completion of training, application for MHRT-CSP will be submitted. Throughout training and employment, staff receive ongoing coaching, consultation, and support from experienced clinical supervisors and team members.

Is This Role Right for You?

Are you passionate about helping people experiencing emotional distress, mental health challenges, or crisis? Do you want meaningful work that makes a difference every day? Are you interested in learning crisis intervention and suicide prevention skills? Do you thrive in a fast-paced environment where compassion and problem-solving go hand in hand? Are you looking to apply your customer service, healthcare, education, or human services experience in a helping profession? Do you enjoy working as part of a collaborative and supportive team?

As a Crisis Support Specialist, You Will:

• Build rapport and engage effectively with callers through active listening, empathy, and collaborative problem-solving.
• Respond to crisis contacts by phone, text, and chat while providing emotional support, crisis intervention, and resource connection.
• Conduct suicide screenings and comprehensive risk assessments to evaluate safety concerns and determine appropriate interventions, utilizing consultation and support from clinical supervisors and team members as part of a collaborative approach to care.
• Develop safety plans and assist individuals in identifying strengths, supports, and next steps.
• Utilize program systems and documentation tools to maintain accurate, timely, and thorough records.
• Collaborate with Crisis Response Services and community providers across Maine's eight crisis service districts to support positive outcomes.
• Meet established quality, performance, and service standards in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment.

Schedule

This is a full-time, 40-hour-per-week position hiring for afternoon, evening, and weekend hours. Additional schedules may be available and will be discussed during the interview process.

Location

This position is fully remote within Maine. Applicants must:

• Reside in Maine
• Have reliable high-speed internet access
• Maintain a dedicated workspace that is quiet and free from distractions
• Be able to attend an in-person orientation day in South Portland
• The Opportunity Alliance provides required equipment, including a laptop, monitor, and headset.

Qualifications

• Associate’s degree required
• One year or more of relevant experience preferred
• Ability to obtain MHRT-CSP certification within 30 days of hire (training provided)
• Strong communication, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills
• Ability to remain calm and professional in challenging situations
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively within a team environment
• Ability to learn documentation systems, resource databases, and communication technology platforms
• Must be able to successfully pass a criminal background, child protective service check & sex offender check and must not be on the state or federal suspension and disbarment list.
• Relevant experience may include behavioral health, crisis services, human services, customer service, call center operations, child welfare, residential care, case management, peer support, education, volunteer work, internships, or related fields.

Benefits

Our benefits include but are not limited to: (offered to full-time and part-time employees)

• Generous paid time off accrual
• 9 paid holidays per calendar year and up to 3 floating holidays per calendar year
• Excellent medical benefits at very reasonable cost
• Dental and Vision insurance options
• Agency paid basic life insurance and STD & LTD disability insurances
• 403(b) retirement with a generous agency match (all employees are eligible)
• Tuition Reimbursement – offered once per year through an application process
• The Opportunity Alliance (TOA) is a qualified employer under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program.

To learn more about our benefits please visit, https://www.opportunityalliance.org/explore-our-benefits

Who we are…

The Opportunity Alliance is “Helping People Reach for a Brighter Future”. Mission: The Opportunity Alliance works with people to build better lives and stronger communities. We provide advocacy, leadership, and support to identify the goals and address the needs of individuals, families, and communities. The Opportunity Alliance (TOA) is a dynamic, results-focused Community Action Agency providing approximately 50 integrated community-based and clinical programs serving more than 20,000 people annually throughout the state of Maine. With over 50 years of experience, TOA draws from a comprehensive set of programs which address issues such as mental health, substance use, homelessness, lack of basic needs, and access to community supports. Through an extensive array of services, TOA provides opportunities for individuals to stabilize fragile situations and then works with them to achieve self‑sufficiency. TOA is client-focused with extensive experience working with diverse client populations. TOA programming includes four key sectors of service: Mental Health & Wellness Community Building Family & Early Childhood Education Economic Resources.

Who we are…

The Opportunity Alliance is “Helping People Reach for a Brighter Future”. Mission: The Opportunity Alliance works with people to build better lives and stronger communities. We provide advocacy, leadership, and support to identify the goals and address the needs of individuals, families, and communities. The Opportunity Alliance (TOA) is a dynamic, results-focused Community Action Agency providing approximately 50 integrated community-based and clinical programs serving more than 20,000 people annually throughout the state of Maine. With over 50 years of experience, TOA draws from a comprehensive set of programs which address issues such as mental health, substance use, homelessness, lack of basic needs, and access to community supports. Through an extensive array of services, TOA provides opportunities for individuals to stabilize fragile situations and then works with them to achieve self‑sufficiency. TOA is client-focused with extensive experience working with diverse client populations. TOA programming includes four key sectors of service: Mental Health & Wellness Community Building Family & Early Childhood Education Economic Resources.

Why Work for TOA Employee Testimonials Explore our Benefits For general inquiries: [e-mail] Administrative Office: 50 Lydia Lane South Portland, ME 04106