Lead Veteran Peer Support Specialist

EastWesticisim Inc; Eugene (OR); Hybrid; USD 47,000 - 57,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive Health Insurance

Paid Time Off (PTO)

Professional Development

Job summary

EastWesticisim Inc. is seeking a Lead Veteran Peer Support Specialist in Oregon to guide a new, non-clinical veteran support program. The role focuses on peer outreach, connecting Veterans with resources, and establishing a mentorship framework in a field and event setting.

This full-time position runs for an initial 10-month term with renewal potential based on program success. You will lead peers, coordinate community outreach, and collaborate with leadership to launch the program effectively

Qualifications

• Veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces with an Honorable or General discharge (DD-214 required).
• State-certified Peer Support Specialist or willingness to obtain certification within 90 days of hire.
• Willingness to share personal transition, resilience, and recovery experiences to support fellow Veterans.
• Familiarity with safety planning, de-escalation, and non-clinical risk protocols.
• Current (or willingness to obtain) HIPAA, CPR, and First Aid certifications.
• Strong listening and de-escalation skills; 1+ years of peer/community leadership experience.

Responsibilities

• Build trusted relationships with local Veterans, fostering camaraderie in a non-clinical environment.
• Assist with event setup, welcome participants, and facilitate peer connections.
• Help Veterans navigate healthcare, housing, employment, financial relief, and wellness programs.
• Recognize distress signs and link Veterans to emergency services or crisis resources.
• Act as the primary community ambassador to raise program awareness.
• Coordinate distribution of promotional materials and program cards across hubs.
• Represent the organization at VSO gatherings and community events to build referrals.
• Support outreach, marketing, and logistics for events and activities.
• Assist with assembling outreach kits and preparing marketing supplies.
• Collaborate with leadership on admin tasks and program space setup.
• Establish peer support best practices and ethical boundaries.
• Maintain confidential records and track participant progress and referrals.

Skills

Veteran status

Peer support

Event coordination

Communication

De-escalation

HIPAA

First Aid

Leadership

Job description

Job Type: Full-Time (Initial 10-Month Term, Eligible for Multi-Year Renewal)

Start Date: Immediate Opening

Location: Eugene, Coos Bay, Roseburg, and Klamath Falls, Oregon / Hybrid (Field & Event Availability)

Salary: $52,000 (10-Month Contract Term)

Benefits: Comprehensive Health Insurance, Paid Time Off (PTO), Professional Development

About the Role

Are you a Veteran looking to leverage your military experience and leadership to support fellow former service members in our community?

We are launching a specialized non-clinical Veteran suicide prevention and community support program. We are seeking a dedicated, compassionate Lead Veteran Peer Support Specialist to lead our peer outreach efforts, connect local Veterans with essential resources, and help establish our peer mentorship framework.

This is a full-time position with an initial 10-month program term, with renewal expected based on program success. As a key team member during this setup phase, you will provide direct peer support and navigate community services.

Key Roles & Responsibilities

• Build authentic, trusted relationships with local Veterans through shared military background, values, and mutual life experience—fostering trust and camaraderie in a non-clinical environment.
• Assist lead facilitators with event setup, welcome participants, and facilitate casual peer-to-peer connection before and after scheduled activities.
• Help Veterans navigate local healthcare, housing support, employment services, financial relief, and community wellness programs.
• Recognize signs of acute distress and execute simple, established non-clinical protocols to safely link Veterans with emergency services or crisis resources when needed.
• Act as the primary community ambassador to raise program awareness and connect with local Veterans.
• Coordinate the physical placement and distribution of promotional materials, informational brochures, and program cards across various community hubs.
• Represent the organization at local Veteran Service Organization (VSO) gatherings, community fairs, and networking events to build referral pipelines.
• Help execute local promotional efforts, staff community awareness tables, and share real‑time updates/photos from events to support digital marketing campaigns.
• Assist with assembling outreach kits, printing community guides, and preparing marketing supplies for events.
• Work closely with leadership on general administrative tasks, including setting up physical/virtual program spaces, organizing supplies, and managing event logistics.
• Help establish peer support best practices and ethical boundaries as incoming staff join.
• Maintain confidential and accurate participant and activity records, log interactions and resource referrals, and administer brief pre- and post-activity feedback tools to track participant progress and program impact.

Qualifications & Experience

• Veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces with an Honorable or General Discharge (DD-214 required).
• State-certified Peer Support Specialist, or ability/willingness to obtain certification within 90 days of hire.
• Willingness to appropriately share personal transition, resilience, and recovery experiences to support and empower fellow Veterans.
• Familiarity with basic safety planning, de-escalation, and non-clinical risk protocols
• Current (or willingness to obtain) HIPAA, CPR, and First Aid certifications.
• Strong listening skills, active de-escalation abilities, commitment to participant confidentiality, and 1+ years of peer, community, or team leadership experience.

Compensation & Position Term

• Term: Initial 10-month full-time contract, with strong potential for annual renewal based on program extension.
• Salary: Highly competitive pay reflecting lead-level responsibilities.
• Benefits: Full health insurance package, paid holidays, and generous time off.
• Impact: Direct opportunity to help build a lifesaving community program from the ground up.

Small Team Flexibility & All-Hands Culture

As part of a lean, mission-driven non-profit team launching a new program, day-to-day responsibilities will naturally evolve. We operate with an "all-hands-on-deck" mindset. Alongside your core peer mentorship and outreach duties, you will collaborate closely with our Lead Instructor and leadership team by assisting with event logistics, grassroots marketing distribution, and general administrative setup. We value adaptability, creative problem-solving, and a team-first attitude.

Work Environment: On-site, off-site, and field-based across local program sites in Oregon, with occasional evening or weekend availability tied to community events and program sessions.

Tools provided

Program laptop and mobile hotspot for field work, and mileage reimbursement for approved travel.