Peer Support Specialist-26491409

County of San Diego; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 45,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

County of San Diego is seeking a Peer Support Specialist to assist clients on their recovery journey through supportive case management and coaching. The role emphasizes recovery principles, mentorship, and empowering individuals toward health and wellness.

The ideal candidate communicates well, listens actively, and works collaboratively with clinical staff to advocate for client needs while maintaining reliability and cultural responsiveness.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent is required.
• Active Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist Certification in California with no pending disciplinary actions.

Responsibilities

• Assist clients on their recovery journey through supportive case management and recovery services.
• Educate clients about recovery principles and empower them to achieve health and wellness.

Skills

Communication

Active listening

Relationship building

Emotional resilience

Team collaboration

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist Certification (CA)

Job description

Peer Support Specialist

Interviews will be held the week of December 21, 2026.

Job offers will be made the week of December 28, 2026.

Selected candidates will be hired at Step 3 $ 49, 878.40 of the salary range. County employees are subject to the County Promotion Rule for Step Placement in Accordance with Compensation Ordinance 1.3.5.

Future Salary Increases

June 2027 – 5.37% increase to base pay (3.0% Across-the-Board + 2.37% Market Increase)

Peer Support Specialist assist clients on their recovery journey to develop and accomplish goals through supportive case management and recovery services. Incumbents educate clients about recovery principles, serve as a role model, support, and validate client experiences, and empower clients to achieve health and wellness. Recovery support services include coaching, mentoring, and other support to address emotional, informational, transportation needs, and other needs to support recovery goals.

For a complete description of the duties and responsibilities of Peer Support Specialist, please review Peer Support Specialist.

Ideal Candidate

A strong candidate for a Peer Support Specialist role is someone who communicates well, actively listens, and builds trusting relationships. They demonstrate emotional resilience and work collaborative with clinical staff to advocate for client needs. A quality candidate is reliable, culturally responsive and motivated to empower individuals to make self-directed, meaningful progress in their recovery journey.

Hiring Process and Timeline

• Job Offer and Background Process: Shortly after the interviews. Note: Current County employees may be excluded from additional background screening.
• Pre-employment Medical Screening: Approximately 3 days following successful background investigation results.
• Anticipated Start Date: Start date will be based upon successful completion of medical screening or other mutually agreed upon date.

Minimum Qualifications

Education and/or Experience:

High school diploma or equivalent AND

1. An active Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist Certification in California with no pending disciplinary actions.

The Department of Human Resources removes personally identifiable information from all recruitments. This practice, called Blind Applicant Screening, hides a candidate’s personal information that could influence or bias a hiring decision. Personal information includes name, phone number, address, gender, age and race. This process helps contribute to a fair and equitable selection process leading to a more diverse and inclusive workforce.

The most highly qualified candidates, based on the evaluation results, will be referred for an interview. Be sure to include your experience in meeting the minimum requirements in both the Work Experience section and the Supplemental Questionnaire section of the Application.

Condition of Employment

As part of the County of San Diego's pre-employment process, prospective candidates will undergo a background check (including fingerprinting) and a pre-employment medical screening prior to beginning County employment. Additional types of background investigations may be conducted based on the job-related activities of the position. Current County employees may be excluded from this process.

Evaluation

The names of qualified applicants will be placed on a six (6) month employment list based upon scores received during the evaluation of information contained in their employment application and supplemental questionnaire.

Accommodation

Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of a job, on a case-by-case basis.

As an employer of over 19,000 employees, the County of San Diego is an organization committed to veteran hiring, retention, and professional development. We recognize the contributions and sacrifices made by our veterans and value the unique expertise and leadership qualities they bring to our workforce. We strive to provide veterans with the resources and tools necessary to maximize their employment opportunities, and to assist veterans with their transition into civilian life by applying the valuable skills, knowledge and training acquired in service to positions and career paths at all levels within our large organization. Click on the resource links below to learn more about how the County of San Diego supports its veterans.

Veteran's Preference Policy

The County of San Diego offers preferential credits for military service to assist qualified applicants in transitioning from military to civilian careers with the County of San Diego. Please read the Veteran's Preference Policy for additional information.

Military Skills Translator

Do you need assistance translating your military experience into civilian experience? This tool can help! Please read the Military Skills Translator to access the tool.

Strategic Plan

The County of San Diego and its employees embrace the vision of a just, sustainable, and resilient future for all. Our values include: integrity, equity, access, belonging, excellence, and sustainability. Each of these values is infused throughout our operations. The County also embraces a mission of strengthening our communities with innovative, inclusive, and data driven services through a skilled and supported workforce. Read more about the Strategic Plan for more information.

Disaster Service Workers

Under California Government Code Sections 3100 - 3109, public employees are designated as disaster service workers. The term "public employees" includes all persons employed by the state or any county, city, state agency, or public district. Disaster service workers are required to participate in such disaster service activities as may be assigned to them by their employer or by law.

Diversity & Inclusion

The County of San Diego is committed to valuing diversity and practicing inclusion because our diverse workforce is our greatest asset, and our customers are our number one priority.