Recovery Coach (56512)

YSS; Cambridge (IA); On-site; USD 23,000 - 34,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental and vision insurance

Life insurance

403(b) retirement plan

4 weeks PTO

Holiday and volunteer time off

Job summary

YSS is seeking a compassionate Recovery Coach to support youth on their recovery journeys at Ember Recovery Campus in Cambridge, IA. The role emphasizes building lasting recovery skills, identifying goals, and connecting youth to communities and mentors.

You will conduct one-on-one coaching, lead groups, and collaborate with residential and clinical teams to ensure smooth transitions from treatment to life in the community. This onsite position may require some evenings and weekends.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Two+ years of full-time experience in human services, peer support, recovery, or a related field.
• Ability to obtain and maintain Iowa Peer Recovery Specialist Certification.
• Strong communication and relationship building skills.
• Basic computer skills.
• Travel, including transporting participants, is required. You must be 21+, have a valid driver's license, and a clean driving record.

Responsibilities

• Build genuine, supportive relationships with youth and walk alongside them in recovery.
• Identify participants' strengths, goals, challenges, and tools for lasting recovery.
• Share your own recovery experience to offer hope and encouragement.
• Connect youth with recovery communities, peer supports, mentors, meetings, and community resources.
• Provide continued coaching and support after discharge to keep participants on track.
• Lead recovery-focused groups and activities that build connection and practical recovery skills.
• Cultivate relationships with community partners to expand recovery opportunities and support.

Skills

Experience in human services

Peer support

Strong communication

Documentation

Education

High school diploma or GED

Job description

Job Details

Job Location: Ember Recovery Campus - Cambridge, IA 50046

Position Type: Full Time

Education Level: High School/GED

Salary Range: $17.28 - $25.92 Hourly

Travel Percentage: Up to 25%

Job Shift: Day

Job Category: Direct Care - Residential Addiction Treatment

YSS is seeking a compassionate, encouraging Recovery Coach who knows that recovery is more than completing treatment - it’s about building a life worth staying in recovery for. Using their own lived experience, the Recovery Coach brings hope, understanding, and a perspective that can make a real difference for youth navigating addiction and/or mental health challenges.

You’ll build meaningful relationships with youth during treatment and continue walking alongside them after discharge, helping them develop recovery skills, overcome challenges, find their people, and connect with communities that support their goals. Through one-on-one coaching, recovery groups, community engagement, and ongoing support, you’ll help young people turn recovery into something lasting—and discover what’s possible on the other side of treatment.

This is an onsite position with occasional travel. The schedule for this position is generally weekdays, with the potential for some evenings and weekends.

What You’ll Do

• Build genuine, supportive relationships with youth and walk alongside them in recovery.
• Help participants identify their strengths, goals, challenges, and the tools they need for lasting recovery.
• Share your own recovery experience to offer hope, encouragement, and a real-world perspective.
• Connect youth with recovery communities, peer supports, mentors, meetings, sober activities, and other community resources.
• Provide continued coaching and support after discharge, helping participants stay connected and on track.
• Help youth navigate challenges and moments of crisis without losing sight of their goals.
• Lead recovery-focused groups and activities that build connection, confidence, and practical recovery skills.
• Cultivate relationships with community partners to expand recovery opportunities and support.
• Help keep alumni connected to Ember and to a community that understands their journey.
• Partner with residential and clinical teams to support smooth transitions from treatment to life in the community.
• Document services, referrals, progress, and follow-up contacts accurately and on time.
• Maintain healthy peer-support boundaries and uphold agency policies, confidentiality, and ethical standards.

This is not a complete list of the responsibilities of this position. Duties may change at any time.

Who You Are

You’re someone who understands that recovery is a journey, not a finish line. You bring your own lived experience, a genuine belief in people’s ability to change, and the ability to meet young people where they are without judgment. You know how to listen, build trust, celebrate progress, and stick around when things get tough. Most of all, you’re ready to use what you’ve learned along your own journey to help young people see that a meaningful life in recovery is possible.

What We Provide

Supportive Culture & Work Environment

• Supportive leadership team and mission-driven culture
• Flexibility and autonomy in a collaborative environment
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for all employees

Health & Wellness Benefits

• Comprehensive health insurance
• Voluntary dental and vision insurance
• Life insurance and long-term disability coverage
• Supplemental accident, critical illness, and hospital indemnity insurance
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA) / Health Savings Account (HSA) options
• Flu shots and mental health support resources

Time Off & Work-Life Balance

• Generous paid time off (4 weeks PTO)
• Paid holidays, including a birthday holiday
• Volunteer time off

Financial & Retirement Benefits

• Competitive salary
• Supplemental compensation award
• 403(b) retirement savings plan

Professional & Career Support

• Professional liability insurance coverage
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) qualified employer

What We’re Looking For

Required Qualifications – MUST HAVES

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Two+ years of full-time experience in human services, peer support, recovery, or a related field.
• Ability to obtain and maintain Iowa Peer Recovery Specialist Certification.
• Strong communication and relationship building skills.
• Basic computer skills.
• Ability to complete timely, accurate documentation.
• Travel, including transporting participants, is required. For YSS insurance purposes, you must be 21+, have a valid state-issued driver’s license, and maintain a clean driving record.

Preferred Qualifications – SHOULD HAVES

• Bachelor’s degree in human services, behavioral health, social work, or a related field.
• Experience providing peer support, facilitating groups, or working with youth or young adults.
• Experience connecting individuals with community resources and support systems.
• Experience with crisis response, de-escalation, or conflict resolution
• Ability to maintain healthy professional boundaries.

The IDEAL Candidate

• Has personal experience with recovery and is comfortable using that experience appropriately to encourage and support others.
• Brings empathy, authenticity, and a genuine belief in the possibility of recovery.
• Brings humility, respect, and cultural awareness to every interaction.
• Speaks a second language (especially one spoken in our communities).

We Celebrate Your Story

Have you navigated recovery from addiction, mental health challenges, trauma, or housing instability? Your lived experience offers a unique, compassionate perspective that can inspire real change. By sharing your story and serving as a role model or mentor, you can make a meaningful impact in the lives of youth and families. Your journey matters. If you’re ready to use it to uplift and empower others, we warmly encourage you to apply.

Who We Are

We’re YSS—one of Iowa’s largest and longest‑standing nonprofits dedicated to putting kids first. Our mission is simple but powerful: spark hope, create opportunity, and help young people thrive.

From life‑changing programs to a new 50‑acre recovery campus, we’re expanding fast and thinking big. Learn more at yss.org.

We value the unique backgrounds, identities, and experiences each team member brings. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we’re committed to building a respectful, inclusive, and supportive workplace where everyone can grow and succeed.

YSS is a nicotine‑free workplace.

Stay Connected

We communicate with applicants via email – straight from our Paycom system. Please check your inbox regularly (and your spam/junk folder just in case). If the message does end up in spam/junk, make sure to add [e-mail] to your list of safe senders. We may also send you texts if you give us that permission when you apply. Questions? Reach us anytime at [e-mail]