Peer Support Specialist Jobs
Peer Support Specialist jobs are open across behavioral health, community mental health centers, substance use recovery programs, and hospital systems, from entry-level to senior and supervisory roles, with specializations in mental health recovery, addiction recovery, and youth or veteran services. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.
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Showing 5 of 150+ Peer Support Specialist jobs
Agency Profile: Spectrum Health & Human Services respectfully partners with adults, children, and families as they recover from behavioral, emotional, mental health and/or substance related disorders by offering individualized and meaningful opportunities of hope, empowerment and support to achieve self-defined improvements in their quality of life.
Full-Time 2040 Seneca Street, Buffalo NY
SUMMARY OF POSITION FUNCTION:
The Re-Entry Peer Support Coach (RPSC) are full-time grant funded positions that further the goals of the County Reentry Task Forces (CRTF) by providing guidance, mentorship, and appropriate support and stabilization to CRTF participants returning to the community from state incarceration. The RPSC works directly with clients to develop release plans, connect them to essential services, foster daily living skills, manage reentry challenges, and offer ongoing peer support to promote successful reintegration and reduce recidivism.
MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITES:
Pre-Release Support
- Coordinate with correctional and community supervision staff and community partners (e.g. service providers) to ensure continuity of care.
- Work directly with incarcerated individuals to create personalized release plans addressing housing, employment, education, vocational, family reunification, and health needs.
- Conduct facility visits to build relationships and provide guidance on re-entry preparation.
- Provide guidance and information on the benefits and process of working with a CRTF.
Post-Release Support
- Serve as a mentor, positive role model and advocate for individuals to promote positive reintegration.
- Provide a trauma-informed, human-centered and strength-based approach.
- Assist clients in accessing community resources such as housing, vocational training and job readiness programs, mental health services, substance use programs, benefits and other resources and may include escorting participants to appointments.
- Assistant clients in obtaining identification and documents in support of successful reentry.
- Provide emotional support and practical guidance during the transition period.
Case Management & Advocacy
- Maintain accurate records of client interactions, interventions and progress.
- Advocate for clients’ needs with service providers and agencies, where appropriate.
- Monitor and evaluate client goals to ensure successful reintegration.
- Coordinate and facilitate multiple reentry services to avoid gaps in care and services.
- Strong relationships with county and local service providers as well as parole officers.
SKILLS/COMPETENCIES:
- Cultural competence, awareness, and skills.
- Trauma-informed approaches.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality as well as set and maintain professional boundaries.
- Focused on actionable goals related to reintegration, rehabilitation, or breaking the cycle of re-offending.
- Broad knowledge of human service agencies and community-based organizations.
- Ability to work independently, in the field, and as part of a team.
EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:
Minimum Qualifications:
- Associate degree or equivalent coursework.
- Achieved programmatic certifications during incarceration.
- Lived experience experts/Credible Messenger who achieved successful re-entry.
- Strong communication, analytical, empathy, and problem-solving skills.
- Experienced in de-escalation techniques.
- Well organized, detail oriented and proficient in time management.
- Essential computer skills including Microsoft Office and Outlook.
- Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation.
- Successfully discharged from Community Supervision.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s Degree or other higher education qualifications.
- Three years separated from custody.
Compensation: $55,000 ($28.20/hr)
Agency Profile: Spectrum Health & Human Services respectfully partners with adults, children, and families as they recover from behavioral, emotional, mental health and/or substance related disorders by offering individualized and meaningful opportunities of hope, empowerment and support to achieve self-defined improvements in their quality of life.
Full-Time 2040 Seneca Street, Buffalo NY
SUMMARY OF POSITION FUNCTION:
The Re-Entry Peer Support Coach (RPSC) are full-time grant funded positions that further the goals of the County Reentry Task Forces (CRTF) by providing guidance, mentorship, and appropriate support and stabilization to CRTF participants returning to the community from state incarceration. The RPSC works directly with clients to develop release plans, connect them to essential services, foster daily living skills, manage reentry challenges, and offer ongoing peer support to promote successful reintegration and reduce recidivism.
MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITES:
Pre-Release Support
- Coordinate with correctional and community supervision staff and community partners (e.g. service providers) to ensure continuity of care.
- Work directly with incarcerated individuals to create personalized release plans addressing housing, employment, education, vocational, family reunification, and health needs.
- Conduct facility visits to build relationships and provide guidance on re-entry preparation.
- Provide guidance and information on the benefits and process of working with a CRTF.
Post-Release Support
- Serve as a mentor, positive role model and advocate for individuals to promote positive reintegration.
- Provide a trauma-informed, human-centered and strength-based approach.
- Assist clients in accessing community resources such as housing, vocational training and job readiness programs, mental health services, substance use programs, benefits and other resources and may include escorting participants to appointments.
- Assistant clients in obtaining identification and documents in support of successful reentry.
- Provide emotional support and practical guidance during the transition period.
Case Management & Advocacy
- Maintain accurate records of client interactions, interventions and progress.
- Advocate for clients’ needs with service providers and agencies, where appropriate.
- Monitor and evaluate client goals to ensure successful reintegration.
- Coordinate and facilitate multiple reentry services to avoid gaps in care and services.
- Strong relationships with county and local service providers as well as parole officers.
SKILLS/COMPETENCIES:
- Cultural competence, awareness, and skills.
- Trauma-informed approaches.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality as well as set and maintain professional boundaries.
- Focused on actionable goals related to reintegration, rehabilitation, or breaking the cycle of re-offending.
- Broad knowledge of human service agencies and community-based organizations.
- Ability to work independently, in the field, and as part of a team.
EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:
Minimum Qualifications:
- Associate degree or equivalent coursework.
- Achieved programmatic certifications during incarceration.
- Lived experience experts/Credible Messenger who achieved successful re-entry.
- Strong communication, analytical, empathy, and problem-solving skills.
- Experienced in de-escalation techniques.
- Well organized, detail oriented and proficient in time management.
- Essential computer skills including Microsoft Office and Outlook.
- Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation.
- Successfully discharged from Community Supervision.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s Degree or other higher education qualifications.
- Three years separated from custody.
Compensation: $55,000 ($28.20/hr)
See All 150+ Peer Support Specialist Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Peer Support Specialist JobsPeer Support Specialist Job Market
Who's Hiring
- Telecare Corporation10
- CVS Health7
- Frontier Behavioral Health6
- RHA Health Services5
- Casa4
Top Industries Hiring
- Healthcare & Medical Services
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in peer support specialist jobs.
- Personal lived experience with mental health recovery or substance use recovery
- State peer support specialist certification or willingness to obtain it within a set timeframe
- Experience providing one-on-one or group peer support in a behavioral health setting
- Knowledge of trauma-informed care principles and recovery-oriented language
- Ability to maintain accurate documentation in an electronic health record system
- High school diploma or GED required, with associate or bachelor's degree preferred by many employers
Tips for Your Peer Support Specialist Job Search
Lead your resume with lived experience
Peer support roles are built on personal recovery or lived mental health experience. Put that front and center in your summary section, naming the population you've supported and the setting, whether inpatient, community-based, or crisis response.
List your state certification by its full name
Certification titles vary by state, so spell yours out completely on your resume rather than abbreviating it. Hiring managers and applicant tracking systems often filter for terms like 'Certified Peer Specialist' or 'Certified Recovery Support Specialist' verbatim.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists peer support specialist openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Target postings by funding source and setting
Federally qualified health centers, state-funded recovery organizations, and VA-contracted programs each have different hiring timelines and documentation requirements. Filtering by employer type helps you tailor your cover letter to the specific funding language they use.
Prepare a scenario answer about boundaries
Interviewers for peer support roles almost always ask how you maintain professional boundaries while drawing on personal experience. Practice a specific example that shows you can share selectively, stay in the peer role, and escalate to a clinical supervisor when needed.
Negotiate for supervision hours if you need them
If you're working toward a higher-level certification, ask during the offer stage whether the organization counts your work hours toward supervised experience. Many employers do, but it's rarely advertised and must be confirmed before you accept.
Peer Support Specialist Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most peer support specialists?
Telecare Corporation, CVS Health, and Frontier Behavioral Health are hiring the most peer support specialists right now, with openings concentrated in California, North Carolina, and Washington, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Community mental health centers and state-contracted recovery programs tend to post the highest volume of open roles.
How many peer support specialist jobs are remote?
About 16% of peer support specialist openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, with remote work most common in phone-based or telehealth crisis support roles. In-person roles remain dominant for positions embedded in residential programs, inpatient units, or drop-in community centers.
How do you become a peer support specialist?
Start by confirming you meet your state's eligibility criteria, which typically require documented personal recovery experience. Complete your state's approved peer specialist training, which usually runs between two and five days. Pass the certification exam if your state requires one, then apply to entry-level peer support roles in community mental health or recovery organizations where you can log supervised hours.
Can you get hired as a peer support specialist with little or no formal experience?
Yes, because lived experience is the core qualification, not years of paid work history. Employers often count volunteer work at recovery community organizations, participation in mutual aid groups, or service on a consumer advisory board as relevant experience. Highlighting the specific populations you've engaged with and any informal advocacy or mentoring roles strengthens an application even without prior paid employment in the field.
What does the peer support specialist interview process look like?
Most employers conduct a phone screen followed by one or two in-person or video interviews. At least one stage typically includes behavioral questions about how you've used your own recovery story professionally and how you handle situations where a peer is in crisis. Some organizations also ask you to demonstrate documentation skills or walk through a mock peer session before a final offer is made.
Where can I find and apply to peer support specialist jobs?
You can find and apply to peer support specialist jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States in one place. Search for roles that match your certification level, preferred setting, and location, then apply directly to each listing that fits your background.
See All 150+ Peer Support Specialist Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Peer Support Specialist Jobs