Sr. Peer Initiatives Specialist

Position Summary: 

The Senior Peer Initiative Specialist position promotes and contributes to the development of peer culture with a trauma-informed population health focus. This position will establish a wider and deeper adoption of peer culture, leadership, and support through the DBHIDS system and the Philadelphia community. Finally, this position will support DBHIDS in its effort to write, plan, and manage projects that promote peer culture and leadership. Employees must be able to work in an office environment that may include varying levels of noise, distraction, lighting, and privacy.

Duties and Responsibilities: 

• Assist with the development and the maintenance of peer culture by engaging DBHIDS, behavioral health providers, and the Philadelphia community in person and online 
• Lead PCCTs Peer Professional Development and Networking Meetings Liaison efforts to support meaningful connection, growth, and professional development across the peer workforce.
• Share personal story of lived experience at trainings, Community Forms, Symposiums and other community organizations to provide hope for others 
• Enter required information into the data collection system and prepare monthly written reports as assigned.
• Work in partnership with City of Philadelphia initiatives that engage peers, ensuring effective participation and ongoing monitoring, while contributing subject-matter expertise, shaping project activities, and offering meaningful recommendations to strengthen peer involvement. 
• Provide leadership for PCCI’s role in the DBHIDS Recovery Walk Planning Committee and contribute to planning other DBHIDS events, supporting peer-group recruitment and working with appropriate PCC1, DBHIDS, and community partners.
• Represent the unit on various internal and external taskforces, advisory boards, and committees such as DBHIDS’ Engaging Males of Color Initiative (EMOC) 
• Contribute content to PCCIU Peer Institute website and social media efforts
• Support Community Support Program (CSP) meetings, events, and leadership development activities. 
• Contribute to PCCI’s technical assistance activities by supporting focus groups, community listening sessions, and the delivery of intensive Peer Institute technical assistance to behavioral health providers, utilizing lived experience and peer subject-matter expertise.
• Assist with the skill development of DBHIDS/PCCIU interns and peer volunteers.
• Recruit certified peers for deployment to targeted DBHIDS related sites
• Provide on-going support and de-briefmg for the certified peers deployed at various sites
• Other duties not otherwise specified as needed.

Skills Required:

• Knowledge of DBHIDS transformation, peer culture in Philadelphia, the Peer Support Toolkit, and Peer Institute.
• Understanding of the Philadelphia Transformation Practice Guidelines for Recovery and Resilience Oriented Behavioral Health Service and Public Health Issues
• Demonstrates strong written and verbal communication skills; bilingual proficiency is preferred but not required.
• Ability to interact with staff and people at all levels in a fast-paced environment, at times under pressure while remaining flexible, proactive, resourceful, and efficient completed with a high degree of professionalism.
• Able to work well independently and within the confines of a team, with minimal direction
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, such as Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook and Power¬ point.

Education and Experience:

• Minimum of High School Diploma or GED is required, however, Bachelor Degree from an accredited institution is preferred in the areas of Public Health, Social Sciences, Mental Health, or Education
• Certified Peer Specialist and/or Certified Recovery Specialist from an Accredited Agency
• Minimum of three (3) years of experience as a CPS working in the behavioral health system providing peer support services

Physical Demands:

• Regularly requires walking, standing, stooping, bending, sitting, reaching, pushing, pulling and/or repetitive wrist/hand movements for various lengths of time throughout the day
• Regularly works inside in areas that are adequately lighted and ventilated. Some fluctuation in temperature. No protective equipment routinely needed.
• Must be able to adapt to continuous changes/demands of the job.

Essential Functions:

• Must be able to remain in a stationary position for at least one hour at a time
• Frequently operate a computer and other office productivity machinery such as copier and printers
• Transportation or able to navigate public transportation around and within Philadelphia neighborhoods

Equal Opportunity Employment:

PMHCC, Inc. is committed to equal opportunity. It is our policy to support equal employment for all employees and applicants without regard to race, religion, color, sex, sexual preferences, age, national origin, disability, behavioral health status, military status or any other characteristic protected by law.

Americans with Disabilities Act:

Employees as well as applicants who are currently, or become disabled, must be able to perform the functions of the job with either reasonable accommodation or unaided. PMHCC, Inc. will examine reasonable accommodations on a case-by-case basis in accordance with the law.