Peer Navigator

About the role

The Peer Navigator plays a key role in supporting individuals who face barriers to accessing care by using lived experience, including those experiencing homelessness, living with chronic health conditions, or at risk due to behavioral health or substance use challenges. Drawing from lived experience, the Peer Navigator serves as a bridge between the community and clinical or supportive services, promoting engagement, empowerment, and recovery. This role is field-based and requires a compassionate, trauma-informed approach, strong interpersonal skills, and the ability to navigate complex systems of care.

Responsibilities

• Establish trusting relationships with individuals encountered through street-based, community-based, and clinic-based outreach activities.
• Support participants in navigating services such as primary care, behavioral health, substance use treatment, housing, and benefits enrollment.
• Provide appointment reminders, accompany clients to appointments as needed, and assist in reducing barriers to care.
• Document outreach encounters, service linkages, and follow-ups using standardized forms or electronic health records.
• Collaborate with care teams to develop and implement person-centered service plans.
• Participate in multidisciplinary case conferences to discuss client progress and emerging needs.
• Educate clients on health and wellness topics, treatment adherence, and harm avoidance strategies.
• Assist in the distribution of educational materials, personal care supplies, and health-related resources during outreach.
• Maintain confidentiality and adhere to HIPAA and organizational compliance protocols.
• Participate in all required training, including trauma-informed care, motivational interviewing, overdose prevention, and crisis de-escalation.
• Build rapport and maintain a positive presence in target communities, fostering a nonjudgmental and welcoming environment.
• Act as a role model by demonstrating healthy coping mechanisms and sustained engagement in wellness or recovery pathways.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Lived experience with recovery, homelessness, HIV, behavioral health, or justice involvement preferred.
• Completion of or willingness to complete Peer Recovery Training and/or certification.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills; ability to engage diverse populations.
• Experience working in community-based, field, or outreach settings preferred.
• Ability to work independently and within a team structure in fast-paced, changing environments.
• Proficiency in using smartphones, tablets, or basic documentation tools.
• Must be comfortable with field work in various weather and neighborhood conditions.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) strongly preferred.

Physical demands

Light Work: equivalent to lifting or exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. Physical demand requirements are in excess of those for Sedentary Work.

Physical requirements

• Bending: Sometimes
• Climbing: Seldom
• Typing: Almost Always
• Lifting: Seldom
• Reaching: Sometimes
• Pushing: Seldom
• Crouching: Seldom
• Crawling: Seldom
• Extended walking: Frequently
• Extended standing: Frequently
• Extended sitting: Sometimes

Work location

Work is completed equally in the office/program and in the community/other sites.

Work environment

Incumbents in this position are exposed to outside environmental conditions, inside environmental conditions, and both environment conditions (work occurs inside and outside), including extreme heat (temps above 80 degrees Fahrenheit) and extreme cold (temps below 32 degrees Fahrenheit).

Supervision received

Close Supervision: provided with daily oversight of work day-to-day tasks, methods and functions. There are regular checks of tasks for quality and quantity of work. Employee performs a variety of routine duties within established policies and procedures or by referring to the written guidelines. Any deviation is reviewed by the supervisor.