Peer Recovery Specialist, Grant Services Specialist II (NCS) - Mayor's Office of Homeless Services

This is a non-civil service position.

About the Role

Welcome to the City of Baltimore! Experience the reward of a fulfilling career and enjoy the added element of excitement in a vibrant, diverse atmosphere. The City of Baltimore offers limitless opportunities to help drive social impact, both on the job and in the community, while serving its citizens. The Baltimore City Mayor’s Office of Homeless Services (MOHS) is seeking a dynamic and experienced professional for the Peer Recovery Specialist position within Street Outreach. This role provides field-based peer recovery support to individuals experiencing unsheltered homelessness who may also be experiencing substance use, mental health, or co-occurring conditions. The position uses lived experience, recovery-oriented practices, and relationship-based engagement to help individuals reduce barriers, access treatment and recovery services, and move toward shelter, housing, health care, and other supportive services.

Work involves weekly site visits and other service referral connections. Employees in this class work weekdays, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. or flexible shifts as needed. Occasionally, early morning, evening, weekend, or emergency operations may be required. Work primarily occurs in community and outdoor settings, including travel to locations throughout Baltimore City. Work may include walking, standing, climbing stairs, navigating uneven terrain, and working outdoors in varying weather conditions. This position has no supervisory responsibilities and reports directly to the Operations Officer II (Street Outreach Manager).

Responsibilities

• Conduct street outreach throughout Baltimore City, including encampments and other locations where individuals experiencing unsheltered homelessness reside, using consistent, person-centered engagement to build trust and encourage service participation.
• Provide peer recovery support to individuals experiencing substance use, mental health, and/or co-occurring conditions.
• Utilize trauma-informed, harm-reduction, motivational, and overdose-prevention support, including overdose-prevention education.
• Connect individuals to substance use treatment, behavioral health care, medical services, shelter, housing, benefits, and other supportive services, including facilitating warm handoffs whenever possible, and administering Naloxone when appropriate and in accordance with training and agency protocols.
• Conduct follow-up after referrals and service connections to address barriers, encourage continued engagement, and support successful connection to treatment and other services.
• Participate in targeted outreach, encampment engagement, 311-related responses, crisis response, and community initiatives, and support the Coordinated Entry Line and Emergency Services operations during Code Red and Code Purple weather activations, as assigned.
• Collaborate with Street Outreach staff, shelters, treatment providers, health care partners, and community organizations; participate in case conferencing, team meetings, training, and recovery-focused activities as needed.
• Maintain accurate and timely documentation of outreach contacts, referrals, follow-up activities, and client outcomes in HMIS and other required MOHS systems, while maintaining confidentiality and appropriate professional boundaries.

Requirements

• Associate degree in Human Services or a related field from an accredited college or university.
• Experience in social services, supportive housing, homelessness services, or a related setting and at least one year of paid experience providing community-based services, information and referrals, or community engagement. Experience with HMIS or a comparable client record system is preferred.
• High school diploma or GED and an equivalent combination of relevant education, training, and experience may be considered in lieu of the above.
• Valid Maryland Class C Noncommercial driver’s license or an equivalent driver’s license and eligibility to obtain a Baltimore City driver’s permit. Provisional driver’s licenses are not acceptable.
• Must upload a copy of your valid driver’s license with the application.

Skills

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, including active listening and the ability to engage clients, coworkers, treatment providers, and the public professionally and respectfully.
• Ability to recognize signs of distress or crisis and respond appropriately using sound judgment and problem-solving skills.
• Knowledge of peer recovery, substance use, mental health, and recovery-oriented practices.
• Knowledge of community resources and the ability to develop effective relationships with treatment providers and community partners.
• Strong organizational, documentation, and writing skills, with the ability to maintain accurate and timely client records and reports.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, email, and electronic record-management systems.
• Certified Peer Recovery Specialist (CPRS) credential through the Maryland Addiction and Behavioral-Health Professionals Certification Board (MABPCB) preferred.

Benefits

The City of Baltimore offers medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, optional life, AD&D, and FSA plans. This office also supplies wellness programs, support groups, and workshops.

Learn more about our benefits.

Pay

Salary Range: $43,901.00 – $69,639.00 annually
Hiring Salary Range: $43,901.00 – $56,770.00 annually

Schedule

Weekdays, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. or flexible shifts as needed. Occasionally, early morning, evening, weekend, or emergency operations may be required.

Additional Information

• Eligible candidates under final consideration for appointment to positions identified as positions of trust will be required to complete authorization for a Criminal Background Check and/or Fingerprint screening, and must be successfully completed.
• All persons, including current City employees, selected for this position must complete a 6-month mandatory probation.