Job Description: Certified Peer Specialist – The ROC
Position Overview
The ROC (Reentry Opportunity Center) is in2Action's Recovery Community Center serving adults impacted by substance use. The ROC provides a welcoming, peer-driven environment where people can connect with others in recovery, receive peer support and recovery coaching, participate in recovery meetings and social and recreational activities, volunteer and give back, and access practical resources such as employment, housing, technology, and other community supports.
Research on Recovery Community Centers demonstrates that some of the most common activities include recovery meetings, socializing and connecting with the recovery community, helping others, volunteering, recovery coaching, and recreational activities. Practical supports such as employment assistance, technology access, housing, and basic-needs assistance also play an important role in helping individuals build recovery capital.
The Certified Peer Specialist (CPS) is an important part of creating this recovery community. The CPS provides peer-based recovery support, builds relationships with individuals who visit The ROC, helps people identify and pursue recovery goals, connects individuals with needed resources, and encourages meaningful involvement in the recovery community. The position serves adults at all stages of recovery, including individuals who may be actively struggling with substance use, beginning recovery, experiencing a recurrence, or living in sustained recovery.
While The ROC has particular expertise serving individuals who are currently or formerly involved in the criminal legal system, justice involvement is not required to receive services at The ROC.
Some weekends and evenings will be required!
Key Responsibilities
Peer Recovery Support & Coaching
- Provide individual peer support and recovery coaching to adults impacted by substance use.
- Use lived experience appropriately to build trust, encourage hope, and demonstrate that recovery is possible.
- Help individuals identify personal recovery goals, strengths, barriers, and resources.
- Assist individuals in developing individualized recovery plans and taking practical steps toward their goals.
- Provide ongoing follow-up, encouragement, and connection rather than limiting support to one-time referrals.
- Support individuals experiencing challenges or recurrence and help reconnect them with recovery resources and community supports.
- Maintain appropriate peer-support boundaries and model healthy recovery practices.
Building Recovery Community
- Help create and maintain a welcoming, respectful, and inclusive environment where individuals feel comfortable spending time and connecting with others.
- Actively engage individuals visiting The ROC and help newcomers become connected to the recovery community.
- Encourage participation in recovery meetings, social and recreational activities, educational opportunities, community events, and other RCC activities.
- Create opportunities for individuals to develop healthy relationships and supportive recovery networks.
- Encourage participants to volunteer, give back, mentor others, and become contributing members of The ROC community.
- Recognize that informal interactions—talking, having coffee, playing games, sharing meals, participating in activities, and simply spending time with others in recovery—are important components of building recovery community.
Resource Navigation & Recovery Capital
- Help individuals identify and access resources that support long-term recovery and stability.
- Provide assistance and referrals related to employment, housing, education, transportation, identification documents, benefits, healthcare, treatment, mental health services, and other identified needs.
- Assist individuals with practical tasks such as completing applications, developing résumés, accessing computers and technology, making appointments, and communicating with service providers.
- Build individuals' capacity to navigate community systems independently rather than simply completing tasks for them.
- Maintain knowledge of available community resources and develop effective referral relationships.
Community Partnerships & Outreach
- Develop and maintain positive working relationships with treatment providers, recovery organizations, social service agencies, employers, criminal justice partners, and other community resources.
- Participate in community outreach activities that increase awareness of The ROC and connect individuals with recovery support.
- Represent The ROC and in2Action professionally at community meetings, events, and collaborative initiatives.
- Help strengthen referral pathways into and out of The ROC.
Documentation & Team Responsibilities
- Maintain timely and accurate documentation of peer support contacts, recovery coaching, referrals, follow-up activities, and other required services.
- Participate in staff meetings, training, supervision, and professional development.
- Work collaboratively with other in2Action and The ROC staff to ensure individuals receive coordinated support.
- Follow organizational policies, confidentiality requirements, ethical standards, and Certified Peer Specialist requirements.
- Perform other duties consistent with the mission and operation of The ROC.
Facility & Property Upkeep
- Help maintain a clean, welcoming, safe, and professional environment for everyone who visits The ROC, including routine cleaning and upkeep of common areas, offices, restrooms, kitchen areas, and other interior spaces.
- Assist with exterior building and property upkeep, including keeping entrances, sidewalks, outdoor gathering areas, and grounds clean and presentable.
- Identify and promptly report maintenance, repair, safety, or facility concerns to the appropriate supervisor.
- Share responsibility with other staff for routine facility tasks necessary to keep The ROC operating effectively and looking its best.
Qualifications
- Missouri Certified Peer Specialist credential or ability to obtain certification within an established timeframe.
- Minimum of one year of sustained personal recovery.
- Lived experience of recovery and the ability to use that experience appropriately in a professional peer-support role.
- Strong understanding of peer support, recovery principles, recovery capital, person-centered services, and trauma-informed approaches.
- Ability to engage and build trusting relationships with adults from diverse backgrounds and at different stages of recovery.
- Strong interpersonal, communication, and relationship-building skills.
- Ability to maintain appropriate professional and peer-support boundaries.
- Knowledge of community resources related to substance use recovery, housing, employment, healthcare, behavioral health, and other social services preferred.
- Experience working with individuals impacted by the criminal legal system is preferred but not required.
- Ability to work effectively in a community-based environment that includes both structured services and informal social interaction.
- Possess a valid driver's license, maintain a reasonable driving record, and be eligible for coverage under in2Action's automobile insurance.
- Must meet all applicable Missouri Department of Mental Health requirements for employment and service delivery.
- Applicants with a criminal history must be eligible for and successfully complete the applicable Department of Mental Health exception process when required.
The Person We Are Looking For
The successful candidate understands that recovery support is about more than providing services or making referrals, it is about relationships, connection, belonging, and helping people build meaningful lives in the community. This person should be comfortable sitting down with someone for a recovery conversation, helping with a job application, connecting someone to treatment or housing, welcoming a first-time visitor, participating in a community activity, or simply spending time getting to know the people who use The ROC. This person must be currently well connected to the recovery community in Columbia, MO
The goal is for every person who enters The ROC to feel welcomed, respected, connected, and supported, regardless of where they are in their recovery journey.
Pay: $18.50 - $25.00 per hour
Benefits:
- 403(b) matching
- Paid time off
Work Location: In person
