Remote Peer Support Specialist

Lines for Life• OR, US, OR

10d•$23 - $28•Remote

About The Position

Lines for Life is a regional nonprofit dedicated to preventing substance abuse and suicide, promoting mental health, and providing intervention, prevention, and advocacy. Its Peer Support program offers compassionate, empathic, judgment-free support grounded in shared lived experience, helping people navigate beyond a crisis through de-escalation, coping strategies, empowerment, and connection to recovery, safety, and well-being resources. The Remote Peer Support Specialist is part of a team delivering peer services to contacts referred through 988. The role provides collaborative support, manages caller follow-up, connects people with community peer support and other resources, documents interactions, and consults with a supervisor on complex or high-acuity calls. This is a full-time, non-exempt, union position scheduled Thursday through Monday, 1:30 PM–10:00 PM Pacific time, for 40 hours per week. The position is remote and requires a HIPAA-compliant home workspace, private high-speed internet, and successful clinical and technical evaluations. Crisis contacts are recorded and may be reviewed for quality assurance, training, and supervisory support. Starting pay is $23 per hour, with a $2-per-hour differential for employees with a related graduate degree. The stated service-based pay scale ranges from $23.00 to $27.96 per hour, and Oregon-based employees may receive a 2% differential for hours worked in Oregon. The benefits package is valued at over $14,750 per year and includes employee health, vision, and dental coverage; short- and long-term disability and life insurance premium coverage; a matching 401(k); a flexible spending plan; an employee assistance program; and a Fitbit. Internal candidates must be willing to obtain Oregon Peer Support Specialist certification. Training for this certification takes 4–5 weeks and combines classroom, peer, and on-the-job training; Lines for Life will pay for the certification for internal candidates selected for the role. Ongoing training is also required. Applicants must pass the Oregon Department of Human Services’ Background Check Unit approval process after a conditional offer.

Requirements

Internal candidates must be willing to obtain Peer Support Specialist certification in Oregon.
Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
Ability to handle high levels of stress.
Ability to develop meaningful connections and empathize.
Team-oriented approach.
Proficiency in a web-based computer environment and multi-line phone system.
A HIPAA-compliant workspace at home.
Private high-speed internet; daily work requires a stable connection with at least 10 Mbps upload and download, jitter below 20, and 0% packet loss.
Strong attendance and punctuality, including the ability to work full scheduled shifts and provide at least two weeks’ notice for time-off requests, or as soon as possible in an emergency.
Ability to sit or stand for long periods of time.
High energy, patience, emotional self-control, and analytical thinking.
Approval to work by the Oregon Department of Human Services’ Background Check Unit.

Nice To Haves

Certified Recovery Mentor (MHACBO certification).
Crisis intervention experience.
Experience in a call center environment.

Responsibilities

Model behavior that supports Lines for Life’s culture, goals, and philosophies.
Answer referred calls using mutuality, relationality, and peer-service best practices.
Complete intakes into the peer follow-up program and manage the caseload of callers in that program.
Place assigned outbound follow-up calls.
Provide referrals to long-term community peer support and help verify resources.
Complete timely call documentation with key information from calls.
Consult with the supervisor as needed about high-acuity and complex calls.
Perform administrative and organizational duties as needed.

Benefits

Employee health, vision, and dental coverage, including $11,400 in premium coverage.
Full coverage of short- and long-term disability insurance premiums.
Full coverage of life insurance premiums.
Matching 401(k) plan equivalent to 3% of annual salary during the first two years of employment after passing the match eligibility date.
Flexible spending plan.
Employee assistance program.
Free Fitbit.
$2-per-hour differential for employees with a graduate degree in a related field.
2% pay differential for employees who live and work in Oregon, for hours worked in Oregon.
Service-based union pay progression.