Peer Support Specialist

Salary : $42,262.61 - $52,828.26 Annually
Location : Hickory, NC
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 02400
Department: Emergency Services
Division: Emergency Medical Services
Opening Date: 09/25/2026


New as of 01/01/2026:

Your well-being matters from the start - benefited new hires are eligible for up to 40 hours of advanced annual leave and 40 hours of advanced sick leave.

Position Description
Catawba County Emergency Services is recruiting a dedicated, well-experienced Peer Support Specialist to join our dynamic EMS Post Overdose Response Team (PORT), named REACH (Resource for Addiction and Community Health). This position uses personal lived experience and recovery knowledge to support individuals affected by substance use and mental health challenges through REACH 911 responses, active overdose responses, follow-up visits, and community referrals.

The ideal candidate builds trust quickly, meets people where they are during moments of crisis or vulnerability, and helps them pursue their own recovery goals by connecting them with treatment, healthcare, recovery services, and community resources. Join us in making a meaningful difference in the lives of individuals and families across Catawba County!

Responsibilities

• Provide peer-based support grounded in lived experience and recovery principles, promoting self-determination and helping participants identify and pursue recovery goals, including through Wellness Recovery Action Plans (WRAP) and advocacy.
• Respond with the REACH Team to active overdoses and other appropriate incidents, providing immediate peer support using harm reduction and de-escalation strategies.
• Conduct follow-up visits and contacts with individuals referred to REACH, identifying needs and goals and providing continued support and resource navigation.
• Help participants access treatment, behavioral health services, healthcare, medication-assisted treatment (MAT), recovery housing, social services, and transportation, and support REACH Paramedics during MAT activities through peer education and encouragement.
• Collaborate with hospitals, detention facilities, treatment providers, behavioral health agencies, law enforcement, social services, and recovery organizations to support referrals and recovery.
• Document participant contacts, referrals, services, and outcomes while maintaining confidentiality, and participate in required meetings, training, and continuing education.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED equivalent and either:
  • Certification as an NC Peer Support Specialist; OR
  • 1 continuous year as a former recipient of substance abuse treatment and eligibility for certification as an NC Certified Peer Support Specialist
• Personal lived experience with substance use, mental health, or the co-occurrence of SUD/MH and recovery.

Additional Requirements

• Valid Driver's License with a safe driving record (Driving is an essential function of this position.)
• Must demonstrate accountability for personal recovery and wellness and model recovery principles through actions, attitudes, and behaviors that promote wellness and resilience.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build trust, engage and motivate individuals, and support participants in identifying their own recovery pathway while maintaining appropriate professional boundaries.
• Knowledge of substance use disorders, mental health, recovery principles, harm reduction, trauma-informed practices, medication-assisted treatment, and local treatment and recovery resources.
• Skilled in active listening, empathy, motivational interviewing, de-escalation, advocacy, and problem-solving.
• Ability to work effectively in high-stress environments, with diverse populations, independently, and as part of a multidisciplinary team while exercising sound judgment and maintaining confidentiality.
• Working conditions are inside/outside, and candidates must be able to lift, carry, push, and pull at least 70 pounds to utilize equipment on a regular basis and assist with moving/positioning of patients as needed.

As of 7/1/2025:
You will find that Catawba County has one of the best benefits packages around. Our Human Resources staff are dedicated to keeping in touch with trends in benefits on both a local and national level, listening to employees' suggestions regarding benefits, and continually reviewing to ensure our benefits package is of good quality and meets the needs of both our employees and our organization.
Available benefits include:

Health Care

• Health: For a small bi-weekly premium, employees may choose between a traditional (co-pay) health plan and a high deductible health plan coupled with a Health Savings Account (HSA). Coverage may also be purchased for spouse, child(ren), or family.
• Dental Insurance: At no cost to full-time employees, the County covers preventive, routine, and non-routine care. Coverage for the same benefits may also be purchased for spouse, child(ren), and family. In addition, a $2,000 benefit toward orthodontia coverage is provided for children up to age 19.
• Vision Care: Coverage is available, at group rates, for employee and dependents,with 2 plan options to choose from.
• Supplemental critical care and accident insurance plans: These optional coverage plans are available at a nominal cost.
• Flexible Spending Accounts: Pre-tax accounts that can be used to pay for qualified out-of-pocket medical, dental, and vision expenses.

Employee Wellness

• Employee Health Clinic (EHC): An employee medical clinic, available to all County employees, which operates 40 hours a week. Services provided include acute care, first aid, evaluation and care for workers' compensation injuries, pre-employment screenings, health education, and behavioral health referrals. Services are offered both in person and through telehealth. Acute care is available to employee's children ages 3-17, regardless of health insurance coverage, and for employee's adult children (ages 18-26) or employee's spouse if covered on the county's health insurance.
• Wellness: The County recognizes the importance of our health and well-being. We maintain a very proactive and effective Wellness Program, including reimbursement and discounts for gym membership, incentives for physical activity, on-site nutrition counseling, free exercise opportunities, wellness education, and more.
• Employee Assistance Program: Counseling services are available to all County employees and immediate family members in the home. Services are provided in a private and confidential setting (in-person or virtually). The County provides coverage for the first six visits.

Work Life Balance

• Annual Leave: Full-time employees earn from 10-24 days annually based on years of service. Service credit from other NC and Local Governments in the retirement system may be transferred to the County.
  • To help new employees settle in, up to 40 hours of annual leave is advanced upon hire, with first-year accruals adjusted to align with established annual limits.
• Sick Leave: Full-time employees earn one day (8 hours) of sick leave per month. Sick leave from other NC and Local Governments in the retirement system may be transferred to the County.
  • New hires are advanced up to 40 hours of sick leave, with first-year accruals adjusted to align with established annual limits.
• Holiday Leave: Throughout the year, 11 days of paid leave are provided in recognition of holidays.
• Flexible work schedules.
• Time off for activities that support our local schools.
• Continuing educational assistance.
• Discount tickets to recreational venues.
• Employee appreciation days/activities.
• Tax-free flexible spending account to pay for dependent care.

Financial Security

• Local Governmental Employees Retirement System: For employees assigned to work 20 hours per week or more in a benefitted position, participation in this program is automatic. Employees contribute 6% of their salary, which is tax-deferred. After (5) years of creditable service, you become fully vested in the retirement system. Employees may also take advantage of individual and group retirement counseling through the Human Resources department.
• 401K: The County provides a 2% contribution plus an additional 1% match (up to 3% total contribution by the County). Our sworn law enforcement officers receive a flat 5% contribution to their 401k.
• Other Tax Deferred Programs: Other tax-sheltering programs are available through IRS Code 125 (Cafeteria Plan), and a 457 supplemental retirement plan (Deferred Compensation).
• Longevity Pay: After 5 years of creditable service, employees receive an annual longevity payment that is paid every year thereafter. This lump sum payment rewards employees for their length of service to Catawba County. The amount is based on years of service.
• Life Insurance: Death benefit equal to one times the employee's annual salary, with a minimum coverage amount of $25,000. Optional supplemental life insurance coverage is also available for both employee and dependents through payroll deduction at group rates.
• Short Term Disability: Available at no cost to employees, benefits are available after a 55-day waiting period.
• Long Term Disability: Available through payroll deduction at group rates.
• Eligibility for membership and financial services at State Employees Credit Union (SECU)/Local Government Federal Credit Union (LGFCU).

01


Please list when you obtained your Peer Support Certification or the time frame that you anticipate obtaining the certification.
02


Briefly describe your personal lived experience with Substance Use Disorder, Mental Health, or the co-occurrence of these.
03


List any experience you have in supporting people who are in active addiction or crisis.
Required Question