Peer Support Specialist job description.
A peer support specialist draws on personal recovery experience to help clients with mental health or substance use challenges build skills, hope, and connections to community resources. They provide one-on-one and group support, assist with recovery planning, and serve as a bridge between clients and the broader treatment team.
The Peer Support Specialist job description · $29
The full editable .docx — role summary, 8 worked responsibilities, qualifications, and skills, formatted for your letterhead. Delivered to your inbox within 24 hours — usually instantly.
Role: Peer Support Specialist Reports to: Clinical Supervisor or Program Director
A peer support specialist draws on personal recovery experience to help clients with mental health or substance use challenges build skills, hope, and connections to community resources. They provide one-on-one and group support, assist with recovery planning, and serve as a bridge between clients and the broader treatment team.
- Provide one-on-one and group peer support to clients in recovery
- Assist clients in developing personal recovery and wellness plans
- Share personal recovery experience to reduce stigma and build trust
What's inside the document.
One-paragraph plain-English explanation of the role's outcome and scope.
8 responsibilities phrased the way the work is actually done.
4 qualifications a candidate must have to perform on day 30.
2 qualifications that would make a candidate excellent in year two.
5 skill chips you can copy directly into your ATS.
Clinical Supervisor or Program Director
A complete document set.
- Word document (.docx) — fully editable
- PDF — signature-ready
- Google Docs — one-click copy to your Drive
- 12 months of updates to this document
- Commercial-use licence for internal and client work
The work, not the title.
- Provide one-on-one and group peer support to clients in recovery
- Assist clients in developing personal recovery and wellness plans
- Share personal recovery experience to reduce stigma and build trust
- Help clients access housing, employment, and community resources
- Support clients during transitions between levels of care
- Attend and contribute to interdisciplinary treatment team meetings
- Maintain accurate documentation of peer support services provided
- Promote client self-advocacy and empowerment
Required — and what would make a candidate excellent.
- Personal lived experience with mental health or substance use recovery
- State-recognized peer support specialist certification or eligibility
- Strong communication and empathy skills
- Ability to maintain professional boundaries with clients
- Experience working within a clinical or community mental health team
- Bilingual candidates for diverse client populations
Eight steps from download to publish.
- 01Open the Peer Support Specialist job description in Word or your one-click Google Docs copy.
- 02Replace placeholders for company name, reporting line, and location with your specifics.
- 03Tighten the summary to one paragraph that names the team's outcome, not just the role.
- 04Edit the responsibilities to match the actual scope of the seat — aim for 6 to 8 items, not 12.
- 05Separate required qualifications from preferred. Required is what a candidate must have to do the work on day 30; preferred is what would make them excellent in year two.
- 06Add salary range guidance using BLS, Payscale, or your own band data — do not copy generic figures.
- 07Have the hiring manager and one peer read it. Cut anything that wouldn't survive a candidate question.
- 08Publish to your ATS, intranet, and external careers page.
The right document at the right moment.
Use this Peer Support Specialist job description any time you are opening or reopening a seat at this level. The entry band sets the calibration — copy the document, tighten it to your specific scope, and circulate to the hiring panel before the first interview.
The reporting line (Clinical Supervisor or Program Director) and skills list are starting points. Override either if your org structure or stack differs from the norm — the template is a draft, not a contract.
Honest answers before you download.
- What certification should candidates hold?
- Look for a state-recognized peer support specialist certification; requirements and training hours vary by state.
- Can this role be a pathway into clinical counseling?
- Yes, many peer support specialists pursue further education and licensure to move into counseling or case management roles over time.
Other documents in this neighbourhood.
Peer Specialist
A peer specialist uses their own lived experience with mental health or substance use recovery to support clients navigating similar challenges.
Case Manager
A Case Manager coordinates services and resources on behalf of clients or patients to ensure continuity and quality of care.
Substance Abuse Counselor
A substance abuse counselor provides assessment, individual and group counseling, and case management to clients recovering from addiction.
This Peer Support Specialist job description is a professionally drafted starting point for your hiring process and is not legal advice. Hiring practice varies by jurisdiction (e.g. pay-transparency laws differ across US states and AU jurisdictions). Adapt this document for your specific location and have employment counsel review any clauses you add before publishing. Salary varies by region, employer type, and experience. Reference BLS or current industry surveys for ranges. Full disclaimer.