About Our Job

With competitive pay, great benefits, and endless opportunities, working for the City and County of Denver means seeing yourself working with purpose — for you, and those who benefit from your passion, skills and expertise. Join our diverse, inclusive and talented workforce of more than 11,000 team members who are at the heart of what makes Denver, Denver.

What We Offer

The City and County of Denver offers a competitive salary commensurate with education and experience. The salary range for this position is $23.89 - $29.86 per hour. We also offer generous benefits for full-time employees which include but are not limited to:

• A guaranteed life-long monthly pension, once vested after 5 years of service

• 457B Retirement Plan

• 140 hours of PTO earned within first year + 12 paid holidays, 1 personal holiday, 1 Wellness Day and 1 volunteer day per year

• Competitive medical, dental and vision plans effective within 1 month of start date

Location

This is a field-based position. This position requires operating outside, in potential inclement weather conditions including extreme heat or cold. The office for this position is located at 201 W. Colfax Avenue, Denver, CO 80202.

What You’ll Do

Denver's Department of Public Health and Environment (DDPHE) is dedicated to advancing Denver's environmental and public health goals. DDPHE works collaboratively with city, state and community partners to conduct education, community engagement, and enforcement to promote healthy people, healthy pets, and a sustainable environment. DDPHE oversees a number of services related to public health and the environment and is comprised of seven divisions: Division of Shared Services and Business Operations; Community & Behavioral Health; Public Health Investigations; Denver Animal Protection; the Office of Medical Examiner; Emergency Management and Medical Operations; and Environmental Quality. For more information on DDPHE’s programs and services, visit the DDPHE website at: Denver Department of Public Health and Environment.

We foster an inclusive culture by respecting the values, customs, and authenticity of everyone and by implementing equitable public health strategies so Denver communities can thrive.

The Community and Behavioral Health (CBH) division within DDPHE has an opening for a Peer Support Specialist I. This position will work daily to provide outreach and connect with individuals within Denver to offer resources on shelter, housing, mental health, and substance abuse. This individual will work as part of the Wellness Winnie team as well as collaborate with teams across the Community and Behavioral Health Division.

Specifically, in this role, you will:

• Collaborate closely with other multidisciplinary outreach teams and community partners to develop daily plan focusing on unique demographics, service needs, and other special considerations. 

• Approach individuals on the street and as part of the Wellness Winnie Team co-located with community partners, Engage individuals in trauma informed care interactions.

• Leverage lived experience and core competencies in Peer Support to cultivate meaningful, authentic relationships grounded in mutual respect and collaboration. 

• Engage individuals with goal setting methods to identify services, resources, partners, and develop timelines to succeed in self-determined goals.  

• Provide support for resource navigation to those seeking services.

• Complete warm hand-offs, including transporting individuals to their next destination.

• Ensure vehicle is fully stocked with supplies necessary for successful operations.

• Provide comprehensive support and accuracy in relation to data needs and collection.

• Maintain documentation standards in recording daily activities and interactions.

• Research and operationalize best practices of peer support and peer navigation services to inform work.

• Create and foster professional relationships with networks and organizations. 

• Along with all department staff, this position will actively participate on an emergency preparedness and response team to support DDPHE’s responsibilities outlined in the City’s Emergency Operations Plan. This may require being ‘on-call’ from time to time to help respond to emergencies. Additional training commensurate with assigned duties will be provided.

• Other duties as assigned.

What You’ll Bring

We value diversity of ethnicity, race, socioeconomic status, sexual identity, gender, religion, language, ability, and experience and exemplify this through the makeup of our team at all levels. You'll be right at home here if you cultivate strong relationships and push yourself, your work, the people around you and Denver to the next level.

Our ideal candidate has some or all the following experience, skills, and characteristics:

• Two (2) years of delivering peer support services based on lived experience

• At least one (1) year of working with unhoused community members, individuals with problematic substance use, and individuals diagnosed with a severe and persistent mental illness, and/or engaging in street outreach 

• Bi-cultural, bi-lingual, and/or cultural humility; cross-cultural skills, and experience with culturally diverse populations and demonstrated commitment and ability to advance diversity and inclusion. 

• Knowledge of Harm reduction strategies and principles. 

• Peer and Family Specialist certification approved by Colorado Providers Association (COPA) 

• Knowledge of and/or experience with the Denver Metro communities and organizations, substance use treatment, syringe service programs, medical/hospital and/or community resources.  

• Experience of utilizing Microsoft Suite to create documents, tables, create, revise, update, and maintain spreadsheets; create, send, and receive email communication. 

• Embody and serve as a role model of the pillars of peer support, including trust, respect, mutuality, understanding, and empowerment.   

• Strong ability to be flexible and work with a team 

• Enjoyment from working outside of the typical office space 

• Strong situational awareness and ability to de-escalate situations 

• Ability to build trust and rapport quickly to create a relationship where both people learn and grow together. 

• Possess a proactive mindset, capable of making informed decisions to drive program expansion and foster partnerships with community-based organizations.

Required Minimum Qualifications

• Education Requirement: Graduation from high school or possession of a GED, HiSET or TASC Certificate.

• Experience Requirement: One (1) year of experience providing peer support as a volunteer or professional.

• Education and Experience Equivalency: A combination of appropriate education and experience may be substituted for the minimum education and experience requirements.

• License/Certification Requirement: Requires a valid Driver's License at the time of application.

Application Deadline

This position is expected to stay open until Monday, June 22. Please submit your application as soon as possible and no later than that date at 11:59 p.m. to ensure consideration.

To be considered for this position, you must include the following on your job application (upload the attachment(s) to the Resume/CV section on the My Experience tab):

• Cover letter

• Resume

About Everything Else

Job Profile

CS3163 Peer Support Specialist I

To view the full job profile including position specifications, physical demands, and probationary period, click here.

Position Type

Unlimited

Position Salary Range

$23.89 - $35.84

Target Pay

$23.89 - $29.86

Agency

Dept of Public Health & Environment

The City and County of Denver provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, genetic information, age, or any other status protected under federal, state, and/or local law. 

It is your right to access oral or written language assistance, sign language interpretation, real-time captioning via CART, or disability-related accommodations. To request any of these services at no cost to you, please contact [email protected] with three business days’ notice.

Applicants for employment with the City and County of Denver must have valid work authorization that does not require sponsorship of a visa for employment authorization in the U.S.

For information about right to work, click here for English or here for Spanish.