Peer Support Services Specialist (San Marcos region) McWilliams School of Biomedical Informatics (HEROES)

McWilliams School of Biomedical Informatics is shaping the future of patient care, disease prevention, and biomedical discovery by transforming data into innovative solutions powered by artificial intelligence, data science, and informatics. We are the only biomedical informatics program with advanced doctoral degrees in Texas and the largest and only free-standing informatics school in the nation. 

This position is based in/ and surrounding area of San Marcos region.

This position is funded by grants that comprise 50% or more of the funding. Continued employment in this position is contingent upon the availability of funding for this position. Your employment may end by the end of January 2027.

This position will support the Center for Behavioral Emergency and Addiction Research’s Heroes Program in Houston, Texas. UTHealth Houston’s Center for Behavioral Emergency and Addiction Research oversees several initiatives to address substance use disorders and behavioral emergencies across Texas. Peer Support Services Specialist will work with a multidisciplinary team to provide assertive outreach, navigation to care, direct peer support, and education surrounding substance use prevention, treatment, and recovery in a clinical research environment.

What we do here changes the world. UTHealth Houston is Texas’ resource for healthcare education, innovation, scientific discovery, and excellence in patient care. That’s where you come in.

Once you join us you won't want to leave. It’s because we reward our team for the excellent service they provide. Our total rewards package includes the benefits you’d expect from a top healthcare organization (benefits, insurance, etc.), plus:  

• 100% paid medical premiums for our full-time employees  
• Generous time off (holidays, preventative leave day, both vacation and sick time – all of which equates to around 37-38 days per year) 
• The longer you stay, the more vacation you’ll accrue! 
• Longevity Pay (Monthly payments after two years of service) 
• Build your future with our awesome retirement/pension plan! 

We take care of our employees! As a world-renowned institution, our employees’ wellbeing is important to us. We offer work/life services such as... 

• Free financial and legal counseling 
• Free mental health counseling services 
• Gym membership discounts and access to wellness programs 
• Other employee discounts including entertainment, car rentals, cell phones, etc. 
• Resources for child and elder care 
• Plus many more! 

Position Summary:

The Peer Support Services Specialist assists with peer recovery support services directly to patients who apply knowledge and skills drawn from lived experience and certification competencies, including assertive outreach, enrollment, mutual support, and additional wrap-around services to eligible patients, and ensures quality data maintenance for the research and clinical team.

Position Key Accountabilities:

• Assists with direct patient-related peer support services for social determinants of health to individuals enrolled in HEROES and other clinical research programs.
• Assists with outreach schedule, mutual support groups for peer-education and family support, marketing and organization of all peer-related activities.
• Assists with outreach to individuals' homes and other places.
• Assists with group services to multiple people, both through virtual and in-person.
• Follows guidance to ensure peer support team remains aligned with the overall message and purpose of the program.
• Follows UTHealth program regulations, guidelines and practices are being followed.
• Cooperatively assist with other job duties as assigned to support the provision of quality services to consumers; remain available to team members in crisis situations; and support the clinical/research team where necessary.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Certification/Skills:

• Basic computer skills (email, word processing, excel, etc.).
• Manages Human Resources activities of department in regards to: recruiting and selection, hiring and termination, training, professional development, mentoring, counseling, performance evaluations, and salary planning.
• Peer Recovery Support Specialist (PRSS) by Texas Certification Board (TCB) required or
• Mental Health Peer Specialist (MHPS) by Texas Certification Board (TCB) required or
• Re-Entry Peer Specialist (JI-RPS) by Texas Certification Board required or
• Recover Support Peer Specialist (RSPS) by Texas Certification Board required or
• or equivalent certification by Texas Certification Board required

Minimum Education:

High School Diploma or equivalent required

Minimum Experience:

1 year of experience providing peer recovery support to youths or adults required

Physical Requirements:

Exerts up to 20 pounds of force occasionally and/or up to 10 pounds frequently and/or a negligible amount constantly to move objects.

Security Sensitive:

This position is a security-sensitive position pursuant to Texas Education Code §51.215 and Texas Government Code §411.094. To the extent that a position requires the holder to research, work on, or have access to critical infrastructure as defined in Texas Business and Commerce Code §117.001(2), the ability to maintain the security or integrity of the infrastructure is a minimum qualification to be hired for and to continue to be employed in that position. Personnel in such positions, and similarly situated state contractors, will be routinely reviewed to determine whether things such as criminal history or continuous connections to the government or political apparatus of a foreign adversary might prevent the applicant, employee, or contractor from being able to maintain the security or integrity of the infrastructure. A foreign adversary is a nation listed in 15 C.F.R. §791.4.

Residency Requirement:

Employees must permanently reside and work in the State of Texas.