Peer Support Specialist, Implementation Science, part-time, temp

About the position This position will support the Supporting Health and Empowerment through Contingency Management and Affect Regulation for Equity and Success (SHE CARES) research study, supported by the National Institutes of Health the the National Institute on Drug Abuse. SHE CARES is a community-designated intervention created for women who inject drugs, focused on reducing HIB risk and supporting emotional and physical well-being using Contingency Management and Positive Affect approaches. We're looking for someone who brings compassion, lives experience, and a genuine desire to walk alongside women navigating substance use, recovery, and HIV prevention. As a Peer Support Specialist with SHE CARES, you’ll support female participants through a 12‑week, virtual/remote program designed to promote well‑being, connection, and empowerment. You do not need to have clinical training. This role does not provide clinical therapy or medical advice but delivers structured peer-based intervention content under supervision. What matters most is your ability to meet people where they are, offer non‑judgmental support, and use your own experiences to help others feel understood and motivated. This is a temporary, up to 20 hours/week; flexible scheduling position. Up to one year, with possibility of extension. Location: Winston-Salem or Charlotte, NC Compensation \$25/hour

Responsibilities

• Provide peer-based support using shared lived experience to build trust, reduce stigma, and enhance participant engagement with SHE CARES intervention activities
• Deliver a 5-session positive affect intervention one-on-one to study participants
• Conduct virtual or phone-based check-ins to support participant adherence to brief weekly activities, positive affect prompts, and contingency management schedules
• Assist participants in navigating the study smartphone mobile app and understanding scheduled tasks
• Assist participants in navigating the intervention workbook and virtual platforms
• Monitor participant engagement and communicate concerns or potential barriers to study staff
• Promote empowerment, self-efficacy, harm reduction, and emotional well-being using strength-based approaches
• Attend weekly supervision sessions to review previous sessions, receive support, and address concerns
• Stay Connected
• Document participant contacts, emergent needs, and concerns using standardized study forms and platforms
• Maintain timely and accurate records according to study protocols and confidentiality requirements
• Participate in team meetings, supervision, debriefing, and training sessions as needed
• Keep simple, clear notes about interactions using the study’s secure tools
• Participate in team meetings, supervision, and training
• Work together with study staff to make sure participants feel supported and safe
• Research Responsibilities
• Adhere to research protocols and intervention manuals as trained
• Complete required human subjects protection (CITI) and HIPAA training upon hire
• Maintain strict confidentiality of participant information
• Assist with scheduling participants for study visits or assessments when needed
• Communicate adverse events or safety concerns to study leadership immediately
• Support Safety and Well-Being
• Follow established steps if a participant seems distressed or expresses a need for urgent help
• Offer warm referrals to community resources (health care, recovery support, safety resources, etc.) when requested or helpful
• Protect confidentiality and uphold strong boundaries

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED equivalent
• Active certification as a North Carolina Certified Peer Support Specialist at the time of hire
• Personal lived experience with substance use, recovery, and related social/structural challenges, as well as well-established in own recovery (at least 18 months)
• Ability to engage sensitively with women who use drugs, women with trauma histories, and those facing challenges like stigma, justice system involvement, or unstable housing
• Ability to work independently and as part of a remote team
• Ability to use a smartphone and communicate via text, phone, and app-based tools
• Dependability, compassion, and good communication skills
• Willingness to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends
• Willingness to complete additional training on study procedures, intervention content, formal mindfulness course and/or counseling techniques
• Flexible and able to work some hours on weekends
• Access to reliable internet and a private space to conduct confidential virtual sessions
• Have reliable transportation
• Ability to pass a background check
• Ability to pass a required health screening for hire

Nice-to-haves

• Experience providing peer support, harm reduction services, or recovery coaching
• Familiarity with HIV prevention or PrEP (oral or injectable)
• Experience supporting women who inject drugs or people participating in virtual/mobile health programs
• Knowledge of North Carolina community resources

Benefits

• Paid Time Off programs
• Health and welfare benefits such as medical, dental, vision, life, and Short- and Long-Term Disability
• Flexible Spending Accounts for eligible health care and dependent care expenses
• Family benefits such as adoption assistance and paid parental leave
• Defined contribution retirement plans with employer match and other financial wellness programs
• Educational Assistance Program