TREATMENT COURT PEER SUPPORT SPECIALIST

Job Description

OVERVIEW

Kitsap County is seeking a compassionate, insightful, and community-driven Peer Support Specialist to serve in this critical role that directly advances participant success in the Treatment Court program. This is an exceptional opportunity for an individual with lived experience in recovery who is ready to transform that journey into meaningful support for others. By integrating firsthand understanding with professional peer support practices, you will empower participants to overcome barriers, build resilience, and realize pathways toward stability and independence.

This role offers a unique opportunity to influence systems of care from within a multidisciplinary team, ensuring that participant voices, needs, and strengths remain central to decision-making. As a fully integrated team member, your perspective on recovery, symptom management, and community reintegration will play a powerful role in improving program outcomes and driving long-term positive change. This position is ideal for someone seeking to advance their career in behavioral health, workforce development, or community services-while making a profound, lasting impact on individuals and the broader community.

As the Treatment Court Peer Support Specialist, you will:

• Lead strengths-based, recovery-aligned mentoring by supporting individuals facing barriers to employment, stable housing, and community reintegration.
• Navigate participant vocational and housing needs by managing referrals, coordinating follow-ups, and ensuring engagement with appropriate services and resources.
• Drive participant success through face-to-face coaching that promotes independence, resource access, employment readiness, and housing stability.
• Guide participants in building recovery capital by facilitating connections to community supports, resource systems, and opportunities for growth.
• Advocate as an active multidisciplinary team member by providing lived-experience insight, reporting on participant goals, and educating team members about available community resources.
• Coordinate with external partners-including workforce development agencies, housing providers, landlords, employers, and training programs-to expand resource access and reduce barriers such as legal, financial, or transportation challenges.
• Ensure accurate documentation by tracking interactions, referrals, outcomes, and progress across digital platforms, including Excel and SurveyMonkey.
• Develop data-driven reports, summaries, charts, and visual presentations to identify trends and support program improvements and decision-making.

What you bring:

• Associates degree in a closely related field from a college or university accredited by an agency recognized by the US Department of Education AND one year of experience in program support such as working in group dynamics, and with local area resources such as housing support, transportation options, and treatment providers OR three years of experience in program support such as working in group dynamics, and with local area resources such as housing support, transportation options, and treatment providers.
  • Relevant work experience demonstrating required knowledge, skills, and abilities may substitute for educational requirements. Work experience is essential and cannot be replaced by additional education.
• Must have personal experience within the Treatment Court system and be willing to openly identify as a person with experience with mental health and/or substance use.
• Must have at least one year of successful recovery.
• Certified Peer Counselor License upon hire (preferred) or obtain Peer Counselor Certification within one year of hire.
• Volunteer experience in the recovery community such as the jail, hospital, etc. or Kitsap County Drug Court alumni is preferred.

For the complete job description: Peer Support Specialist
For more information about the department: District Court

OTHER POSITION RELATED INFORMATION

• Who May Apply: This position is open to the general public. Applications will be screened for qualifications and completion of all the required materials and forms. The most competitive applicants may be contacted for further steps in the selection process, which may include testing for office and computer skills.
• This position is classified as eligible for overtime under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)
• This position is covered under a collective bargaining agreement with AFSCME 1308 and the Kitsap County Personnel Manual. Internal applicants should be aware that a change in union status or bargaining unit may impact your benefits and accruals. Please contact Human Resources if you have questions. Employees joining the union will be required to pay union dues through payroll deduction. Membership in the union is optional.

Application Requirements

All applicants, internal and external, must submit a complete and fully detailed application. Your application must clearly demonstrate how you meet all minimum qualifications for the position by the posted closing date. The County uses the information provided in the application (not the résumé) to verify relevant work experience and to determine placement on the pay scale if you are selected for the position.

To be considered, your application must:

• Be fully completed, including all supplemental questions. Provide specific and detailed information showing that you have performed the duties and gained the experience required for the role. Include the total years of relevant experience, quantified based on full-time equivalency. Applications that are incomplete, lack sufficient detail, or do not clearly demonstrate that the applicant meets all minimum qualifications will be screened out and will not move forward in the hiring process. Meeting the minimum qualifications is required.

Prior to employment, the successful candidate must:

• Submit official transcripts from an accredited college or university or business school, if education is being used to meet the minimum qualifications.
• Pass all job-related examinations/tests necessary to demonstrate required knowledge, skills and abilities, as determined by the hiring authority at time of job posting.
• Authorize and complete a criminal background check. Information received is reviewed on a case-by-case basis and will not necessarily remove a candidate from consideration. This process is conducted in compliance with the Washington Fair Chance Act (RCW 49.94). Information received is evaluated on a case-by-case basis and will not automatically disqualify a candidate from consideration. FCA-Flyer_June 2026_English_Update
• Criminal Conviction Standards:
  • The successful incumbent will or may have unsupervised access to children under 18 years of age, a vulnerable adult, or a vulnerable person, or access to a secured/confidential facility or computer system(s). As a result, Kitsap County will be conducting an extensive criminal background check by law enforcement agencies, which may include fingerprinting.

Driving Requirements

The successful incumbent must meet the driving requirements of this position and submit a copy a current driving record/abstract (from state of residency) to review for eligibility to drive for Kitsap County prior to employment. The successful incumbent must obtain a valid Washington State Driver’s License prior to hire and maintain a satisfactory driving record as outlined in the Kitsap County Vehicle Use Policy. This position is categorized as:
Category 2: Driver operates a personal vehicle as an essential function for official County business.

• Kitsap County is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations and ordinances. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or the recruiting process, please contact our Human Resources Office.
• This recruitment is being used to fill an existing open position and may be used to fill future openings for up to six (6) months.
• Work hours for this position are Monday - Friday, 7:45 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
• Only authorized employees and hiring authorities have access to the application materials submitted. Per RCW 42.56.250, all applications for public employment, including the names of applicants, resumes, and other related materials submitted with respect to an applicant are exempt from public inspection.

This position is funded by the Administrative Office of the Courts. Funds are currently approved through June 30, 2027, with likelihood of extension.

A first review of applications is scheduled for the week of November 3, 2026; this position will be screened weekly thereafter.

At Kitsap County, we strive to take care of our team! Our employees are the greatest asset of Kitsap County, and we take pride in offering a highly competitive compensation and benefits package to all eligible employees.

County Paid Benefits Include:
Medical - Kaiser Permanente (HMO) or Aetna (PPO)
Dental - Delta Dental or Willamette
Vision - VSP
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
Life Insurance - Basic, Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D), Voluntary Term Life Insurance (VTL)
MetLife Long Term Disability
Voya Voluntary Insurance
Transportation incentives
Employee Assistance Program
Travel Assistance Program
Wellness program
Benefits become effective on the first calendar day of the month following the month in which the employee is hired except if the employee's hire date is the first calendar day of the month, benefits begin on the day of hire. More information about employee benefits is available on the county's website at: Benefits or the Kitsap County Digital Benefits Guide .

*Voluntary benefit options also available at the employee's expense

Retirement:
Employees are covered under the PERS retirement plan provided through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems and Social Security.

Deferred Compensation (IRS Plan 457b): tax-deferred savings program

Holidays
11 paid holidays and 2 additional floating holiday per year, 1 additional floating holiday after 10 years of service.

Vacation Leave
New employees are credited with 48 hours of annual leave upon hire and will be begin accruing at the rate of 8 hours per month starting on their 7th month of employment. Employees may carry over 360 hours from one calendar year to the next. Annual leave accrual will increase upon tenure, as follows:
Upon completion of 2 years: 15 days per year (10.00 hours per month)
Upon completion of 5 years: 20 days per year (13.33 hours per month)
Upon completion of 10 years: 25 days per year (16.67 hours per month)

Sick Leave
All new hires will be credited with 48 hours of sick leave upon hire and will begin accruing at the rate of 8 hours per month starting on their 7th month of employment. Employees may carry over 1200 hours from one calendar year to the next.

***Part-time employees benefit contributions and leave accruals will be prorated***

Additional compensation that you may be eligible for:
Shift differential
Overtime
Stand by pay
Call-back pay

Current County Employees
If you are transferring or promoting into this position you are responsible for reviewing these benefit changes; prior to accepting a position. In addition, it is your responsibility to notify the Auditor's Payroll Division of a change in union status.

Union Membership
This position is covered under AFSCME Local 1308 Courthouse Employees collective bargaining agreement. To view the bargaining agreement please visit our website: https://www.kitsapgov.com/hr/Pages/Collective-Bargaining-Agreements.aspx

Student Loan Forgiveness Opportunities for Kitsap County Employees

Washington State offers several programs that may help eligible employees reduce or even eliminate their student loan debt.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) - Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) | WSAC
Employees working full-time for a public employer may qualify for federal loan forgiveness after making 120 qualifying monthly payments. PSLF allows you to check your eligibility, track your progress, and apply directly through the official PSLF portal.

Washington Health Corps (WHC) - Washington Health Corps | WSAC
Licensed health professionals may be eligible for loan repayment in exchange for serving in critical-shortage areas. Programs include:
• Washington Health Corps Loan Repayment
• Nurse Educator Loan Repayment (NELR)

If you think you might qualify or want to learn more, review the program guides and application details on the websites!

NOTE: This is a general overview of the benefits offered through employment with Kitsap County, and every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy. If any information on this document conflicts or is incorrect with the provisions of the Personnel Manual, applicable laws, policies, rules or official plan documents they will prevail. The Personnel Manual is available at: https://www.kitsap.gov/hr/Documents/Personnel%20Manual%202026/Personnel%20Manual%20-%202026.pdf

Closing Date/Time: Continuous