About the role

Benevolence Farm provides transitional employment, safe housing, and community healing for women and gender expansive people leaving incarceration. The Substance Use Recovery Specialist’s primary role is to support our formerly incarcerated residents and alumni who are in recovery from substance use.

You would join a team of reentry-focused Certified Peer Support Specialists who bring both lived experience and professional expertise to our community. This position reports to the Reentry Wellness Director.

Schedule and location

5 days per week (40 hours), including at least one evening per week and one Saturday or Sunday per week. This position would include on-call responsibilities, where staff carry an on-call phone for urgent resident needs during hours staff are not on-site (approximately 10 days per month, including one full weekend).

The majority of in-person work will take place in Alamance County. Our primary location is between Graham and Saxapahaw.

Pay and benefits

Salary: $50,000 a year

Benefits: QSEHRA health benefit, paid time off (16 paid holidays, 10 sick days per year, and a minimum of two weeks of vacation per year), budget for annual professional development

Primary responsibilities

Support residents in substance use recovery, including but not limited to accompanying them to recovery programs such as Narcotics Anonymous or Celebrate Recovery, creating and supporting recovery plans, and implementing resident wellness plans.
Provide transportation for residents to and from the Farm and critical appointments.
Support the Reentry Wellness Director in creating a safe and healthy living environment for residents, ranging from general house upkeep to conflict resolution and mediation.
Plan and facilitate weekly peer support groups with residents.
Plan and attend recreational outings accessible to all residents to infuse fun, educational, and diverse experiences into the program.
Assist residents with applications to benefits systems that support wellness such as SNAP, Medicaid, and other government benefit and social programs.
Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Required: active North Carolina Peer Support Certification, or willingness to obtain certification within the first 90 days of employment. A valid North Carolina driver’s license, a vehicle, and auto insurance coverage are also required.

Lived experience with substance use disorder, or extensive knowledge of substance use disorder
Familiarity with principles of harm reduction
Understanding and willingness to learn about people affected by the criminal legal system
Keen awareness of racial, gender, age, and LGBTQIA+ equity frameworks and trauma-informed care for formerly incarcerated people
Curious, kind, open-minded, and invested in creating safe communities outside of policing and prisons
Understanding of conflict as a natural part of our relationships, and interest in deepening emotional intelligence of self, residents, and staff to prevent, address, and repair harm in community
Excellent writing, verbal, and interpersonal skills and strong organizational skills
Strong self-awareness and self-care practices, including boundaries between work and personal life
Competent in Google Drive and data systems, and willing to learn and receive training in these areas
Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends
Experience navigating systems, including applying for government benefits (Medicaid, SNAP, Disability), ID access, and similar
Experience working with people affected by mental health disorders is a plus

Candidates with previous involvement in the criminal legal system are encouraged to apply.

How to apply

Submit the Substance Use Recovery Specialist application by 5 p.m. on October 15.

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