Director, Peer Support Services

Position Title: Director, Peer Support Services

Reports to: CEO

Vision: DBSA Peer Support Services Team

The DBSA Peer Support Services team builds a community and workforce of peers who find unique paths to wellness while inspiring others to do the same.

The Peer Support Services team provides a platform for peers - with a lived experience of depression or bipolar disorder, substance disorders and/or trauma - on their wellness journey to foster hope and serve as valuable role models for those who are also walking their unique roads to wellness. To address the gap in mental health care access, the PSS team supports both the development and sustainability of peer-led support groups and creates and hosts training for support group facilitators and Peer Specialists at large and pursuing state peer credentials.

SCOPE OF ROLE

The Director, Peer Support Services (PSS), leads the PSS department and DBSA peer programs, including DBSA’s 80+ Chapter Network, 30+ National Online Support Groups, Peer Specialist Training and Workforce Development, and new projects and programs that fall under the scope of the PSS team.

The Director will be a member of DBSA’s management team and will lead the strategic plan for the Peer Support Services department in collaboration with the CEO and the management team. This role will work with the finance team to prepare annual budgets for these programs and therefore is responsible for understanding program costs. Additionally, the Director will work with the development team to identify new funding opportunities, including contracts and grants, to sustain and grow the PSS programs. DBSA continues to grow as we accept new projects as part of our work. The Director will oversee any new projects that fall within the scope of the Peer Services Team.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Support Groups & Chapter Network

• Oversee the management and strategic plan for the Chapter Network and report on the program's status to the CEO and board of directors.
• Manage partner relationship with DBSA’s peer support and research partners. Support volunteer committees and councils.
• Work with the development team to increase program funding by helping identify new opportunities, review grant applications, and write proposals for new projects.
• Assist in answering chapter questions regarding their incorporation & 501(c)3 status. Assist with the formation and dissolution of chapters. Answer escalated support group and chapter services issues.
• Create and enforce standard operating procedures for use of technology in the program, from Raisor’s Edge to Smartsheet’s.
• Identify the needs of the audience to create intentional program expansion, prioritizing the needs of marginalized communities. Develop marketing plans.
• Travel to conferences and DBSA’s Chapter Network may be required.

Peer Specialist Training

• Provide strategic direction and leadership to forecast and achieve quarterly and yearly goals.
• Oversee the enrollment process for Public and Contract course attendees and ensure tasks are completed efficiently.
• Develop a further streamlined registration process to improve efficiency and enhance applicant's understanding of the training program.
• Collaborate with the Finance team to create and maintain revenue tracking and reporting and yearly budgets.
• Strategize with the Development team to secure funding for course scholarships.
• Strive to formulate organization wide operational systems which easily connect outward from PSS team.
• Further create effective internal team Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
• Maintain and nurture DBSA’s long-standing history with the U.S. Veterans Health Administration (VHA) to meet core competencies for DBSA’s Peer Specialist Training curriculum as set by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
• Understand SAMHSA’s call that the country needs 700,000 state certified Peer Specialists to meet the workforce gap that only has 23,000, to grow the Peer Specialist Training program to meet the gap in accessing mental healthcare nationwide.
• Promote increasing public awareness and education on the role of Peer Specialists and the workforce through comprehensive marketing and outreach campaigns at state and community-based levels.
• Work carefully with Senior Program Manager’s expertise to always enhance DBSA’s Peer Course curriculum – deferring to Senior Program Manager’s expertise as state of IL credentialed peer specialist – and discover new training opportunities for DBSA such as replacing Mental Health First Aid with a to be created DBSA proprietary offer as well as other options such as imbedding the DBSA Support Group facilitator training within the Public version of the DBSA Peer Course

QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum

• Bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited university or college
• Commitment to DBSA’s mission, vision, and strategy.
• 5-7 years managing teams and working in a non-profit/mission driven org at the director level; experience managing/mentoring teams. Mental health direct care experience in supporting peer support services preferred.
• Experience working with individuals in crisis or handling crisis situations.
• History of successfully generating new revenue streams and improving fundraising results.
• Demonstrated excellent project management, organizational, analytical planning, and critical thinking skills.
• Demonstrated advanced coaching, communication, and facilitating abilities with ability to operate comfortably in an asynchronous environment, primarily through electronic communications such as Teams and Microsoft 365 online (SharePoint, OneDrive, OneNote, etc.) is required.
• Demonstrated experience planning events, leading volunteer committees and councils. Demonstrated ability to build relationships and influence others by interacting with a broad range of stakeholders with different interests and needs is required.
• Experienced Component Relations Professional (CRP) working with chapters at a not-for-profits/mission-based organization, experience with separately incorporated components is preferred.
• CRM tools experience, with Raisers Edge experience preferred.
• Ability to think creatively and problem solve.
• Experience working on projects that further DEI initiatives
• Skilled in organizational and cultural team building initiatives.
• Proficient in mentoring the professional development of team members.
• Peer Specialist or Recovery Coach training certification preferred but not required.
• Ability to role model and convey a message of hope and wellness for people living with trauma, mood and/or substance disorders
• Ability to communicate/coordinate internally and externally in a professional, timely and constructive manner. Familiar with and demonstrates a strengths-based positive perspective

Preferred

• Experience with Smartsheet's is a plus.
• Experience and expertise with SharePoint is a plus.
• Crisis response training is preferred.
• Certified Association Executive (CAE) certification is highly desirable.
• Master’s Degree is preferred.

SALARY AND BENEFITS

This is a full-time position with benefits including health, dental, vision, disability, 401K and life insurance. The salary range is $95,000 - $105,000, depending on qualifications. Position will primarily work standard hours of 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. CST, flexible start/end times possible.

Please direct resumes and cover letter* to: DBSA, E-mail: (preferred) jobs@DBSAlliance.org.