Title: Health Counselor-Peer Recovery Specialist #MR023

State Role Title: Counselor II

Hiring Range: $48,000-$51,000

Pay Band: 4

Agency: Virginia Department of Health

Location: MT ROGERS -TW

Agency Website: www.vdh.virginia.gov

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

We are seeking a Health Counselor/Peer Recovery Specialist. This position will be a part of our mobile unit and primary job duties will be coordination of services for clients who seek services on the mobile units, including transporting to appointments, assistance with paperwork completion, working closely with two Community Service Boards to reduce barriers, provide education and training to clients, empowering individuals to seek the care and resources needed. The selected candidate will need to work non-traditional hours, including weekends and be onsite at all events across all 8 of our localities, Bristol City, Washington County, Smyth County, Wythe County, Bland County, Carroll County, Galax City and Grayson County.

Responsible for independently identifying and contacting persons known or suspected of being exposed to or at high risk of exposure to communicable diseases such as tuberculosis, syphilis, gonorrhea, HIV/AIDS, and others. Duties include alerting people to their health risks, behavior changes needed to reduce risks to the individual or to others, resources and methods available to treat and control the disease as well as to contain further transmission of disease. Follows up on contacts to determine if they have received treatment, changed their behavior to reduce health risk, and procured other available services as necessary to ensure improved health care.

**This is a restricted position, which is solely funded by the Opioid Abatement Authority grant for a 12 month period ending June 30, 2026. The availability of funding is scheduled for review before the grant expiration date and periodically thereafter. Continued employment is contingent on the continued availability of funds.**

The Virginia Department of Health offers 12 paid holidays, medical, dental, vision and life insurance, retirement plans (including 401a Cash Match and 457 Deferred Compensation Plan) as well as sick, family/personal, and annual leave.

Minimum Qualifications

• Knowledge of and/or experience in public health practices, HIV, STIs (e.g., chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis), HBV/HCV, and other communicable diseases; experience performing phlebotomy
• Effective oral and written communication, organizational and decision-making skills
• Ability to listen, understand and empathize in a culturally sensitive manner, and use motivational skills to build rapport with clients and engagement in disease intervention services; ability to work with diverse populations in diverse settings; develop and make presentations
• Ability to recognize, analyze and solve problems; perform basic mathematical calculations; conduct accurate data entry; maintain confidentiality; comply with program and data security policies and procedures; and work independently during various hours and settings (e.g., field, non-clinical and clinical, office)
• Experience working under pressure (e.g., meeting deadlines, managing competing priorities)
• Possess skill or knowledge of case management; basic computer knowledge/skills, including word processing, electronic mail and data base management
• Effective oral and written communication; organizational; and decision-making skills; bilingual skills are beneficial

Additional Considerations

• Experience working in a social service, public health, or healthcare environment
• Certified as a Peer Recovery Specialist

Special Instructions

You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to “Your Application” in your account to check the status of your application for this position.

VDH accepts only on-line applications. Faxed, mailed, or e-mailed applications will not be considered. Applications are accepted until 11:55 p.m. on the job closing date. Applications and/or resumes should include relevant work history which indicates your qualifications for this position.

Employment is contingent upon satisfactory results of a state and federal criminal history background check and the Department of Social Service’s Child Abuse and Neglect Central Registry check, U.S. HHSIG Exclusion List check, employment reference check and E-Verify. Other financial, credit, driving, background checks or completion of Statement of Economic Interests may be required for certain positions.

It is the policy of the Commonwealth and VDH that all aspects of human resource management be conducted without regard to race (or traits historically associated with race including hair texture, hair type, and protective hairstyles such as braids, locks, and twists); sex; color; national origin; religion; sexual orientation; gender identity or expression; age; veteran status; political affiliation; disability; genetic information; and pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions. VDH employees have a shared Code of Ethics, which can be found in the bottom banner of our website: www.vdh.virginia.gov.

If you have been affected by DHRM Policy 1.30 layoff and possess a valid Interagency Placement Screening Form (Yellow Card) or a Preferential Hiring Form (Blue Card), you must submit the card before the closing date for this position. The Card may be submitted with the state application as an attachment.

As a V3 (Virginia Values Veterans) employer VDH Welcomes Veterans to apply!

Supplemental Questions: You may be required to respond to position-specific questions at the end of this application. This information will help us evaluate your credentials and qualifications for the job. Failure to respond to any questions may disqualify you from further consideration.

VDH requires all Health-Care Personnel (HCP) to provide documentation of immunization or evidence of immunity to the following: hepatitis B, measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella; a one-time dose of tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap) vaccine regardless of the interval since the last dose of tetanus-diphtheria (Td) vaccine was administered (Td or Tdap boosters shall be received every 10 years); and the current year's seasonal influenza vaccination.

Contact Information

Name: Jessica Bennett

Phone: N/A

Email: jessica.bennett@vdh.virginia.gov

In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter. Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at 800-552-5019.

Note: Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1, 2022- February 29, 2024, can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.