Director, Peer Support Services

Our Team Values

Integrity

• Perform at the highest standards. We strive for best in class.
• Be honest in our interactions and develop trusting relationships.
• Take personal, and where appropriate, team responsibility for results.
• Acknowledge what we don’t know.

Openness

• Demonstrate a willingness to continuously learn, grow, and change.
• Celebrate our differences.
• Be present, curious, and receptive to new and different ideas and situations.

Mindfulness

• Ask for help and reciprocate help when needed.
• Respect each other’s perspectives, experiences, and sensitivities.
• Be mindful of our individual impact on the work environment.
• Speak with thoughtfulness. We think before we speak.

Collaboration

• Show a willingness to give up personal ownership for the greater good/outcome.
• Work together to foster individual and organizational growth.
• Create an environment where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
• Have a holistic view of the work of the organization.
• Remain flexible to achieve optimal outcomes.

THE POSITION

The Director, Peer Support Services (PSS), provides strategic leadership for DBSA’s peer support portfolio, including the Chapter Network, National Online Support Groups, Peer Specialist Course and Workforce Development, and related initiatives within the scope of the PSS department. As a member of DBSA’s management team, the Director leads department-wide strategic planning and ensures effective execution of priorities in collaboration with the CEO and senior leadership. The Director is responsible for guiding program teams in implementing high-quality, scalable peer support services while overseeing the collection, analysis, evaluation, and reporting of program data using a Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) framework. This role ensures that data and evaluation findings inform decision-making, program design, and long-term sustainability. In partnership with Finance, the Director develops and manages annual program budgets and maintains a strong understanding of program costs and financial performance. The Director also collaborates closely with the Development team to identify, secure, and steward funding opportunities—including grants and contracts—to sustain and expand PSS programs. Through cross-functional leadership, the Director ensures alignment between strategy, operations, data, and outcome-driven impact across all Peer Support Services initiatives.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

The Director of Peer Support Services position includes the following primary responsibilities:

Support Groups & Chapter Network

• Provide strategic oversight and leadership for DBSA’s Chapter Network; report program performance and key issues to the CEO and Board.
• Manage high‑level relationships with peer support partners, research partners, and volunteer leadership bodies.
• Collaborate with Development to increase program funding through opportunity identification, grant strategy, and proposal development.
• Oversee chapter lifecycle governance (formation, compliance, and dissolution) and resolve escalated support group and chapter issues.
• Establish and enforce program‑wide SOPs, including oversight of technology platforms and systems.
• Lead intentional program expansion, outreach, and marketing strategies, prioritizing equity and the needs of marginalized communities.
• Oversee the BD2 project to ensure strategic alignment, progress toward goals, relationship management, and quality assurance.
• Represent DBSA at conferences and chapter network convenings as needed.

Peer Specialist Course

• Provide strategic leadership to achieve quarterly and annual program and revenue goals.
• Drive execution of strategic planning goals to ensure long-term sustainability and scalability of the Peer Specialist Course.
• Oversee public and contract enrollment, improving registration processes for efficiency and clarity.
• Partner with Finance and Development to manage budgets, track revenue, and secure scholarship funding.
• Develop scalable operational systems and internal SOPs aligned across the organization.
• Maintain compliance with SAMHSA standards and strengthen DBSA’s partnership with the U.S. Veterans Health Administration (VHA).
• Expand the Peer Specialist Course program to address national workforce gaps through program growth, marketing, and outreach.
• Collaborate closely with the Senior Program Manager to enhance curriculum quality and develop new DBSA training offerings.

QUALIFICATIONS AND RELATED WORK EXPERIENCE

Required

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
• Demonstrated commitment to DBSA’s mission and a recovery‑oriented, strengths‑based approach to mental health and peer support.
• 5–7 years of progressive leadership experience in a nonprofit or mission‑driven organization, including managing and mentoring teams at a senior level.
• Experience leading or supporting peer support or mental health–related programs, including navigating or overseeing crisis situations.
• Strong understanding of the peer support model and the role of Peer Specialists.
• Proven ability to lead strategically, manage complex initiatives, and translate goals into effective team execution.
• Demonstrated success in revenue growth, fundraising, or securing grants and contracts.
• Expertise in data management, analysis, and program evaluation, with the ability to use data to inform decision‑making and continuous quality improvement.
• Experience developing and managing program budgets and understanding program costs.
• Strong communicator and facilitator with the ability to lead, coach, and collaborate across teams and stakeholders in a technology‑enabled, largely asynchronous environment (e.g., Microsoft 365, Teams).
• Demonstrated ability to influence and build relationships with diverse stakeholders, including volunteers, partners, and community leaders.
• Commitment to equity‑centered practice and experience integrating DEI principles into program design and leadership.
• Ability to model and promote hope, recovery, and wellness for individuals living with mental health, trauma, and substance use challenges.

Preferred

• Experience working with healthcare or public health data and familiarity with healthcare payment models for peer support services.
• Experience leading volunteer committees, peer‑led networks, or chapter‑based organizations.
• Familiarity with CRM systems, particularly Raiser’s Edge.
• A master’s degree is preferred in Public Health, Social Work, Mental Health Counseling, or a similar field is preferred.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS, ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS

• Ability to perform work utilizing a computer and a telephone for extended periods of time.
• Ability to travel by air or ground transportation as required in performing the work.
• Ability to frequently interact with others and work in environments with others
• Ability to demonstrate regular and predictable attendance
• Ability to multi-task, shift priorities
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build trust, rapport, and effective working relationships with diverse stakeholders.
• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to convey complex information clearly in verbal and written formats.
• High emotional intelligence with the capacity to navigate sensitive conversations, support staff, and motivate teams.
• Strategic thinking skills with the ability to develop long-term plans, anticipate challenges, and identify opportunities for growth.
• Strong organizational and time management skills, including the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
• Sound judgment and decision-making abilities that reflect a balance between analysis, experience, and organizational values.
• Ability to lead, coach, and mentor staff in a supportive and accountable manner.
• Adaptability and resilience, especially when responding to changing external conditions, funder expectations, or organizational priorities.
• Demonstrated commitment to collaboration, teamwork, and fostering an inclusive, respectful workplace culture.

DEDICATION TO AN EQUITABLE WORKPLACE

DBSA is committed to equal employment opportunity for all employees, and to providing employees with a work environment free of any form of discrimination and harassment. DBSA is committed to achieving a diverse workforce through our equal opportunity and nondiscrimination policies in all aspects of employment, including recruitment, hiring, promotions, transfers, discipline, terminations, wage and salary administration, benefits, and training. At DBSA, we make a point to celebrate our differences and respect each other’s unique perspectives. In fact, it is core to the work we do.

This is a full-time, exempt position with generous benefits, including health, dental, vision, disability, 401K, and life insurance. The salary range for this position is $80,000 – $100,000.

The position will primarily work standard hours of 8:30 am – 5:00 pm, with flexible start/end times possible. Periodic evening or weekend hours may be required.

This position is fully remote through 2026, with required travel to Chicago for quarterly leadership meetings and additional meetings as needed. While the role is currently remote, candidates should be open to a potential return to a hybrid or in-office model in Chicago beginning in 2027. Local Chicago candidates are preferred, and the position is open only to residents of Illinois.