U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Peer Specialist (Facility Based)
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Indianapolis, Indiana, us, 46262
Join to apply for the
Peer Specialist (Facility Based)
role at
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs .
Position may be filled only with a Veteran that meets statutory requirements detailed in the qualifications section. The role is in the Substance Use Disorders Recovery Program (SUDRP), serving veterans with use disorders and other conditions such as depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Peers will provide individual and group services to assist veterans in achieving their recovery goals.
Base pay range $45,378.00/yr - $80,182.00/yr
Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement—12/22/2025. Time‑In‑Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time‑in‑grade requirements by the closing date. An SF‑50 showing your time‑in‑grade eligibility must be submitted with your application. If the most recent SF‑50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate your one‑year time‑in‑grade—please provide an additional SF‑50 if needed. Time‑In‑Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement and to current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointments.
Basic Requirements
Statutory Requirements
– Section 405 of Public Law 110‑387 (38 U.S.C. 7402(b)(13)) requires a veteran who has recovered or is recovering from a mental health condition and is certified by a non‑profit entity engaged in peer specialist training or a state meeting relevant requirements.
Length of Experience in Recovery
– at least 1 year of recovery from a mental health condition.
Successful recovery
is exemplified by a veteran who manages symptoms, pursues a healthy lifestyle, lives independently, is employed or volunteers significant time, has meaningful relationships, and is socially involved in community or veteran organizations.
Important notice
– veteran is defined as a person who served in active military, naval, air, or space service and was discharged under conditions other than dishonorable.
Restricted to veterans
– see important notice.
Eligible individuals
– current permanent employees of the VA, federal employees on a career or career‑conditional appointment, former competitive civil service employees eligible for reinstatement, veterans eligible under VEOA, ADA, 30% DAV, Employment Program for People with Disabilities, and those eligible for CTAP/ICTAP.
Must provide copies of DD‑214 and Peer Specialist Certification.
English language proficiency – proficiency in basic written and spoken English.
Minimum grade level qualifications
– at least one year of specialized experience at the next lower graded level with relevant mental health recovery experience. Specific experience requirements for GS‑6 to GS‑9 are summarized below. GS‑6: one year specialized experience plus six months of graduate education or a one‑year post‑bachelor internship.
GS‑7: one year specialized experience plus one full year of graduate education.
GS‑8: one year specialized experience plus one and a half years of graduate education.
GS‑9: one year specialized experience plus two full years of graduate education or a master’s degree.
Duties
Function as an interdisciplinary team member assisting physicians and other personnel in a rehabilitation treatment program.
Perform therapeutic and supportive tasks, including assisting veterans, modeling coping techniques, advocating for services, and supporting self‑management.
Participate in service, training, consultation, and other professional activities of VA health care services as a fully vested member of the multidisciplinary team.
Use personal recovery experiences to coach veterans in self‑management of health conditions and pursue personal wellness.
Observe behaviors indicating difficulty adapting or responding to treatment, complete documentation, and report concerns to the treatment team promptly.
Conduct individual and group meetings to teach veterans coping strategies and to combat negative self‑talk.
Handle crisis interventions for veterans and address emergent situations independently when instructions are not available.
Inform veterans about VA and community supports and resources.
Maintain knowledge of current trends and developments in holistic approaches to wellness and recovery.
Perform other related duties as assigned.
Work schedule: 8:00 am—4:30 pm. Telework may be authorized; eligibility discussed during interview. This position is not virtual.
Position description/PD#: Peer Specialist (Facility Based) / PD99319‑99322. Relocation/recruitment incentives: not authorized. Promotion potential: multi‑grade career ladder; selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to full performance level.
Seniority level
Entry level
Employment type
Full‑time
Job function
Management and Manufacturing
Government Administration
Referrals increase your chances of interviewing at U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs by 2x.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Peer Specialist (Facility Based)
role at
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs .
Position may be filled only with a Veteran that meets statutory requirements detailed in the qualifications section. The role is in the Substance Use Disorders Recovery Program (SUDRP), serving veterans with use disorders and other conditions such as depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Peers will provide individual and group services to assist veterans in achieving their recovery goals.
Base pay range $45,378.00/yr - $80,182.00/yr
Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement—12/22/2025. Time‑In‑Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time‑in‑grade requirements by the closing date. An SF‑50 showing your time‑in‑grade eligibility must be submitted with your application. If the most recent SF‑50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate your one‑year time‑in‑grade—please provide an additional SF‑50 if needed. Time‑In‑Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement and to current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointments.
Basic Requirements
Statutory Requirements
– Section 405 of Public Law 110‑387 (38 U.S.C. 7402(b)(13)) requires a veteran who has recovered or is recovering from a mental health condition and is certified by a non‑profit entity engaged in peer specialist training or a state meeting relevant requirements.
Length of Experience in Recovery
– at least 1 year of recovery from a mental health condition.
Successful recovery
is exemplified by a veteran who manages symptoms, pursues a healthy lifestyle, lives independently, is employed or volunteers significant time, has meaningful relationships, and is socially involved in community or veteran organizations.
Important notice
– veteran is defined as a person who served in active military, naval, air, or space service and was discharged under conditions other than dishonorable.
Restricted to veterans
– see important notice.
Eligible individuals
– current permanent employees of the VA, federal employees on a career or career‑conditional appointment, former competitive civil service employees eligible for reinstatement, veterans eligible under VEOA, ADA, 30% DAV, Employment Program for People with Disabilities, and those eligible for CTAP/ICTAP.
Must provide copies of DD‑214 and Peer Specialist Certification.
English language proficiency – proficiency in basic written and spoken English.
Minimum grade level qualifications
– at least one year of specialized experience at the next lower graded level with relevant mental health recovery experience. Specific experience requirements for GS‑6 to GS‑9 are summarized below. GS‑6: one year specialized experience plus six months of graduate education or a one‑year post‑bachelor internship.
GS‑7: one year specialized experience plus one full year of graduate education.
GS‑8: one year specialized experience plus one and a half years of graduate education.
GS‑9: one year specialized experience plus two full years of graduate education or a master’s degree.
Duties
Function as an interdisciplinary team member assisting physicians and other personnel in a rehabilitation treatment program.
Perform therapeutic and supportive tasks, including assisting veterans, modeling coping techniques, advocating for services, and supporting self‑management.
Participate in service, training, consultation, and other professional activities of VA health care services as a fully vested member of the multidisciplinary team.
Use personal recovery experiences to coach veterans in self‑management of health conditions and pursue personal wellness.
Observe behaviors indicating difficulty adapting or responding to treatment, complete documentation, and report concerns to the treatment team promptly.
Conduct individual and group meetings to teach veterans coping strategies and to combat negative self‑talk.
Handle crisis interventions for veterans and address emergent situations independently when instructions are not available.
Inform veterans about VA and community supports and resources.
Maintain knowledge of current trends and developments in holistic approaches to wellness and recovery.
Perform other related duties as assigned.
Work schedule: 8:00 am—4:30 pm. Telework may be authorized; eligibility discussed during interview. This position is not virtual.
Position description/PD#: Peer Specialist (Facility Based) / PD99319‑99322. Relocation/recruitment incentives: not authorized. Promotion potential: multi‑grade career ladder; selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to full performance level.
Seniority level
Entry level
Employment type
Full‑time
Job function
Management and Manufacturing
Government Administration
Referrals increase your chances of interviewing at U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs by 2x.
#J-18808-Ljbffr