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MVP Recovery
Chester, Pennsylvania

SUD Counselor/ Assessor

CounselorNo weekendsFull-Time

Compensation

Pay not listed

The week · per this posting · Monday – Friday

Ask the employer about the pay range, the work setting, call expectations and time off.

Posted 1 day ago · Verified live

Job Description

Job Title: Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Counselor/ Assessor

Position Type: Full-Time Location: Upper Darby, PA Schedule: Monday – Friday 8am-4:30pm

Position Summary

MVP Recovery is seeking a dependable and motivated SUD Counselor / Assessor to join our outpatient substance use disorder treatment program for our new office in Upper Darby, PA!

This full-time clinical position combines substance use disorder assessments with individual and group counseling. The Counselor / Assessor will conduct comprehensive assessments, utilize ASAM Criteria to determine the appropriate level of care, provide outpatient counseling services, and connect individuals with appropriate treatment and community resources based on their assessed needs.

The ideal candidate demonstrates strong clinical judgment, excellent communication and organizational skills, and a high level of initiative, accountability, and follow-through.

Key Responsibilities

  • Conduct comprehensive substance use disorder assessments and clinical interviews.
  • Utilize ASAM Criteria to determine and document appropriate level-of-care recommendations.
  • Identify treatment needs and connect individuals with appropriate internal or external services and resources.
  • Coordinate with internal staff, including Certified Recovery Specialists (CRS), and outside providers when referrals or additional levels of care are needed.
  • Provide individual SUD counseling and facilitate therapeutic and psychoeducational groups.
  • Develop individualized treatment plans and monitor client progress toward treatment goals.
  • Utilize evidence-informed approaches, including Motivational Interviewing, Stages of Change, relapse prevention, and trauma-informed practices.
  • Recognize co-occurring behavioral health concerns and make appropriate referrals.
  • Utilize effective verbal de-escalation and crisis-intervention skills when needed.
  • Complete assessments, progress notes, treatment plans, referrals, and other required clinical documentation accurately and within established timeframes.
  • Participate in clinical supervision, case consultation, staff meetings, and required training.

Qualifications

Candidates must meet applicable Pennsylvania DDAP requirements for the position, including a qualifying education and experience pathway such as:

Master's degree in counseling, social work, psychology, behavioral health, or a related human services field; or

Bachelor's degree in an applicable field with at least one year of clinical experience in drug and alcohol treatment

Preferred Experience & Skills

  • ASAM training and experience determining appropriate levels of care.
  • Experience conducting SUD assessments.
  • Experience providing individual counseling and facilitating groups.
  • Knowledge of substance use disorders, co-occurring conditions, recovery, and relapse prevention.
  • Strong de-escalation and client-engagement skills.
  • Strong clinical documentation skills.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
  • Strong organizational, time-management, and multitasking abilities.
  • Ability to work independently and collaboratively as part of a multidisciplinary team.
  • Experience with electronic health records and clinical documentation systems.
  • Experience in a Pennsylvania SUD treatment setting preferred.

What We're Looking For

We are looking for someone who is reliable, compassionate, organized, and clinically confident, with a strong work ethic and the ability to effectively balance assessment and counseling responsibilities.

Initiative and follow-through are essential. The successful candidate takes ownership of responsibilities, completes documentation and follow-up in a timely manner, communicates effectively with clients and team members, and ensures individuals are appropriately connected to services based on their assessed needs.

MVP Recovery is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Benefits

We offer a competitive compensation package, opportunities for professional development, supportive clinical supervision, and a collaborative work environment dedicated to helping individuals achieve lasting recovery.

If you are passionate about making a meaningful difference in the lives of individuals seeking recovery and wellness, we encourage you to apply.

Qualifications

Education
Master's degree (postgraduate degree)

Key Skills

Substance use disorder counselingClinical assessmentGroup facilitationTreatment planningTrauma-informed careCase managementMultidisciplinary collaboration

Substance Use Counseling — Counselor Career Context

Of the 50 active Substance Use / Addiction Counselor listings this role was benchmarked against, 10% are remote, 26% have no call, 86% require no weekends.

The cost-of-living index for Pennsylvania is 97.6 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)). 61.7% of Pennsylvania clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Work-Life Balance Analysis

WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates SUD Counselor/ Assessor at MVP Recovery a 6.4 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as good. This places the position in the Above average in Substance Use / Addiction Counselor — ranked against 1,008 active Substance Use / Addiction Counselor listings on WeekdayDoc. Contributing factors include no weekend requirements.

Top Substance Use / Addiction Counselor Jobs

46 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution46 jobs · 39 employers

10
<$60k
9
$60k-70k
14
$70k-80k
9
$80k-90k
4
$90k+

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks41 jobs · 39 employers

401k / retirement match
95%
CME allowance
51%
Sign-on bonus
39%
Loan repayment
39%
PSLF eligible
22%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Sup, Substance Abuse Counselor

University of Rochester · Henrietta, New York

$69k-$96k
#2

Certified Addictions Counselor (CAC-I and CAC-II)Contract

T and N Services and Solutions · Washington, District of Columbia

$40-$45/hr
#3

Therapist, Substance Abuse Counselor, Behavioral Health

$69k-$93k
#4

Substance Use Disorder Counselor

$43.39 /Hr
+ 44 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 6.1this job 6.4
Better work-life than 70% of Substance Use / Addiction Counselor listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 1,008 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

  • No weekends

Living in Chester

Typical market rent
$1,338/mo
Residents’ average commute
23 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
102.6
State income tax
Up to 3.1%
Sources & methodology

Sources: Zillow market rents (Aug 2026), U.S. Census ACS 2024 five-year.

BEA 2024 · Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

City-level figures. Not a cost-of-living guarantee.

MVP Recovery logo

About MVP Recovery

Hospitals and Health Care
Media, Pennsylvania
11-50 employees

Benefits & Perks

Competitive compensation package
Professional development opportunities
Supportive clinical supervision
Collaborative work environment