Hackensack Meridian Health logo
Hackensack Meridian Health
Belle Mead, New Jersey

Peer Recovery Specialist - Full Time - Behavioral Health

Peer Support SpecialistIncludes weekendsFull-Time

Listed compensation

$23.13 Hourly

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

Ask the employer about the work setting, call expectations, nights and shift pattern and time off.

Posted 1h ago · Verified live

Job Description

Our team members are the heart of what makes us better. At Hackensack Meridian Health we help our patients live better, healthier lives — and we help one another to succeed. With a culture rooted in connection and collaboration, our employees are team members. Here, competitive benefits are just the beginning.

It’s also about how we support one another and how we show up for our community. Together, we keep getting better - advancing our mission to transform healthcare and serve as a leader of positive change.

The Peer Recovery Specialist assists in the provision of Behavioral Health Services to clients and families. A Peer specialist works as a role model and mentor in the recovery process.

*This position is based at Carrier, however, the recovery specialist will provide services in other network hospitals.

Responsibilities

A day in the life of a Peer Recovery Specialist at Hackensack Meridian Health includes:

Assists clients in choosing, obtaining, and keeping wellness and healthy lifestyle-related goals and in developing self-management skills.

Compiles and shares self-help, wellness recovery, and healthy lifestyle resources for clients, families, and team members. Selectively uses self-disclosure to inspire, support, and motivate others.

Assists in scheduling integrated health care appointments. Provides assistance and advocacy at appointments and with all follow-up needs.

  • Teaches and assists clients, families, and significant others based on client needs.
  • Assists in the development and facilitation of individual and group-based wellness and recovery activities.

Assess crisis situations, and intervenes as necessary. Informs supervisor and other team members of any crisis.

Serves as a mentor and role model.

Participates as a treatment team member. Collaborates from a peer provider perspective.

Provides individualized services through face-to-face contact onsite or in the community and/or through telephone/video contact or telehealth.

  • Attends supervision as scheduled, with agenda, and follows through with agreed-upon recommendations.
  • Collaborates with other providers to identify and monitor needs and outcomes related to integrated health care.
  • Participates in the Plan Do Check Act process.
  • Follows policy for all clinical documentation and completes within the required timeframe.
  • Ensures critical judgment and decision-making reflect professional guidelines, code of ethics, and utilization of available resources in a collaborative approach.
  • Adheres to HIPPA standards and maintains client confidentiality.
  • Attends training and ongoing staff development opportunities to enhance skills.
  • Adheres to HMH Organizational competencies and standards of behavior.
  • Other duties and/or projects as assigned.

Qualifications

Education, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required

  • High School diploma, general equivalency diploma (GED), and/or GED equivalent programs.
  • Minimum of 1 year of experience in the substance use and/or mental health field.
  • Peer specialist/provider training.
  • Personal lived experience with substance use and/or mental health recovery.
  • Strong verbal and written communication skills.

Education, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Preferred

Associate's degree or higher in psychiatric rehabilitation, wellness coaching, or other related field.

Licenses and Certifications Required

  • National Certified Peer Recovery Support Specialist (NCPRSS) and/or Certified Peer Recovery Specialist (CPRS).
  • Valid Driver's License from a USA state.
  • If you feel the above description speaks directly to your strengths and capabilities, then please apply today!
  • Starting Minimum Rate
  • Minimum rate of $23.13 Hourly

Job Posting Disclosure

HMH is committed to pay equity and transparency for our team members.

The posted rate of pay in this job posting is a reasonable good faith estimate of the minimum base pay for this role at the time of posting in accordance with the New Jersey Pay Transparency Act and does not reflect the full value of our market-competitive total rewards package.

The starting rate of pay is provided for informational purposes only and is not a guarantee of a specific offer.

Posted hourly rates may be stated as an annual salary in the offer and posted annual salaries may be stated as an hourly rate in the offer, depending on the level and nature of the job duties and credentials of the candidate.

The base compensation determined at the time of the offer may be different than the posted rate of pay based on a number of non-discriminatory factors, including but not limited to: Labor Market Data: Compensation is benchmarked against market data to ensure competitiveness.

Experience: Years of relevant work experience. Education and Certifications: Level of education attained, including specialized certifications, credentials, completed apprenticeship programs or advanced training. Skills: Demonstrated proficiency in relevant skills and competencies.

Geographic Location: Cost of living and market rates for the specific location. Internal Equity: Compensation is determined in a manner consistent with compensation ranges for similar roles within the organization.

Budget and Grant Funding: Departmental budgets and any grant funding associated with the job position may impact the pay that can be offered. Some jobs may also be eligible for performance-based incentives, bonuses, or commissions not reflected in the starting rate.

Certain positions may also be eligible for shift differentials for work performed on evening, night, or weekend shifts.

In addition to our compensation for full-time and part-time (20+ hours/week) job positions, HMH offers a comprehensive benefits package, including health, dental, vision, paid leave, tuition reimbursement, and retirement benefits.

Qualifications

Education
Professional certificate or licensure

Key Skills

Peer supportMentoringCrisis interventionCase managementHIPAA complianceSubstance use recoveryMental health supportTeam collaboration

Behavioral Health Career Context

Behavioral Health pay on WeekdayDoc is down 6.9% vs. the prior quarter (through Oct 2026).

The cost-of-living index for New Jersey is 108.8 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$48k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $44k in an average-cost state. 63.8% of New Jersey clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Behavioral Health by the numbers
MeasureThis jobMarket
Cost-of-living adjusted pay~$44k in purchasing powerNew Jersey index 108.8 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Sign-on & loan repaymentnot statedUS healthcare professional listings: 0% state a sign-on bonus · 5% offer loan repayment96 active listings, Nov 2026
New Behavioral Health listings860 in the last 30 days551 the 30 days before (+56%)U.S., first seen on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Behavioral Health pay trend−6.9% vs prior quarter—through Oct 2026
Sources: WeekdayDoc live listing index, BEA Regional Price Parities (2024); as of Nov 2026. Same values as the Weekday Verdict and Market Insights on this page.

Top Peer Support Specialist Jobs

2 matches · ranked by pay
#1

Peer Counselor - Providence Crisis Stabilization Center

Providence · Anchorage, Alaska

$22.44-$34.33/hr
#2

Peer Counselor 2

Confidential Employer · Somerset County, New Jersey

$42k

Work-life snapshot

median 2.8this job 1.5
Better work-life than 10% of Behavioral Health (Peer Support) listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 44 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

  • Includes weekends

Living in Belle Mead

Median resident rent
$2,627/mo
Residents’ average commute
38 min
State income tax
Up to 10.8%
Sources & methodology

Sources: U.S. Census ACS 2024 five-year.

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