Job Description
The VA Palo Alto Healthcare System is hiring a Lead Peer Specialist to lead a team of Peer Specialists and Without Compensation (WOC) peer support employees.
In this role, you will facilitate, coordinate, coach, and problem-solve with the peer support staff team, ensuring the organization's strategic plan, mission, vision, and values are integrated into the team's goals and services.
You will act as the recognized liaison between the peer support staff team and the supervisor, enabling the team to deliver improved quality, quantity, and timely services to Veterans.
This position is located at the Menlo Park VA facility and is open to veterans who have recovered or are recovering from a mental health condition and hold a current peer specialist certification.
Salary & Compensation
Salary: $84,971 - $110,456 per year.
Qualification
To qualify for this GS-10 Lead Peer Specialist position, you must be a veteran who meets statutory peer specialist requirements, including certification and at least one year of recovery from a mental health condition. Current federal employees must also meet time-in-grade requirements.
- Must be a U.S. Citizen.
- Must be a veteran (served in active military, naval, air, or space service and discharged under conditions other than dishonorable).
- Must have a full, current, and unrestricted peer specialist certification from a not-for-profit entity or state.
- Must have at least 1 year of recovery from a mental health condition (mental illness and/or substance use disorder), demonstrated by managing symptoms, living independently, being employed or volunteering, and having meaningful relationships.
- Must be proficient in basic written and spoken English.
- Time-In-Grade: Current federal employees must have served 52 weeks at the GS-09 level (any occupation) within the past 52 weeks.
- Specialized Experience: At least one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-09, including post-personal mental health recovery experience as a mentor providing support to others in mental health and/or addiction recovery, or equivalent work involving in-person communication to support others in mental health recovery. At this level, work must have been performed with considerable independence, making recomm…
- No educational substitution at this grade level.
- Selective Service Registration required for males born after 12/31/1959.
- Subject to background/security investigation.
Duties & Responsibilities
- Lead a team of Peer Specialists and WOC peer support employees within a common supervisory structure.
- Facilitate, coordinate, coach, and problem-solve with peer support staff team members.
- Act as the recognized liaison between the peer support staff team and the supervisor.
- Ensure the organization's strategic plan, mission, vision, and values are communicated to and integrated into the team's strategies, goals, objectives, work plans, products, and services.
- Articulate and communicate assignments, projects, problems to be solved, actionable events, milestones, and program issues, including deadlines and time frames for completion.
- Enable the peer support provider team to deliver improved quality, quantity, and timely services to Veterans.
- Make recommendations to the interdisciplinary treatment team that are sound in judgment and mature in insight on problem cases.
Conditions & Requirements
- U.S. Citizenship required.
- Must be a veteran as defined by law.
- Must possess a full, current, and unrestricted peer specialist certification.
- Must have at least 1 year of recovery from a mental health condition.
- English language proficiency required for direct patient care positions.
- Selective Service Registration for males born after 12/31/1959.
- Must complete an online onboarding process and provide acceptable identification (REAL ID compliant after May 7, 2025).
- Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is required for all VA Health Care Personnel.
- Must serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial period.
Benefits
- Complete benefits package as a federal employee, including health insurance, retirement, and paid leave.
- Eligibility for benefits depends on position type (full-time, part-time, intermittent).
- Contact the hiring agency for specific benefit details.
How You Will Be Evaluated
- Your application will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications.
- You will be rated on the following competencies: Problem Solving, Communication, Teaches Others, Leadership.
- Your resume and supporting documentation will be verified.
- If referred, you may be asked to submit additional job-related information, such as responses to knowledge, skills, and abilities, a work sample, or participate in an interview.
- The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks.
- Veterans' preference applies; eligible veterans should claim preference in the questionnaire.
Required Documents
- Resume (maximum 2 pages, 5MB or less, PDF recommended).
- DD-214 or Statement of Service (showing dates and character of service).
- Peer Specialist Certification.
- SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action (for current/former federal employees to verify time-in-grade and eligibility).
- Cover Letter (optional).
- Disability Letter (Schedule A or VA) if applicable.
- License if applicable.
- PCS Orders if applicable.
- Professional Certification if applicable.
- Proof of Marriage Status if applicable.
How to Apply
- To apply, open the official application portal and with your the official application portal/Login.gov account. Complete the online application questionnaire and attach your federal resume and all required documents (DD-214, peer specialist certification, SF-50 if applicable). Ensure your resume is no longer than two pages and saved as a PDF to maintain formatting. Submit your complete application package by 11:59 P…
Additional Information
- This position is open to veterans only, including those eligible under VEOA, VRA, and 30% DAV.
- Current permanent VA employees (T38, T38 Hybrid, VCS) and federal employees on career/career-conditional appointments may apply.
- Former competitive service employees eligible for reinstatement may apply.
- Individuals eligible under the Employment Program for People with Disabilities may apply.
- CTAP/ICTAP eligible displaced federal employees may apply.
- VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply, including those eligible under Schedule A.
- Agency contact: Faith Joiner, (682) 406-4010, [email protected].
- Address: Palo Alto VA Medical Center, 3801 Miranda Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94304.
About Company
The VA Palo Alto Healthcare System is part of the Department of Veterans Affairs, providing complete healthcare services to veterans. The system includes the Palo Alto VA Medical Center and multiple community-based outpatient clinics, serving a large veteran population in the Bay Area.
This Lead Peer Specialist position is based at the Menlo Park facility, supporting veterans' mental health recovery through peer support services. The VA offers a public service work environment focused on serving those who have served.
VA Palo Alto Healthcare System is named as the hiring organisation for the Lead Peer Specialist post.
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to common applicant questions about this position, eligibility and the application process.