General Definition
The Roanoke Valley Collective Response (RVCR) Recovery Community Engagement Lead is responsible for executing vital professional functions in the areas of community outreach, addiction and overdose awareness, and recovery service expansion within the Commission’s localities. These duties address the critical issues of addiction, mental health crisis, and trauma through program development and management, fostering connections, facilitating collaboration, and disseminating information and data. Specific responsibilities encompass program development, data tracking and reporting, community presentations, and project management. This role oversees all planning and programmatic requirements associated with the SAMHSA grant (2022-2026), including providing support to grant subrecipients. The position serves as liaison and point of contact among the Roanoke Valley Collective Response, the Peer Recovery Network, its stakeholders, regional entities, and organizations engaged in recovery services. The position will contribute to the overall evolution of RVCR. This position reports to the Director of the Roanoke Valley Collective Response.
View PDF of Job Description Here.
Salary Range
- The salary range for this position is $58,000 to $65,000 based on education and experience.
Why Work for RVCR and the Regional Commission?
Since 2018, RVCR has been a leader in developing a Recovery Ecosystem to comprehensively address and mitigate the addiction epidemic. We unite the strengths and resources of over 300 stakeholders from healthcare, government, and the community in a collaborative effort to tackle addiction and overdose. Our approach is grounded in fostering hope and innovation, promoting collaboration, and actively dismantling barriers that impede the creation of effective and impactful solutions. This position offers an exciting opportunity to contribute to a dynamic and impactful group working to create positive change in the community.
- For a wealth of information about why our region is a great place to live, visit Get2KnowNoke.
- Want to know what’s happening in the region, from concerts to bike rides to winery tours and beer festivals? Visit Virginia’s Blue Ridge has everything you need.
The Roanoke Valley-Alleghany Regional Commission serves one of the best areas for outdoor amenities and natural beauty in Virginia, if not the country. The most photographed spot on the Appalachian Trail, McAfee’s Knob, lies within our borders. Carvin’s Cove, the second-largest municipal park in the nation, contains over 60 miles of biking, hiking, and horseback riding trails within its 12,000 acres, and is part of one of our largest member governments, the City of Roanoke. Smith Mountain Lake, with over 500 miles of shoreline and boasting some of the fastest economic growth in the state, is part of our region. The Roanoke Valley Greenway Network contains over 400 miles of paved and unpaved trails within Roanoke’s urban footprint of Roanoke City, Roanoke County, Salem, and Vinton, including almost 26 uninterrupted paved miles along the Roanoke River. The James River in Botetourt and Alleghany Counties provides access to boating, tubing, camping, and more. Almost half of member government Craig County is part of the Jefferson National Forest. We have the Blue Ridge Parkway, and a mountain in the middle of our urban center with the largest, free-standing, man-made, illuminated star in the world, the Mill Mountain Star, on top.
The City of Roanoke is a League of American Bicyclists recognized Bicycle Friendly Community, and the Regional Commission was recently designated a Gold-level Bicycle Friendly Business.
If you want to hike, ride, boat, camp, climb, or stargaze, working for the Regional Commission puts you in a place where you can access any of this in a short drive, and sometimes even right from your front porch.
Have a specific interest and want to know if there’s something here that meets it? Contact Get2KnowNoke at info@get2knownoke.com or us at rvarc@rvarc.org and we’ll help you out.
Benefits
In addition to market-competitive salary, RVARC offers several additional quality-of-life benefits:
- Flexible schedule, including up to two designated telework days a week, and flexible telework options to meet day-to-day family, professional development, and other needs.
- Professional development and certification opportunities. The Commission covers the cost of achieving and maintaining appropriate certifications such as CPRS and RCPRS. Attendance at one major industry conference a year is encouraged, and regular webbased or in-person training and skills-building opportunities are available.
- As a public agency, employment at the Regional Commission may qualify you for student loan forgiveness through the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program.
- For active transportation aficionados, as a Bicycle Friendly Business the Regional Commission provides on-site indoor bicycle parking and an e-bike is available for all staff.
- Competitive health insurance through Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield.
- Matching contributions to a 459 retirement plan that increases with your time at the Commission.
Typical Work Tasks
- Assess the recovery services needs of the community.
- Build and establish relationships with regional Police, Fire/EMS, Schools, Churches, City Council, and organizations involved in addiction recovery services.
- Collect participant and program outcomes.
- Complete all documentation and reporting as required by supervisor and/or policies and procedures.
- Design and implement the SAMHSA Peer Recovery grant in tandem with the RVCR Director.
- Develop the Peer Recovery Network to engage and inform RVCR territory and to maintain an active network for Peers and their agencies.
- Establish outreach programs to build relationships, maintain awareness, assist first responders and citizens, and provide education to address addiction and overdose.
- Identify opportunities to deliver peer-oriented services to the affected community more effectively and more broadly in conjunction with all partners currently utilizing peer services.
- Identify professional development and training opportunities for the Peer Recovery Network.
- Maintain Revive Workgroup, providing trainings on overdose reversal, organizing community events, facilitating meetings, and tracking data.
- Represent RVCR and RVARC by participating in outreach, speaking engagements, and other community events to raise awareness around addiction and recovery.
- Establish annual work programs according to the Roanoke Valley-Allegheny Regional Commission’s Work Program Development process.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
The Candidate Must Have:
- Proficient communication and writing skills, including the ability to understand complex written and oral direction
- Excellent organizing skills both administratively and programmatically
- Ability to establish and maintain professional relationships with colleagues, government officials, organizational representatives, and the public
- Ability to work with diverse populations
- Awareness of Peer Recovery Specialist certifications, requirements, and job duties
- Understanding of outcome tracking and reporting
- Knowledge of addiction, mental health crisis, recovery, trauma, and public health
- Ability to comprehend and simplify complex concepts
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook), Google Apps (Drive, Docs, Sheets), WordPress, Adobe Acrobat, or the willingness and ability to learn
- Knowledge of the theories, principals, practices and techniques of addressing addiction, mental health challenges, and overdose
- Ability to prepare and execute clear, concise, and well-organized presentations
The Ideal Candidate Will Also Have:
- Established relationships within the local recovery community, service providers, and public health agencies
- A passion for serving those affected by the opioid epidemic and a commitment to supporting those combating addiction and overdose
- Familiarity with local policies and current events related to addiction and overdose
Preferred Education and Experience
- A high school diploma or GED with a minimum of three years related professional work experience.
- Completion of 72-hour PRS training.
- PRS Certification must be secured within 6 months of hire.
- REVIVE T.O.T. must be secured within 6 months of hire.
Continuing Education
This is a mid-level position within the professional development track. Dedication and willingness to continue education through attendance of conferences, participation in professional associations; and/or completion of courses, certificates, seminars, or distance learning modules is encouraged for advancement to subsequent positions of technical expertise and/or responsibility.
Physical Effort, Dexterity, Visual Acuity, Hearing, and Speaking
The physical exertion requirements of this job are classified as sedentary work. In general, lifting or carrying tasks are not more than 10 pounds. A certain amount of walking and standing is often necessary to carry out job duties. The job requires normal visual acuity, depth perception and field of vision. Individuals must be able to speak clearly in person and over the phone.
Equal Opportunity Employer
RVARC is proud to be an equal employment opportunity employer and to provide a work environment that is free of discrimination and harassment. Employment decisions at RVARC are based on agency needs, job requirements, and individual qualifications without regard to any status protected by law. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may come from a less traditional background. RVARC may consider an equivalent combination of knowledge, skills, education, and experience to meet minimum qualifications. If you are interested in applying, we encourage you to think broadly about your background and skill set for the role.
Submitting your Application
Send a resume and cover letter expressing your interest to Sherry Dean, Finance Director, at sdean@rvarc.org, or visit our employment portal at https://rvarc.org/who-we-are/jobs-internships/ for this and other open positions.
Roanoke Valley Collective Response Recovery Community Engagement Lead
Cover letter and resume should be submitted to Sherry Dean, Director of Finance, at sdean@rvarc.org.
