The Health Behavior and Society Department is seeking a Peer Specialist. The Peer Specialist supports the conduct of a research project. Collects and organizes data through study-specific procedures that may include community outreach, data collection, sample collection, laboratory work, and/or field work.

Provides general administrative support for meetings/events, communications, reporting, etc.

The Peer Specialist will also support both drop-in services and mobile outreach programming at the SPARC center. SPARC is a harm reduction–focused drop-in center and mobile outreach program serving women and gender-marginalized people in Baltimore, MD.

SPARC provides a wide range of clinical services, social supports, and essential supplies to improve participants' health, safety, and well-being. Clinical and supportive services include reproductive healthcare; HIV, hepatitis C (HCV), and sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing, treatment, and care; addiction management; wound care; case management; counseling; and overdose response training with naloxone distribution.

In addition to these services, SPARC distributes harm reduction and basic needs supplies such as safer drug use kits, fentanyl and xylazine testing supplies, safer sex supplies, wound care materials, hygiene products, clothing, food, and access to laundry services. All services and supplies are provided free of charge. SPARC staff work to create a supportive, low-barrier, and stigma-free environment where participants feel respected and safe accessing care

Specific Duties & Responsibilities

• Assist in developing operational plans to meet research goals.
• Set up tools and procedures for data collection and study processes.
• Collect and organize data per study requirements, e.g., participant interviews, administer questionnaires; conduct background research, laboratory processing, etc.
• Process data by organizing data records and study files.
• Run basic analyses and prepare routine reports.
• Perform literature searches, abstract data from literature searches, and index gathered data.
• Other duties as assigned.

In Addition to the Duties Listed Above

• Support daily operations at SPARC, including greeting participants; supporting participant needs; packing supply bags; ensuring the drop-in space is clean and tidy; scheduling appointments
• Support outreach operations, including participating in van and foot-based outreach shifts; kit making; delivery bag packing; engaging in syringe and litter clean-up efforts
• Distribute Naloxone, train community members on its use and benefits.
• Provide health education and risk reduction information to SPARC participants and in the community
• Distribute supplies, including safer drug use supplies and safer sex supplies, while providing harm reduction education.

• High school diploma or graduation equivalent.
• One year of related experience.
• Additional education may substitute for required experience and additional related experience may substitute for required education beyond a high school diploma/graduation equivalent, to the extent permitted by the JHU equivalency formula.
• Ability to step in and out of a large transit van.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 45 lbs.

• On-call or non-standard work hour requirements: (Example: On-call one weekend per month to respond to lab equipment alerts.)

• Bachelor’s Degree in a related field

• Lived experience with drug use and/or sex work.
• Experience working with diverse populations, including the sex worker population strongly preferred.

Technical Skills &Expected Level of Proficiency

• Administrative Skills - Awareness
• Analytical Skills - Awareness
• Clinical Trial Management System - Awareness
• Data Entry - Awareness
• Data Management and Analysis - Awareness
• Information Gathering - Awareness
• Interpersonal Skills - Awareness
• Oral and Written Communications - Awareness
• Organizational Skills - Awareness
• Research and Analytical Skills - Awareness

The core technical skills listed are most essential; additional technical skills may be required based on specific division or department needs.

Classified Title: Research Project Assistant II 
Job Posting Title (Working Title): Peer Specialist (Health, Behavior, and Society)   
Role/Level/Range: ACRO40/E/02/CC  
Starting Salary Range: $15.70 - $26.25 HRLY (Commensurate w/exp.) 
Employee group: Full Time 
Schedule: Monday to Friday: 9:00am – 5:00pm 
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt 
Location: School of Public Health  
Department name: HBS-Research Projects  
Personnel area: School of Public Health