SUD (Substance Use Disorder) Specialist

About Glide GLIDE is a nationally recognized center for social justice, dedicated to fighting systemic injustices, creating pathways out of poverty and crisis, and transforming lives. Through its integrated comprehensive services, advocacy initiatives, and inclusive community, GLIDE empowers individuals, families, and children to achieve stability and to thrive. GLIDE is on the forefront of addressing some of society’s most pressing issues, including poverty, housing and homelessness, and racial and social justice. GLIDE’s mission is to create a radically inclusive, just, and loving community mobilized to alleviate suffering and break the cycles of poverty and marginalization

About Glide GLIDE is a nationally recognized center for social justice, dedicated to fighting systemic injustices, creating pathways out of poverty and crisis, and transforming lives. Through its integrated comprehensive services, advocacy initiatives, and inclusive community, GLIDE empowers individuals, families, and children to achieve stability and to thrive. GLIDE is on the forefront of addressing some of society’s most pressing issues, including poverty, housing and homelessness, and racial and social justice. GLIDE’s mission is to create a radically inclusive, just, and loving community mobilized to alleviate suffering and break the cycles of poverty and marginalization

Position Summary: The SUD Specialist for The Shop is a vital member of an innovative team within a barbershop setting. They will utilize their lived experience of recovery to engage, support, and empower individuals with mental illness and/or substance use disorders, emphasizing service connection, case management, and recovery coaching that will support overall wellness. As part of a multi-disciplinary team that includes Barber Health Advocates and a Behavioral Health Counselor, the SUD Specialist will ensure participants understand the services and opportunities available at GLIDE in an effort to support, promote, and enhance our participants wellness, growth mindset, stability, and self-sufficiency. This role emphasizes building trust, reducing stigma, and facilitating successful linkages to care within GLIDE’s continuum of care and our community partners. The principal duties are performed in The Shop, in the field for outreach, and at community pop-up events. This position requires a flexible schedule to meet community needs, including evening and weekend hours. Regular and predictable attendance is essential.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities • Provide  SUD  support services and manage a caseload of clients from The Shop within a trauma-informed, client-centered, and  equitable  framework to help  participants  achieve  their wellness goals ; complete  initial  intake screenings, service plans, and progress notes for all assigned  participants .  

• Conduct and complete  participant  documentation, entering information into database systems (ONE System and Salesforce) within  two ( 2 )  business days.

• Identify  participants' strengths and barriers to  assist  in reducing challenges and  connect   them  to internal GLIDE resources (e.g., MOUD,  Contingency Management,  Health Access, housing , etc. ) and external community  resources .

• Co-facilitate a minimum of  2  process  groups or workshops per day alongside the Behavioral Health Counselor and Barber Health Advocates. Groups will be inclusive, reflective of  participant  needs, and focus on health education,  overdose prevention,  recovery support, and skill-building pertinent to the  focal  population .

• Ensure proof of engagement and assist  with quarterly satisfaction surveys.

• Cultivate and maintain  supportive, peer-based relationships to provide continuous recovery support;  assist  participants with life skills,  leveraging  resources, and establishing healthy boundaries.

• Continuously assess participants ’   barriers to support stabilization and provide interventions and service navigation; document all services in Salesforce and /or  ONE System within  two (2)  business days.

• Proactively engage in service integration within The Shop, assisting  the multidisciplinary team with  participant  triage, warm hand-offs from barbers, information and referral, crisis intervention, and conflict resolution support.

• Participate in The Shop’s mobile outreach events, providing pop-up behavioral health support and engagement in community settings across the  City .

• Adhere to professional boundaries, ethics, and all laws regarding  HIPAA, confidentiality, and contractual agreements.

• Meet professional obligations through efficient work habits, collaboration, meeting deadlines, and active participation in staff meetings, supervision, case conferences, and trainings .

• In collaboration with your direct Supervisor, complete a minimum of 20 assigned hours of professional or skill development each year; First Aid/CPR is required , but not included in the  minimum  hours  required .  

Minimum Qualifications • Addiction & Recovery counseling certification, and/or SUD Counselor certification  required   with a m inimum of two (2) years of experience in peer support, case management, or outreach with high-risk, socially and/or economically marginalized populations ;  or a bachelor's degree in social work/psychology or other related field  one (1)  year  of  experience working with socially and/or economically  excluded  populations.  

• Must have strong verbal and written skills; must be able to draft detailed service plans, progress notes, and other required documentation.  

• Must have group facilitation skills and the ability to perform low-threshold, harm reduction-based support services.  

• Strong knowledge of S F  resources, services, and benefits programs that support substance use treatment and recovery.  

• Knowledge of principles of trauma-informed  and  healing-centered care,  harm reduction, and motivational interviewing.  

• Ability to work independently and collaboratively, prioritize work, and meet specific timelines.  

• Strong attention to detail, particularly  regarding  client documentation.  

• Excellent interpersonal and conflict resolution skills. Ability to  establish  and maintain effective, trusting relationships and to de-escalate conflict.

• Ability to demonstrate   proficiency  with basic computer programs including Microsoft Word, Outlook, and Excel. Knowledge of ONE System and Salesforce preferred.  

Preferred Certifications and Skills:  

• Lived experience with substance use recovery and/or mental health challenges  is highly desired.  

• Experience entering and accessing information from databases; Salesforce and ONE System experience preferred.  

• Direct experience working within Black/African American communities is highly desired.  

Physical Requirements • Ability to work on a computer and see details of objects at  close  range.     

• Ability to hear within  normal  range, and communicate effectively (in person,  telephone  or  Zoom ).     

• Finger dexterity and the ability to use all standard office equipment.

• Sit or stand comfortably;  and the ability to navigate throughout office spaces (via elevator or stairs).

Work Environment GLIDE’s buildings are located in the Tenderloin neighborhood.  GLIDE maintains an "open door" policy to the community and its clients, who frequently enter and leave the building.

This role is covered by the collective bargaining agreement.