Anti-Homelessness Specialist

Anti-Homelessness Specialist

Salary

$77,527.68 - $89,903.04 Annually

Location

City Hall: 25 West Main St., Auburn, WA

Job Type

Full-Time

Department

Human Services

Division

Human Services

Opening Date

08/27/2026

Closing Date

Continuous

FLSA

Non-Exempt

Bargaining Unit

UNAF

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

Position Details

To be considered for this recruitment, your application must be received by 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time on Sunday, September 13, 2026.

THIS RECRUITMENT IS FOR A FULL-TIME, LIMITED TERM FULLY BENEFITED ASSIGNMENT, FUNDED THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2026 with anticipated funding in subsequent years.

The City of Auburn is looking for a talented Peer Support Specialist to add to our team! In this position performs work to support those battling opioid use by removing barriers, providing a holistic approach to recovery, utilizing evidence-based treatment to restore healthy living, and assisting clients to identify and work toward wellness goals while encouraging individuals to take personal responsibility for their recovery and wellness.

WORKING CONDITIONS

The primary emphasis of this position is to serve those that are experiencing homelessness where they are at. It is estimated that 80% of the work will be conducted in the field, while 20% of the work completed will be in a traditional office setting.

IDEAL CANDIDATE

The City of Auburn is seeking a candidate who:

• Have experience working with people in addiction
• Have great communication and conflict resolution skills.
• Treat people respectfully and with dignity.
• Can work independently and with a team.

Primary Duties

In this position you will...

• Perform crisis stabilization, and advocates for clients by identifying potential resources and partnerships that contribute to the individual's recovery and wellness; makes referrals to appropriate external service providers.

• Act as a liaison between individuals, caregivers, and service providers; follows-up with identified individuals and/or emergency medical contacts and social providers; consults with other agency professionals on difficult cases.

• Effectively use strong interpersonal and communication skills in a tactful, patient, and respectful manner, both orally and in writing, with other City employees, the Mayor, Council, and citizens from various socioeconomic levels; effectively uses standard office practices, processes, procedures, and business etiquette.

• Provide information and assistance to the public and refers to other appropriate governmental agencies.

While these are just a few primary functions of this position, please click here to view the full job description.

Minimum Qualifications

We are looking for candidates that have:

• Graduation from high school, or equivalent

AND

• Two (2) years of equivalent work-related experience.

OR

• a combination of education, experience, and training that indicates the ability to successfully complete the essential elements of the job listed above.

REQUIRED LICENSES/CERTIFICATES

• Possess and retain a valid state drivers license without impending risk of loss at time of appointment.

• Valid First Aid & CPR certifications (must be obtained within 6 months of hire).

We would love if you have:

• Experience working in a municipal setting

• Bilingual and/or multilingual

• Work experience in the social service field and or in the area of substance use disorder treatment

Additional Information

Why choose the City of Auburn?

• Competitive salary with scheduled step increases on an annual basis
• Excellent medical, dental, and vision plans with employee premiums paid by the City
• Employer contributions to the State Retirement System pension plans
• 11 days of paid vacation per year
• 2 paid floating holidays of your choice per year
• VEBA (tax-free health savings account)
• Optional Flexible Spending benefit plan
• Deferred Compensation plan options
• Employee Wellness Program
• Employee Assistance Program
• and more!

For more information about what benefits the City provides, please visit:

https://www.auburnwa.gov/city_hall/employment_human_resources/benefits

About the City of Auburn

The City of Auburn was incorporated in 1891, and has since bloomed into a perfect place to live, visit, explore, and play. With over 29.8 square miles of land, two rivers, and two counties, Auburn is home to over 80,000 residents, and hundreds of businesses - ranging from manufacturing to retail.

COMMITMENT TO INCLUSION

Team Auburn values diverse perspectives and life experiences, and welcomes applications from people who will help us consistently demonstrate the values of equity, respect, and partnership. The department encourages people of all backgrounds to apply, including Black, Indigenous, and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ, people with disabilities, and veterans. Individuals interested in joining our team must be committed to racial, social, and economic equality for ALL people in our community.

The City of Auburn is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer. No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation, and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay, or other forms of compensation.

To learn more about the Inclusive Auburn initiative, please visit:

https://www.auburnwa.gov/city_hall/mayor/inclusive_auburn

READY TO REPLY?

If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, or would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process, please contact the recruiter listed on this job announcement or humanresources@auburnwa.gov.

Selection procedure:

The City of Auburn is dedicated to building an inclusive, informed city, with opportunities for all. In alignment with that goal, the City has adopted an anonymous application process that prevents hiring managers from seeing personal identifiers, including names, addresses, and other similar information. This eliminates the possibility of unintentional or implicit bias during the initial screening of applications. For that reason, hiring managers will not be viewing any attachments to your application, including a cover letter or resume, during the initial screening.

Please make sure to submit a complete, detailed, and updated job application, and thoroughly answer the supplemental questions prior to the submission deadline! You must meet the minimum qualifications to move forward in the screening process.

If identified as a top candidate, a thorough background check, as well as reference check and driving abstract review, will be required before an official position appointment will be offered.

Communication from the City of Auburn:

We primarily communicate via email during the recruitment process. Emails from auburnwa.gov and/or governmentjobs.com should be placed on your safe domain list to ensure you receive notifications in a timely manner. As a precaution, you may also want to check your junk email folders.

Contact information:

If you have any questions, please contact Chardae Gillespie, HR Coordinator, by email at cgillespie@auburnwa.go

Please visit our Employee Benefits webpage for details:

https://auburn.attract.neogov.com/p/benefits

01

Thank you for your interest in joining Team Auburn! Hiring managers will not be viewing any attachments to your application, including a cover letter or resume, during the initial screening. Please make sure to submit a complete, detailed, and updated job application. When applying for this position, you must thoroughly complete the sections of your application, and provide a thorough response to each of the supplemental questions. Failure to do so may result in elimination from further consideration. Have you read and understood the information listed above?

• Yes
• No

02

Please indicate your highest level of education.

• HS Diploma or GED
• Associates Degree in Social Work, Public Administration, or Community Health
• Associates Degree in unrelated field
• Bachelors Degree in Social Work, Public Administration, or Community Health
• Bachelors Degree in unrelated
• Masters Degree in Social Work, Public Administration, or Community Health
• Masters Degree in unrelated field

03

How many years of experience do you have in this field or a closely related field?

• Less than 2 years
• 2 to 4 years
• 4 to 6 years
• 6 or more years

04

Do you have a valid state drivers license?

• Yes
• No

05

Do you possess a current First Aid and CPR certification?

• Yes
• No

06

Are you able to carry a 20-pound backpack in adverse weather conditions while providing services to unhoused individuals?

• Yes
• No

Required Question

Employer City of Auburn

Address 25 West Main Street

Auburn, Washington, 98001

Phone 253-931-3040

Website http://www.auburnwa.gov