Ironwood Gym Careers

Peer & Community Support Specialist

POSITION SUMMARY

As a Peer & Community Support Specialist (CPSW/CSW), you are a vital force in helping individuals turn recovery goals into meaningful, lasting change. Through lived experience, recovery-focused support, skill development, and community connection, you help clients build resilience, strengthen independence, and overcome barriers. You walk alongside individuals through challenges and progress—instilling hope, recognizing strengths, and empowering them to take an active role in their recovery. Your work bridges the gap between treatment and everyday life, helping make recovery possible, sustainable, and personal.

About The Company

We are Cottonwood Pathways, a purpose-driven behavioral health organization offering compassionate, client-centered care—and we are growing every day. Our mission is to provide the best overall care to persons seeking recovery that affects the most change. We’re grounded in accountability and alignment, working together to help every team member 

reach their personal, professional, and financial goals. Our core values shape everything we do and guide how we hire, grow, and lead: we are inspirational, disciplined, accountable, transparent, aligned, and results-oriented. 

OBJECTIVES

• Build meaningful, trust-based relationships through shared lived experience to help clients identify goals, overcome barriers, and strengthen their recovery. 
• Provide peer and community support services while completing required documentation accurately, on time, and in accordance with ethical, confidentiality, and program standards. 
• Share lived experience purposefully to instill hope, reduce stigma, model healthy coping, and support self-advocacy. 
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to support client engagement, continuity of care, and progress toward recovery goals. 
• Recognize and communicate client needs, barriers, or changes in status while remaining within the scope of the CPSW and CSW roles. 
• Promote self-determination and independence by helping clients identify strengths, develop practical skills, access resources, and take an active role in recovery. 
• Perform other duties as assigned. 

COMPETENCIES

• Uses lived experience appropriately to instill hope, reduce stigma, model resilience, and support individual recovery. 
• Communicates clearly, respectfully, and transparently, demonstrating active listening, empathy, and integrity. 
• Demonstrates reliability, organization, and accountability, completing responsibilities and documentation accurately and on time. 
• Collaborates effectively with supervisors and interdisciplinary teams and responds constructively to guidance and feedback. 
• Applies peer-informed, recovery-oriented strategies to help clients identify strengths, develop practical skills, overcome barriers, access resources, and build self-advocacy. 
• Maintains appropriate boundaries and confidentiality, exercises sound judgment, and consistently works within the respective scope of the CPSW and CSW roles. 

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Minimum of a high school diploma, GED, or equivalent. 
• Must be 18 years of age or older. 
• Must self-identify as a current or former recipient of behavioral health and/or substance use services. 
• Must hold a valid Certified Peer Support Worker (CPSW) certification or meet applicable New Mexico recovery/lived-experience requirements. 
• Must hold a valid Community Support Worker (CSW) certification or meet applicable New Mexico requirements. 
• Must complete required CPSW and CSW training and continuing education within required timeframes. Initial training applies if not previously completed.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Ability to move about and communicate effectively in office, community, and client settings, including periods of standing, walking, or sitting, with or without reasonable accommodation. 
• Ability to use standard office equipment and technology for documentation, communication, and other job-related responsibilities. 
• Must possess a valid driver’s license and maintain a clean driving record acceptable under company insurance requirements to operate company vehicles for off-site and community-based services. 
• Ability to work effectively in varied settings, including office, client, and community environments. 

BENEFITS

• Monthly allowance toward health benefits. 
• Monthly allowance toward dental benefits. 
• Monthly allowance toward vision benefits. 
• Company-sponsored Life and AD&D insurance policy. 
• Annual allowance for external professional development and training. 
• Annual allowance of paid continuing education time. 
• Access to internal training and professional development opportunities. 
• Free Ironwood Gym Membership. 
• Generous paid time off, increasing with tenure. 
• Paid holidays. 
• Generous, individualized incentives. 

COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY

As an equal opportunity employer committed to meeting the needs of a multigenerational and multicultural workforce, Cottonwood Pathways recognizes that a diverse staff, reflective of our community, is an integral and welcome part of a successful and ethical business. We hire local talent at all levels regardless of race, color, religion, age, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation or disability, and actively foster inclusion in all forms both within our company and across interactions with clients, candidates, and partners. 

If this position caught your eye, send us your resume! For best consideration, include the job title and source where you found this position in the subject line of your email to joinus@cottonwood.us.com. Already a candidate? Please connect directly with your recruiter to discuss this opportunity.