Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections – Corrections Services www.doc.louisiana.gov
HEADQUARTERS OFFICES Baton Rouge, LA
This position is located in the Secretary's Office of Behavioral Health.
At the Louisiana Department of Corrections, our mission is to promote public safety and strengthen communities through fair, professional, and responsive corrections services. We are committed to protecting the people of Louisiana with integrity, accountability, and a deep respect for the rights and dignity of all. This is an opportunity for you to become part of a dedicated team supporting public safety, where professionalism, resilience, and teamwork are essential. We are seeking a passionate, visionary, and experienced Director of Peer Support Programs to lead our peer-driven programs. The Director will oversee the strategic direction, daily operations, and the development of our peer support team. Leveraging their own lived experience with mental health and/or substance use recovery, the Director will foster a culture of empowerment, hope, and wellness, ensuring high-quality, recovery-oriented services to incarcerated individuals. The Director of Peer Support Programs will be responsible for planning and coordinating all aspects of peer support services across state and local facilities, including, but not limited to, training peer support specialists and offender peer supports/mentors to assist offenders in addiction education, basic life skills, and mental health awareness. The Director will develop and implement a training curriculum for peer support specialists and offender peer support/mentors that includes the appropriate policies, procedures, and specialized techniques to assist clients in developing and implementing a plan of recovery from addiction, and provide education and continued support and encouragement.
Why work for DOC? Culture: DOC values and supports employees through numerous recognition programs, creating a sense of community, prioritizing internal promotional opportunities, clear communication, and professional development.Growth: Professional growth is encouraged at DOC through numerous avenues. Benefits: DOC offers a generous benefits package including; a defined benefit pension plan, health insurance that is also available post retirement, at least 10 paid holidays, sick and annual leave that rolls over from year to year, paid or time off accrued for hours worked over 40 per week, a deferred compensation plan, a flexible benefits plan, alternate work schedules etc. Alternative work schedules including 4/10’s MAY be an available benefit for certain positions upon meeting the policy requirements.
Six years of experience in administrative services, public health, social services, or health services; OR
Six years of full-time experience in any field plus three years of experience in administrative services, public health, social services, or health services; OR
A bachelor’s degree plus three years of experience in administrative services, public health, social services, or health services; OR
An advanced degree in a social science field, public health, counseling, social work, rehabilitation services, business, public, or health administration, or Juris Doctorate plus two years of experience in administrative services, public health, social services, or health services.
EXPERIENCE SUBSTITUTION: Every 30 semester hours earned from an accredited college or university will be credited as one year of experience towards the six years of full-time work experience in any field. The maximum substitution allowed is 120 semester hours which substitutes for a maximum of four years of experience in any field.
Job Specification
The official job specifications for this role, as defined by the State Civil Service, can be found here.
Job Duties and Other Information
Planning and coordinating all aspects of peer support services in correctional institutes across the state. Developing and implementing training curricula for peer support specialists or peer support mentors Work closely with incarcerated individuals through training and monitoring program implementation and progress Must be a Certified Peer Support Specialist Must have completed the Peer Support Specialist Supervisor Training (Train the Trainer) Preference given to candidates with several years of experience
Work Environment:Work with Prison and Jail Administration and Incarcerated Individuals
Support the Mental Health Department
Position-Specific Details: Appointment Type: PROBATION, or PROMOTION OF A PERMANENT, CLASSIFIED LOUISIANA STATE EMPLOYEE Current permanent status classified LA State employees may be required to accept a probational appointment if accepted. An employee selected for a promotion may be required to serve a trial detail prior to being permanently promoted. This posting may also be used to fill a vacancy as a temporary job appointment. If filled as a temporary job appointment, should a permanent position become available, the employee may be converted to a probational appointment.
Other Important Information: IMPORTANT: In the supplemental questions section, applicants must authorize the HR Office of DPS&C-Corrections Services to contact prior employers to check references under the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA), to be considered for employment, by answering ‘YES’ to the PREA question. Any degree, certificate, special license, or DD-214 must be verified by official documentation prior to hire. Any qualifying experience that is based on college credit/college hours should have an accompanying transcript for verification.This Agency is a Drug Free Workplace.
How to Apply: No Civil Service test score is required in order to be considered for this vacancy. To apply for this vacancy, click on the “Apply” link above and complete an electronic application, which can be used for this vacancy as well as future job opportunities. Applicants are responsible for checking the status of their application to determine where they are in the recruitment process. Further status message information is located under the Information section of the Current Job Opportunities page. *Information to support your eligibility for this job title must be included in the application (i.e., relevant, detailed experience/education). Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completed education and experience sections on your application. Applications may be rejected if incomplete. There is no guarantee that everyone who applies to this posting will be interviewed. The hiring supervisor/manager has 90 days from the closing date of the announcement to make a hiring decision. Specific information about this job will be provided to you in the interview process, should you be selected. To view and apply to any of our other postings we currently have available, click HERE.
The Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections - Corrections Services is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate based on any non-merit factor including disability.
For further information about this vacancy contact: Megan Coco Human Resources Department HeadquartersPEEmployees@la.gov