Peer Support Specialist

PLEASE DO NOT APPLY IF YOU DO NOT SPEAK VIETNAMESE OR LIVE OUTSIDE OF CALIFORNIA

Friendship Line is a lifeline for older adults, offering emotional support, reassurance, counseling, crisis intervention, abuse prevention, well-being checks, and referrals. We are seeking a compassionate, bilingual (Vietnamese or Spanish & English) Counselor to join our dedicated team and make a difference in the lives of seniors who need someone to listen, encourage, and guide them.

SCHEDULE: Tuesday through Saturday, 7am-330pm.

Why Join Us?

• Remote: Work from home while making a difference (must reside in CA).
• Language: Must speak Vietnamese & English
• Work-Life Balance: Manageable shifts that include one weekend day.
• Language Premium: 4% bilingual premium
• Professional Growth: Gain clinical hours toward licensure in this role.

Key Responsibilities

• Answer inbound calls and make outbound calls
• Conduct assessments with clients
• Provide referrals and resources as needed.
• Complete real-time data entry for all caller interactions.
• Conduct new client intakes when requested.
• Participate in team meetings, trainings, and supervision sessions.
• Support and assist Friendship Line volunteers
• Follow protocols and escalate calls when needed to supervisors.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Bilingual fluency in Vietnamese and English
• Prior or current college coursework in Human Services, Social Work, Psychology, Gerontology, Health Sciences, or a related field or equivalent experience.

Desired Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in a related field
• At least one year of experience with hotlines and/or call centers
• Prior experience (volunteer or paid) in human services
• Strong organizational and communication skills
• Ability to multi-task, problem-solve, and remain calm under pressure
• MS Office Suite proficiency and comfort using databases
• Flexibility and patience to thrive in a busy team environment
• Experience supporting older adults

Why Join the Friendship Line?

This is more than a job, it’s an opportunity to change lives every day. You’ll be part of a compassionate team dedicated to ensuring that older adults feel heard, valued, and cared for. If you are bilingual in Spanish and passionate about supporting vulnerable communities, we’d love to hear from you.

IOA reserves the right to adjust work hours or duties when appropriate.

Institute on Aging is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Institute on Aging is committed to cultivating a diverse and inclusive work environment and providing equal opportunities to all employees and job applicants without regard to age, race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic disposition, neuro-diversity, disability, veteran status or any other protected category under federal, state and local law.

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $24.00 - $26.00 per hour

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible schedule
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Referral program
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Application Question(s):

• Do you have college coursework in Human Services, Social Work, or other health-related field, including Gerontology, Psychology, or Health Sciences?

Language:

• Vietnamese (Required)

Location:

• California (Required)

Work Location: Remote