Human Services Prog Consultant

A global higher education leader in innovative teaching, research and public service, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill consistently ranks as one of the nation's top public universities. Known for its beautiful campus, world-class medical care, commitment to the arts and top athletic programs, Carolina is an ideal place to teach, work and learn.

One of the best college towns and best places to live in the United States, Chapel Hill has diverse social, cultural, recreation and professional opportunities that span the campus and community.

University employees can choose from a wide range of professional training opportunities for career growth, skill development and lifelong learning and enjoy exclusive perks that include numerous retail and restaurant discounts, savings on local child care centers and special rates for performing arts events.

Our mission is to improve the health and well-being of North Carolinians and others whom we serve. We accomplish this by providing leadership and excellence in the interrelated areas of patient care, education and research.

Patient care: We promote health and provide superb clinical care while maintaining our strong tradition of reaching underserved populations and reducing health disparities across North Carolina and beyond.

Education: We prepare tomorrow`s healthcare professionals and biomedical researchers from all backgrounds by facilitating learning within innovative and integrated curricula and team-oriented interprofessional education to ensure a highly skilled workforce.

Research: We develop and support a rich array of outstanding health sciences research programs, centers and resources. We provide infrastructure and opportunities for collaboration among disciplines throughout and beyond our university to support outstanding research. We foster programs in the areas of basic, translational, mechanistic and population research.

This position will serve as a Family Peer Worker for the Early Psychosis Interventions of North Carolina ( EPI-NC) within the Department of Psychiatry at UNC. EPI-NC provides technical assistance, clinical training, quality improvement support, and fidelity monitoring to First Episode Psychosis Coordinated Specialty Care ( FEP CSC) programs across the state. EPI-NC also leads efforts to expand access to evidence-based education and support services for individuals experiencing early psychosis and their families. In the coming year, these initiatives will include the delivery of caregiver-focused supports, including individual therapy for caregivers (Caring for the Carer), a mobile health tool (Bolster), and family support services.

The Family Support Worker will play a vital role in providing support, resources, and connection for caregivers of young people with early psychosis. Drawing on their own lived experience as a caregiver, the peer worker will offer empathy, normalization, and practical guidance to families navigating the challenges of early psychosis. This may include one-on-one conversations with caregivers, co-facilitation of support groups, and participation in outreach or psychoeducation events hosted by EPI-NC. The family workers will receive ongoing supervision by Dr. Kelsey Ludwig and Dr. David Penn as well as support from the CSC team.

Additional responsibilities may include maintaining up-to-date knowledge of local services and supports, collaborating with CSC teams across North Carolina, and helping NC families navigate systems of care. The peer worker will participate in supervision, individual or group meetings with team leads, and documentation activities, such as logging support contacts and contributing to family-centered materials or resource guides.

In collaboration with EPI-NC leadership, the Family Peer Worker may contribute insights to ongoing projects aimed at improving caregiver engagement, reducing Duration of Untreated Psychosis ( DUP), and enhancing continuity of care across the mental health system. While this is not a clinical or research role, the Family Peer Worker's unique perspective will be essential to shaping outreach strategies and informing service development.

This is a part-time, grant-funded position anticipated to continue for one year, with the potential for extension based on funding availability and performance.

Bachelor's degree in a related Human Services discipline and three years of experience related to the area of assignment, or equivalent combination of training and experience. All degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions.

Bachelor's degree; or equivalent combination of training and experience. All degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions. Must be able to use considerable judgement and skills in performing work assignments. Strong written and verbal communication skills. Must be able to work and communicate with diverse populations effectively and professionally. Ability to work independently as well as function as part of a team. Competent using modern technology platforms such as Outlook and Zoom for communication and collaboration. A current driver's license is also required.

The ideal candidate will have lived experience supporting a loved one who experienced early psychosis, and a passion for using that experience to help other families. Prior volunteer or professional experience providing peer support, facilitating family education, or engaging with mental health services is preferred. Candidates should demonstrate good judgment, empathy, and professionalism, as well as excellent interpersonal skills. The ability to work both independently and collaboratively with individuals from diverse backgrounds, including caregivers, clinical providers, and community partners, is preferable. Comfort with boundary-setting, confidentiality, and navigating emotionally sensitive topics is also important.
Attention to detail and organization for scheduling and implementing meetings with careers and team members
Flexibility in schedule to accommodate occasional (1-2x per month) evening group, meeting, or outreach events.

Capacity to call, send materials by mail, and/or travel to clinics or community locations as needed.
Ability to carry or transport lightweight materials and equipment (e.g., a box containing printed resources, 2 lbs) with or without reasonable accommodation.
Capacity to engage thoughtfully and empathetically with family members who may feel distress or anxiety discussing sensitive topics.

If you experience any problems accessing the system or have questions about the application process, please contact the Office of Human Resources at (919) 843-2300 or send an email to employment@unc.edu

Please note: The Office of Human Resources will not be able to provide specific updates regarding position or application status.

The University is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes all to apply without regard to age, color, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation. We encourage all qualified applicants to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.