Overview
Business Development Specialist
Location: REMOTE in/around Nashville, TN
PURPOSE STATEMENT:
The Business Development/Peer Placement Specialist (PPS) is a field-based role designed to provide real-time, community-facing support for patient engagement, referral coordination, and warm handoffs intoappropriate levelsof care. The PPS uses lived experience, rapport-building, and collaborative problem-solving toassistindividuals with navigating substance use disorder (SUD) or behavioral health challenges.These talented individuals strive to bring hope and guidance to those struggling withthese diagnosisby collaborating with other professionals in the mental health and addictions community and through liaising with family members to find individualized levels of care within their local,regionaland national system of providers. Treatment Placement Specialists collaborate with their client’s treatment team internally and externally to provide comprehensive care coordination including regular communications, while acting as an internal liaison to foster and enhance the experience and outcomes for their clients. The PPS research, uncover, andinitiatenew professional prospects and business opportunities and have a passion for marketing with the goal of increasing the depth and breadth of Acadia’s reach and positive impact in their treatment community.
This role is mobile and flexible, allowing deployment tohospitals, emergency departments, community agencies, partner programs, and other high-need locationsto support referral pathways and ensuretimelyaccess to treatment.
Responsibilities
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
- Engage directly with patients and families in community or facility settings (EDs, hospitals, treatment programs, etc.).
- Build andmaintainstrong working relationships with local clinical teams, social workers, crisis units, navigators, and community partners.
- Conduct proactive daily check-ins with designated partners toidentifypotential referrals or emerging patient needs.
- Strategically develop and execute quarterly and annual performanceobjectivesfor the target market.
- Complete face-to-face meetings with decision makers to understandcustomer’sneeds and identify/eliminateobstacles to securing partnerships for Acadia services.
- Receive and manage referrals through multiple channels (phone line,CarePort, secure email, partner systems, community contacts)– from receipt to securing communication from facilities through admission.
- Facilitate warm handoffs and coach patients through the transition into the next level of care.
- Serve as a liaison in communicating with the referral source, Acadia program, and referral to lend support through the admission process and address any concerns the client or referral source may have.
- Manage referrals and referral source information incontactbase.
- Document meaningful activity related to decision makers intargetmarket in customer relationship manager.
- Provide alternative placement recommendations when Acadia is not the appropriate fit, ensuring a patient-first approach.
- Document all referral interactions, outcomes, and barriers in Acadia systems.
- Collaborate closely with Pod leadership to escalate issues, remove barriers, and ensuretimelycase progression.
- Support transportation coordination andlogisticsas needed.
- Manage expenses and company credit card tasks asdesignatedby administrator.
- Participate in quarterly field ride with Director of Business Development.
- Serve as a trusted peer support presence,leveraginglived experience to motivate, encourage, and guide individuals toward recovery
Hours & Coverage
- Standard hours: Adjusted according to the needs of the coverage area.
- Flexibility required; hours may be adjusted based on community demand, referral pattern trends, or partner needs.
- Must be able to travel within assigned region and respond to multiple community sites.
STANDARD EXPECTATIONS:
- Complieswithorganizational policies, procedures, performance improvement initiatives andmaintainsorganizational and industry policiesregardingconfidentiality.
- Communicate clearly and effectively to person(s) receiving services and their family members,guestsand other members of the health care team.
- Develops constructive and cooperative working relationships with others andmaintainsthem over time.
- Encourages and builds mutual trust,respectand cooperation among team members.
- Maintains regular and predictable attendance.
Qualifications
EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE/SKILL REQUIREMENTS:
- Bachelor’s degree preferred or experience in consultative sales and/or clinical training in behavioral healthcare, substance abuse, or related field, or equivalent experience and education.
- Lived experience in recovery with strong ability to connect with individuals in crisis or transition.
- Experience in behavioral health, SUD treatment, or crisis responsestronglypreferred.
- Experience in managing an assigned territory, building effective businessrelationshipsand finding new opportunities to further developthe geography.
- Computer skills including Microsoft Office; Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
- Ability to work professionally with sensitive, proprietary data & information whilemaintainingconfidentiality.
- Excellent interpersonal skillsincludingthe ability to interact effectively and professionally with individuals at alllevels;both internal and external.
- Excellent communication and patient engagement skills.
- Ability to collaborate across healthcare, community, and crisis partners.
- Strong problem-solving, motivational interviewing, and de-escalation skills.
- Familiarity with referral management platforms (e.g.,CarePort) is a plus but notrequired.
- Ability tomaintainprofessionalism and boundaries while serving as a peer support role model.
LICENSES/DESIGNATIONS/CERTIFICATIONS:
- Certified Peer Specialist (CPS) preferred.
SUPERVISORY REQUIREMENTS:
This position is an Individual Contributor
