Initial Posting Date: 02/17/2026
Application Deadline: /Agency: Department of Human Services
Salary Range: $4,519.00 - $5,712.00
Position Type: Employee
Position Title: Direct Support Crisis Specialist - Portland area
Job Description:
The Oregon Department of Human Services is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are guided by our Equity North Star and our vision for a positive RiSE organizational culture that advances equity and diversity. We encourage applications from members of historically underrepresented racial/ethnic groups, women, individuals with disabilities, veterans, LGBTQIA2S+ community members, and others to help us achieve our vision of a diverse and inclusive community.
Salary Note: The pay listed on this job posting is the base monthly salary range for full-time work. The salary for employees working other than full time will vary based on the hours worked. Hourly salary range is: $26.07 - $32.95.
We have residential group homes in the Portland area, Salem area, Newberg/Brooks area, Lebanon, and Eugene. We encourage you to apply to each location's job posting that you are willing to work.
Opportunity awaits! Are you ready to make a positive impact on the lives of individuals who experience intellectual and developmental disabilities, often with co-occurring mental health diagnoses? Do you have paid or unpaid caregiving experience or experience volunteering with seniors, children, or people with disabilities? Would you like to work in a diverse and supportive team environment? Then, come #JoinTeamSACU!
The Stabilization and Crisis Unit (SACU) is looking to fill permanent, full-time, Direct Support Crisis Specialist openings as they occur in our residential group homes located in the Portland area.
This job posting is open until further notice. We will review applications every two weeks. Please apply now as we could close this job posting at any time. This is an ongoing selection process, and we will be scheduling interviews throughout the process.
You may be offered a job for any of the following shifts depending on what openings are available at that time: days, evenings, nights, weekends, vacation relief, or other various shifts.
Shift definitions:
• Day shift is a set schedule from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., 5 days in a row, with 2 days off. • Evening shift is a set schedule from 1:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., 5 days in a row, with 2 days off. • Night shift is a set schedule from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m., 4 days in a row, with 3 days off. • Vacation Relief shift has varied hours, shifts, and days off. Vacation Relief (VR) will not be scheduled for more than 8-hours unless filling in for a 10-hour shift, a 13 hour and 20-minute shift, a 16-hour shift, or unless mutually agreed with management. Every good faith effort shall be made to allow 10 hours between shifts. VR may waive this obligation.
Float Pool shift consists of 8-hour shifts unless mutually agreed upon with management to work other shifts (i.e., a 16-hour shift, a 13-hour and 20-minute shift, 4 - 10-hour shifts, etc.). Schedules will be set for periods of 30 days at a time, location of shift within the island will vary depending on the need for staffing. An island consists of 2 to 4 houses.
Employees will be notified of a shift change 10 days in advance when possible but in no instances shall employees be given less than a 7-day notice unless mutually agreed upon. Float Pool Staff shall receive an additional 10% above their base pay for the duration of the assignment. Float Pool Staff will be considered for working at another location (portability) within the island first even if they are working an overtime shift.
Summary of Duties:
As an employee working within the Stabilization and Crisis Unit (SACU), you will be a part of a program that provides 24-hour residential care to Oregonians with intellectual/developmental disabilities, often with co-occurring mental health diagnoses, whose support needs exceed the supports offered or provided by other community-based residential programs. SACU provides development and support to assist individuals in safely transitioning back to their home community. We model positive attitudes while offering assistance with access to:
SACU is dedicated to providing the support necessary to maintain the quality of life, achieve the highest possible level of independence and promote social opportunities, which benefit the individuals served and their communities.
We operate 17 residential group homes along the I-5 corridor from Portland to Eugene.
As a Direct Support Crisis Specialist, you will:
Minimum Qualifications:
A valid driver's license and acceptable driving record are required for this position.
Eighteen months of experience providing direct individual care or training in a related field of human services (i.e., providing assistance to supported individuals or groups with intellectual and developmental disabilities, mental and physical disabilities, or substance abuse).
OR
An Associate or higher-level degree in a related human services field.
OR
A combination of education and experience as defined above.
Experience Note: Your paid or unpaid caregiving experience or experience volunteering with seniors, children, or people with disabilities may help you to meet the qualifications for these positions. This experience may include making and attending medical or psychiatric appointments, medication assistance, assisting with daily personal care, assisting with activities of daily living, such as:
Please include all paid and unpaid caregiving experience in the job history portion of your application or as work experience on your resume.
Your work experience should include the name of the employer, dates you worked for the employer (month and year), and whether the experience is paid or unpaid.
For unpaid experience, please include whether the experience is as a volunteer (working for an organization such as ARC, care facility, community action group, etc.) or is lived experience (taking care of a family member, neighbor, etc.).
Lived experience may substitute for up to 6 months of the required experience.
Experience must be included in your materials for it to be considered.
Essential Attributes:
We are looking for candidates with:
Attention all candidates! Clearly describe how you meet the minimum qualifications and essential attributes in your application materials. Your application materials will determine if you are selected to move forward in the selection process. Please include detailed work and education history.
Please upload a resume or complete the work history profile. Please make sure your application materials, resume and job history, are clearly outlined as this information will be used to determine your starting salary range.
Note: Your resume may be uploaded in the Resume/CV field on the online application.
The use of outside resources such as Artificial Intelligence software during applicant skill assessments, examinations, and/or interviews is prohibited unless otherwise stated by the hiring agency. Unauthorized use of outside resources during the hiring process will result in disqualification.
The State of Oregon does not request or require your age, date of birth, attendance or graduation dates from an educational institution during the application process.
Immediately after you submit your application, be sure to respond to the two questionnaires relating to public records requests and veterans' preference. These questions are necessary to complete the application process.
Working Conditions:
You must have a valid license to drive, and you must have and maintain an acceptable driving record to transport individuals by state van or car.
You will work in a residential group home environment, which is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
You will work in a variety of settings both within the residential group homes and in the community.
Expect work hours and shifts in this position to include any shift, including weekends, nights, and holidays depending on your assigned work schedule.
You must be able to work occasional overtime to ensure adequate staffing requirements.
You will occasionally be transferred to work shifts at other nearby worksites.
You will work with individuals who experience an intellectual and/or developmental disability (I/DD) and co-occurring mental health disorder.
You will have frequent contact with individuals requiring alertness and sensitivity to their needs.
At times you will be exposed to individuals who are justice-involved or committed, and/or individuals who may often experience a trauma response or crisis that may be communicated in significant emotional or physical behaviors