Mission Outreach and Engagement Manager

Job Title: Mission Outreach & Engagement Manager

FLSA Status: Salary Hourly Non-Exempt

Work Schedule: Mon-Fri hours 9:00AM-5:00PM; (hours may vary to support community events, meetings, and travel)

Reports to: Chief Innovation Officer

Salary Range: $57,000 - $62,000 depending on experience

Job Summary

Clear Path for Veterans is a Central New York-based national nonprofit organization dedicated to honoring and supporting veterans, service members, and their families through programs that promote wellness, community, and purpose. Founded on the belief that veterans thrive when they are connected, valued, and supported, Clear Path has built a strong reputation for impactful programming, trusted partnerships, and meaningful engagement with the veteran community.

The Mission Outreach & Engagement Manager serves as a community-facing ambassador, connector, and opportunity scout for Clear Path for Veterans. This position expands awareness of Clear Path’s mission, builds trusted relationships throughout the community, identifies new contacts and ideas, and creates meaningful pathways for individuals and organizations to engage more deeply with Clear Path.

Working as part of the Community & Development team, the Manager is responsible for the front end of the relationship pipeline: finding and meeting people, telling the Clear Path story, listening for opportunities, documenting relationships, and making thoughtful handoffs to the appropriate Development, program, or organizational leader. The position supports fundraising and partnership development by creating access and qualified opportunities; primary responsibility for gift solicitation and closing rests with designated Development staff and leadership. Because this role is supported by outreach-focused grant funding, accurate activity tracking, community reach, relationship development, referrals, and measurable engagement outcomes are essential responsibilities of the position.

Primary Functions

Mission Outreach & Community Presence

1. Maintain an active and strategic presence throughout the communities Clear Path serves, with particular emphasis on veterans, military families, community organizations, businesses, civic groups, municipalities, chambers, service providers, and other mission-aligned networks.
2. Represent Clear Path at community events, meetings, networking opportunities, speaking engagements, veteran-focused gatherings, and other public-facing opportunities that advance awareness and relationship development.
3. Communicate a consistent, accurate, and compelling message about Clear Path’s mission, programs, services, and opportunities to engage.
4. Identify community activities, trends, emerging needs, and relationship opportunities that may positively or negatively affect Clear Path’s mission or presence, and share relevant intelligence with leadership.
5. Increase first-time engagement with Clear Path by encouraging appropriate individuals and organizations to visit campus, attend programs or events, connect with staff, volunteer, advocate, or otherwise become involved.
6. Maintain current outreach materials and coordinate with Marketing and program staff to ensure public-facing information is accurate, audience-appropriate, and consistent with organizational messaging.

Relationship Development & Opportunity Identification

1. Create and maintain strong relationships with community agencies and groups, including local, state, federal, tribal, faith-based, veteran-serving, corporate, philanthropic, and civic organizations that can support or extend Clear Path’s mission.
2. Approach outreach as active listening as well as storytelling: identify new contacts, introductions, ideas, partnership concepts, volunteer opportunities, advocacy opportunities, sponsorship interest, community fundraisers, and other potential points of engagement.
3. Identify prospective donors, partners, ambassadors, and community champions through direct outreach, networking, referrals, events, and analysis of engagement activity.
4. Qualify promising opportunities at a high level and create timely, well-informed handoffs to the Mission Partnerships & Development Specialist, Development leadership, or other appropriate staff.
5. Provide relevant context with each handoff, including relationship history, interests, known connections, potential opportunity, recommended next step, and any commitments already made by Clear Path.
6. Continue to support the early relationship when appropriate, particularly when the Manager’s community connection provides continuity, trust, or access that strengthens the opportunity.

Development Integration & CRM Stewardship

1. Maintain accurate and timely records of meaningful community engagement activity, contacts, conversations, referrals, follow-up commitments, and next steps in Clear Path’s designated CRM and tracking systems.
2. Work closely with the Mission Partnerships & Development Specialist and Development leadership to review new relationships and determine which opportunities warrant deeper cultivation or formal development activity.
3. Support identification of cultivation opportunities, community gatherings, site visits, and other touchpoints that can strengthen relationships with prospective donors, partners, and advocates.
4. Assist with donor and partner communications, stewardship, and recognition when the relationship originated through community outreach or when continued involvement will strengthen the relationship.
5. Share relevant community intelligence with Development, Marketing, Programs, Events, and leadership so Clear Path can respond consistently and strategically to emerging opportunities.
6. Support fundraising and community events in a relationship-development capacity when appropriate; this position is not intended to serve as the primary event planner or event logistics lead.

Grant-Aligned Outreach, Measurement & Reporting

1. Track outreach activity and outcomes in a manner that supports organizational accountability and applicable grant reporting requirements, including audiences reached, meaningful contacts, referrals, follow-up activity, first-time engagement, and resulting opportunities.
2. Prioritize outreach activities that are consistent with the purpose, geographic scope, audiences, and outcomes of applicable grant funding.
3. Provide regular summaries of outreach activity, relationship growth, opportunity flow, and relevant community feedback to Development leadership.
4. Use engagement data to identify patterns, gaps, underrepresented audiences, and communities where Clear Path should strengthen its presence.
5. Maintain documentation sufficient to demonstrate how outreach activity supports mission access, awareness, relationship development, and community connection.

Public Speaking, Tours & Brand Stewardship

1. Prepare for and deliver public presentations, community briefings, campus tours, and other mission-focused speaking engagements as needed.
2. Adapt presentations and talking points to the audience while maintaining consistent organizational messaging and brand standards.
3. Support staff and volunteers who represent Clear Path publicly by providing current talking points, materials, and guidance for community-facing engagements.
4. Ensure community engagement opportunities are represented professionally and reflect Clear Path’s standards for hospitality, respect, and mission-centered service.

Management, Teamwork & Leadership

1. Work collaboratively across Development, Marketing, Events, Programs, Culinary/Hospitality, Operations, and leadership to ensure community relationships are supported by the appropriate internal team.
2. Promote a culture of philanthropy and mission advocacy by helping staff and volunteers understand how community interactions can lead to deeper relationships and long-term support.
3. Protect relationship continuity by ensuring introductions, commitments, and follow-up responsibilities are clearly communicated and owned.

Administrative & Miscellaneous

1. Attend and actively participate in staff meetings, Development meetings, trainings, and other meetings as requested.
2. Maintain an organized outreach calendar and coordinate schedules, travel, materials, and follow-up associated with community-facing work.
3. Present activity reports, relationship updates, and recommendations in person or in writing as requested.
4. Complete other related duties and special projects that advance Clear Path’s mission and are consistent with the purpose of the position.

Education and Experience Requirements

• Associate degree in communications, public relations, marketing, nonprofit management, business, community development, or a related field and a minimum of three (3) years of relevant experience in community engagement, relationship development, public relations, outreach, customer service, development, or a related field; preferably within a nonprofit or mission-driven organization; or

• A minimum of five (5) years of relevant professional experience in community engagement, outreach, relationship development, public relations, development, or a related field; preferably within a nonprofit or mission-driven organization.

• Experience representing an organization publicly, building external relationships, and working independently in community settings is strongly preferred.

Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities Needed to Perform Effectively in the Position

• Basic knowledge and understanding of military and veteran culture, with a willingness to continue
• Knowledge of financial resources and how to manage donor pipelines, run campaigns, and cultivate gifts and corporate sponsorships.
• Basic knowledge of how to use social media platforms, email newsletters, and digital campaigns to raise public awareness.
• Excellent interpersonal, relationship-building, networking, and public speaking skills.
• Strong organizational, prioritization, follow-up, and time-management skills.
• Curiosity and active-listening skills; ability to uncover needs, connections, and opportunities through conversation.
• Data analysis skills.
• Professional writing skills sufficient to prepare correspondence, outreach notes, summaries, and presentation materials.
• Ability to communicate Clear Path’s mission with warmth, clarity, credibility, and appropriate sensitivity.
• Ability to collect and analyze community feedback.
• Ability to be articulate, persuasive, diplomatic, and engaging.
• Strong judgment and ability to recognize which contacts, ideas, or opportunities warrant deeper organizational follow-up.
• Self-motivated and comfortable working independently with minimal day-to-day supervision while maintaining strong internal communication.
• Ability to work collaboratively with diverse groups, organizations, community leaders, veterans, families, donors, volunteers, and staff.
• Ability to manage shifting priorities.
• Accurate record-keeping and disciplined CRM/data-entry habits.
• Working proficiency with Microsoft 365 and donor/relationship management systems; willingness and ability to learn new platforms as required.

Additional Requirements

• Valid New York State driver’s license and must have use of a reliable vehicle.
• Ability to travel locally and out of state as needed in varying weather conditions.
• This position requires the ability to work a flexible schedule, including non-traditional hours as necessary to accommodate for support of community engagements and special event attendance.
• Must be comfortable with dogs in the workplace.

Job-related Physical Abilities needed in order to perform the job in a satisfactory manner

Must be able to sit at a desk and computer monitor for long periods of time. Speech and hearing sufficient for constant telephone and in-person communications. Manual dexterity sufficient for constant use of computer keyboard and other office equipment. Vision sufficient for frequent use of a computer monitor, creating and reading paperwork. Must be able to lift a maximum of thirty (30) pounds. Ability to lift, lower and carry packages, materials, or equipment.

• All requirements are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities.

Expectations

• All Clear Path for Veterans employees are required to conduct themselves in a professional manner towards others to include but not limited to; Veterans, volunteers, visitors and other Clear Path employees.
• Ensure that Veterans, volunteers, employees, donors and visitors have a positive experience with Clear Path.
• Supports and promotes the Clear Path mission.
• Adheres to Clear Path for Veterans policies and procedures.
• Promotes teamwork amongst coworkers.
• Meets or exceeds expected performance standards, including consistently reporting to work on time prepared to perform the duties of the position.

New York State Pay Range

$57,000—$62,000 USD