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

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.

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.

Communicate a consistent, accurate, and compelling message about Clear Path’s mission, programs, services, and opportunities to engage.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

Identify prospective donors, partners, ambassadors, and community champions through direct outreach, networking, referrals, events, and analysis of engagement activity.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

Support identification of cultivation opportunities, community gatherings, site visits, and other touchpoints that can strengthen relationships with prospective donors, partners, and advocates.

Assist with donor and partner communications, stewardship, and recognition when the relationship originated through community outreach or when continued involvement will strengthen the relationship.

Share relevant community intelligence with Development, Marketing, Programs, Events, and leadership so Clear Path can respond consistently and strategically to emerging opportunities.

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

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.

Prioritize outreach activities that are consistent with the purpose, geographic scope, audiences, and outcomes of applicable grant funding.

Provide regular summaries of outreach activity, relationship growth, opportunity flow, and relevant community feedback to Development leadership.

Use engagement data to identify patterns, gaps, underrepresented audiences, and communities where Clear Path should strengthen its presence.

Maintain documentation sufficient to demonstrate how outreach activity supports mission access, awareness, relationship development, and community connection.

Public Speaking, Tours & Brand Stewardship

Prepare for and deliver public presentations, community briefings, campus tours, and other mission-focused speaking engagements as needed.

Adapt presentations and talking points to the audience while maintaining consistent organizational messaging and brand standards.

Support staff and volunteers who represent Clear Path publicly by providing current talking points, materials, and guidance for community-facing engagements.

Ensure community engagement opportunities are represented professionally and reflect Clear Path’s standards for hospitality, respect, and mission-centered service.

Management, Teamwork & Leadership

Work collaboratively across Development, Marketing, Events, Programs, Culinary/Hospitality, Operations, and leadership to ensure community relationships are supported by the appropriate internal team.

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.

Protect relationship continuity by ensuring introductions, commit