Mission Outreach and Engagement Manager

Clear Path For Veterans•Chittenango, NY

2d•$57,000 - $62,000

About The Position

Clear Path for Veterans is a Central New York-based national nonprofit that supports veterans, service members, and their families through programs promoting wellness, community, and purpose. The Mission Outreach & Engagement Manager serves as a community-facing ambassador, connector, and opportunity scout, expanding awareness of the organization’s mission, building trusted relationships, identifying potential opportunities, and creating pathways for individuals and organizations to engage with Clear Path. As part of the Community & Development team, the Manager develops the front end of the relationship pipeline by meeting people, communicating Clear Path’s story, identifying opportunities, documenting relationships, and making informed handoffs to Development, program, or other organizational leaders. The position supports fundraising and partnership development by creating access and qualified opportunities; gift solicitation and closing are primarily handled by designated Development staff and leadership. Because the role is supported by outreach-focused grant funding, accurate activity tracking, community reach, relationship development, referrals, and measurable engagement outcomes are essential. The role maintains an active community presence; builds relationships with mission-aligned organizations and individuals; identifies and qualifies prospective donors, partners, ambassadors, and community champions; maintains CRM records and supports development activity; tracks and reports grant-aligned outreach outcomes; delivers presentations and campus tours; and collaborates across organizational teams. The schedule is Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with hours that may vary to support community events, meetings, and travel. The position requires a flexible schedule, including non-traditional hours when necessary for community engagements and special events. The salary range is $57,000–$62,000, depending on experience.

Requirements

An associate degree in communications, public relations, marketing, nonprofit management, business, community development, or a related field and at least three years of relevant experience; or at least five years of relevant professional experience in community engagement, outreach, relationship development, public relations, development, or a related field.
Relevant experience may include community engagement, relationship development, public relations, outreach, customer service, development, or related work; nonprofit or mission-driven organization experience is preferred.
Basic knowledge and understanding of military and veteran culture, with willingness to continue learning.
Knowledge of financial resources and how to manage donor pipelines, run campaigns, and cultivate gifts and corporate sponsorships.
Basic knowledge of social media platforms, email newsletters, and digital campaigns for raising 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, including ability to uncover needs, connections, and opportunities through conversation.
Data analysis skills and ability to collect and analyze community feedback.
Professional writing skills for correspondence, outreach notes, summaries, and presentation materials.
Ability to communicate Clear Path’s mission with warmth, clarity, credibility, and appropriate sensitivity.
Ability to be articulate, persuasive, diplomatic, and engaging.
Strong judgment in identifying contacts, ideas, and opportunities for organizational follow-up.
Self-motivation and ability to work independently with minimal day-to-day supervision while maintaining strong internal communication.
Ability to collaborate with diverse groups, organizations, community leaders, veterans, families, donors, volunteers, and staff.
Ability to manage shifting priorities.
Accurate record-keeping and disciplined CRM and data-entry habits.
Working proficiency with Microsoft 365 and donor or relationship management systems, and ability and willingness to learn new platforms.
Valid New York State driver’s license and use of a reliable vehicle.
Ability to travel locally and out of state as needed, including in varying weather conditions.
Ability to work a flexible schedule, including non-traditional hours as needed for community engagements and special events.
Comfort with dogs in the workplace.
Ability to sit at a desk and computer monitor for long periods; sufficient speech and hearing for frequent telephone and in-person communications; manual dexterity for frequent computer keyboard and office-equipment use; and vision for frequent computer-monitor and paperwork use.
Ability to lift a maximum of 30 pounds and lift, lower, and carry packages, materials, or equipment.

Nice To Haves

Experience representing an organization publicly, building external relationships, and working independently in community settings is strongly preferred.
Experience in a nonprofit or mission-driven organization is preferred.

Responsibilities

Maintain a strategic presence in communities served by Clear Path, particularly among veterans, military families, community organizations, businesses, civic groups, municipalities, chambers, and service providers.
Represent Clear Path at community events, meetings, networking opportunities, speaking engagements, veteran-focused gatherings, and other public-facing opportunities.
Communicate accurate and compelling information about Clear Path’s mission, programs, services, and engagement opportunities.
Identify community activities, trends, emerging needs, and relationship opportunities, and share relevant information with leadership.
Encourage first-time engagement, including campus visits, program or event attendance, staff connections, volunteering, advocacy, and other involvement.
Maintain outreach materials and coordinate with Marketing and program staff to ensure public-facing information is accurate and consistent.
Build relationships with local, state, federal, tribal, faith-based, veteran-serving, corporate, philanthropic, and civic organizations.
Identify contacts, introductions, partnership concepts, volunteer and advocacy opportunities, sponsorship interest, community fundraisers, and other engagement opportunities.
Identify prospective donors, partners, ambassadors, and community champions through outreach, networking, referrals, events, and engagement analysis.
Qualify promising opportunities and make timely, informed handoffs to the Mission Partnerships & Development Specialist, Development leadership, or other appropriate staff.
Provide context for handoffs, including relationship history, interests, connections, potential opportunities, recommended next steps, and commitments made by Clear Path.
Support early relationships when continuity, trust, or access from the Manager’s community connection would strengthen the opportunity.
Maintain accurate and timely CRM and tracking records of meaningful engagement, contacts, conversations, referrals, commitments, and next steps.
Work with the Mission Partnerships & Development Specialist and Development leadership to review new relationships and determine opportunities for further cultivation or formal development activity.
Support cultivation opportunities, community gatherings, site visits, donor and partner communications, stewardship, and recognition when appropriate.
Share community intelligence with Development, Marketing, Programs, Events, and leadership.
Support fundraising and community events in a relationship-development capacity; the position is not the primary event planner or logistics lead.
Track outreach activity and outcomes for accountability and applicable grant reporting, including audiences reached, contacts, referrals, follow-up, first-time engagement, and resulting opportunities.
Prioritize outreach consistent with applicable grant funding’s purpose, geographic scope, audiences, and outcomes.
Provide regular summaries of outreach activity, relationship growth, opportunity flow, and 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 showing how outreach supports mission access, awareness, relationship development, and community connection.
Prepare and deliver public presentations, community briefings, campus tours, and other mission-focused speaking engagements.
Adapt presentations to audiences while maintaining organizational messaging and brand standards.
Provide staff and volunteers with current talking points, materials, and guidance for public representation.
Ensure community engagement is professional and reflects Clear Path’s standards for hospitality, respect, and mission-centered service.
Collaborate across Development, Marketing, Events, Programs, Culinary/Hospitality, Operations, and leadership to support community relationships.
Promote a culture of philanthropy and mission advocacy among staff and volunteers.
Ensure introductions, commitments, and follow-up responsibilities are clearly communicated and assigned.
Attend and participate in staff and Development meetings, trainings, and other requested meetings.
Maintain an organized outreach calendar and coordinate schedules, travel, materials, and follow-up.
Present activity reports, relationship updates, and recommendations in person or in writing as requested.
Complete other related duties and special projects that advance Clear Path’s mission and align with the position.